davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13
Magnates Given a Warning.

Occasionally something crops out in
base ball to warn its promoters OF the
necessity of trying to dwell together in
as much peace and harmony as the ext
gencies Of sport in which intense rivalry
Is the keynote. will permit. That is all
the threat OF the state senator in Califor-
mia to attack the club owner by legis-
lative process amounts to at present and
probably all it will amount to. In the
heat of their own controversies base ball
club owners sometimes forget that dam
ger threatens from without If they be-
come too secure in their belief that the
great sport over which they exercise a
control, absolutely necessary to its exist
ence and generally wise, belongs to them
and not to the American public. The
California senator may never be heard
of again so far from home, and at most
his influence will not extend beyond his
own state in all probability. But he
serves as an object lesson of what may
happen in wider circles If the game is
subjected to the same constant hammer
ings by it's promoters as on the coast,
which for years has been the scene of
intermittent warfare and the birthplace
Of several so-called outlaw" organiza-
tons, which claim to be reVoits against
high handed methods.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13
FIRST BIG NIT WAS
MEANT AS A Joke
Harry Decker Built 1t to Guy
0IdfieId, the Catcher, and
RevoIutionized the Game.
BY w. A. Phelon.

There are not many men left who know
the exact circumstances OF the invention
Of the big glove, and the real story has
never been told in print before. The great
glove. which has changed the whole de-
fensive system Of base ball. was the re-
suit of a joke, and the joker thought only
of his fun that afternoon. although he
was keen enough to make his humor pay
him in the end. Was ever joke produc-
tive OF so much history or 50 many dol
lars. either before or after? Not in the
world Of base ball. anyway.
Il was only a boy in Toronto" is how
Kid Bernstein, the ticket broker, tells the
story, but I was fiend for base ball
and was always hanging round the park
of the old Toronto team. For minor
league lot that team was classy. too.
Among the men l can still remember Ed
Crane. who had the speed of Rusie-poor
old Ed; Harry Decker. handsome. polish
ed, versatile in every playing position, yet
destined to finish of unhappiness and
sorrow; Mike Slattery, who afterward
was Giant star, and n stocky little
catcher by the name OF Oidfeld. There
were others on that famous team, and
nearly all Of them played in the fast COM
pany. but those were my special friends.
1T fell to Oldfield's 10. to catch Ed
Crane. and to catch Crane, with the short
pitching distance and the little leather
tipped glove, was an awful thing. Twice
week Oldfield caught Crane, and so ter
rible was Eds speed that before the game
was over the leather tips We're torn right
off the glove. Oldtield's hands were swell
ed and bunsed, but he was game, and
stuck to his painful job. One DAY In the
clubhouse Oldtield exhibited his swollen
hand and Decker guffawed at him.
"'Tell you what, old man. laughed
Decker, why don't you have a mattress
made in the style of a glove? That would
| save your poor little fins and you
wouldn't have SO many passed balls.
| Look-Suppose you get some leather like
| this and lot of felt stutfing-ike this
| (picking up lot of rubbish from the
| ground) and make big mitten this way.
i That would protect you. wouldn't 1t. my
tender little darling" And Decker who
was a mechanical genius, kept rapidly at
work with the odds and ends around the
| clubhouse TILL he had working model of
/ big glove that differed in no way, so
| far as idea and general ground plan
| were concerned, from the big glove of
| today.
'Oldfield and the other players laughed
at Decker, but as he finished his inven-
| ton they realized that something practi-
| cal was before them. Decker saw it, too.
He stopped laughing. Boys said he, L
think this would work. I'm going to have
one made And thus the big catching
glove was born.
Decker should have made q fortune
| from his glove, which was patented and
| sold by thousands. But he went wrong.
Must have gone crazy. L believe. for he
| forged checks and misbehaved in many
ways till he finally vanished from view,
and few people know whether he is llv-
| ing or dead. But he invented that big
| & owe. and there is the story Of the in
vention.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13
Money on the Side.

"Ulnpires have been driven out OF
towns. they have been n1obbed and ston-
ed, but all because OF alleged bad deci-
.lons," says kid" Elberfeld. Il knew
Of an umpire who was chased out OF
town for trying to compete with the club
owner in selling admission tickets. ii
was in 1895 when l played In the South
ern League. We were at Atlanta, and
the crowd was large. but the owners
looked at the people entering the park
and then the box Office. but the moncs
end did not seem right. So they started
to investigate. and found the umpire IN
der the grandStand admitting people al
reduced prices. He had knocked of
enough boards to allow people to enter
and he was doing a big business. 1t is
sufficient to say that he did noe work the
game that day, and he was immed:atel.
told to hike it out Of town and out OF
the league
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13

Dizzy Izzy" got in short left-center by a
long dive. One of the star feats credited
to Isbell was four two-baggers in one of
the worlds series contests with the Chi
cago Cubs.
When the American League came east
it was claimed that there were not enough
first-class ball players for two major
leagues. The youngsters. however. have
crowded the oldtimers off the big lots
SO fast that this assertion. like the one
that no city could stand for two big
clubs. is no longer heard.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13

President John T. Brush announced yes
terday that the Polo Grounds would be
utilized this year for open-air hippodrome
performances. When the Giants are
home these shows will be given only in
the evenings. When McGraw's men are
playing away matinees will also be held.
The Polo Grounds is but one of a chain
of major league parks which will be uttl-
lied for show purposes as we'll as base
ball. Barney Dreyfuss set the fashion at
Forbes Field last year.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13
Norfolk Looking Up.


One may rather envy the washingtons,
especially if they should happen to run
into good weather. They sail from Wash
ington to Norfolk, handy nights ride
down the Potomac and Chesapeake bay,
and, taking their quarters at one of the
splendid hotels with which Norfolk
abounds, stay in the city a month Dur
ing that time MICA 'eer will take advan-
tage of all the good weather which falls
to his share and it is quite certain that
he Will get some which shall be of benefit
to him.
One OF these days Norfolk is likely to
be one of the largest cities in the United
States. 1t may be more than half CEN
fury from now, but the time is coming
when its shipping business and its other
business shall make 1t great CONNER
cial center of activity. When base ball
clubs get they select the places for
training purposes rest assured it is pick
ing UP In the world.
The New York Americans did not like
their quarters In the town in which they
| trained last year. So it was decided that
they would find another place In Georgia.
Athens was selected. Stallings, the mana
ger OF the team, who does not live far
!, away from Athens, has been over there
to see that everything Is arranged ship
! shape for his players and promises that
they not only shall have first class food,
!! but that they will find good rooms and
! good beds on which to sleep.
This matter of sleeping makes quite
difference with bail players. If a man
| aSer takes his team to some place where
| the beds are no softer than the cheek of
a New York hotel porter and rest is
| out of the question for about four weeks
| it is safe to say that the team, no mat
| ter how conscientiously it may have tried
to get into condition, after poor lodging
and few nights on sleeping cars will
treturn home with case of the fdgets
and general don f-carc-a-Cenf which is
likely to last for long time Then the
owner OF the club will wonder why he
| was so foolish as to spend all that money
to try 10 get his players SO that they
might look strong enough to win a PEN
nant in the league Of which he is a men,
Der.
Before the Chicago Nationals go direct
to New Orleans they will stop off for a
few days at West Baden, Ind. It's we'll
10 make a note OF these places, for there
from all Of them before the first day Of
April has dawned.
/ A host of young players are to be
| tried In spite of the fact that the major
league teams have cut deeply into their
reserve stock. Every day will witness
the discovery of a new quirk to new
major Lacquer Some Of them will stick
with the bigger shows. That Is inevi-
table, but when the sitting time comes
here and there the young fellows will
be singled out who are to return to the
minors for another seasons schooling.
Probably every one of them will go to
a better league than that to which he
belonged in 1902 and In the meantime the
owner of the clubs which are little
lower than the majors sit complacently
by waiting for the time to come when
they shall be able to recruit with ma
teriaI which is in the very best of con-
ditton, thanks to the traininS-out stunts
in the warmer zone.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13
Morgan Has Unique Career.

>~A 6eAAA SAoS SAAAAS wa wa
Perhaps no player has had a more
| unique career than Cy Morgan. now a
! member of the Philadelphia Americans.
Up until two Years ago Morgan was the
property of the st. Louis American
League club For three years previous
Morgan's name always appeared on the
roster Of the Browns team. Each spring
he would report and usually would start
one or two games. and then be shipped
| back to st. Paul in the American Asso-
citation.
Manager McAleer, then In charge Of the
st. Louis club, was certain that Morgan
had the stuff to stick in fast company.
but tie fans refused to be convinced of
the fact. Just as soon as Morgan would
step on the rubber the crowd would get
after him. and 1t wouldn't be very long
until he was on the way to the clubhouse
1t became evident to McAleer that Nor
gan would never do as st. Louis player,
and he was sold to the Boston Americans.
| Morgan then proceeded to make good.
Perhaps no victory ever pleased him more
| than the one he scored against st. Louis
on his first appearance in that city after
drawing his release. He shut the Browns
out, 1 to O. holding them down to some
thing like two hits. For some reason or
other Boston traded Morgan to Connie
Mack last year. and it was a mighty
b
| as Morgan was a tower of strength in
| the grueling battle for the pennant hon.
ors.
| These are but very few instances OF
| where ball players have come back after
| they have been pronounced ready and
| ripe for the bush leagues. Every spring
| a bunch Of players once regarded as toe
| slow for the mai ors are found back on
! the job, and in many instances they JUS
| tify the chance given them of making
good.
| In many cases the fall from the big
| league to the bushes is due to lack of
| experience while often player stays in
| one city too long to be able to show his
| real value. 4 change Of scenery is often
the most beneficial thing in the world to
| a ball player. It's doubtful if Earl Moore
| would be the star that he is today If he
1 had remained with Cleveland. New pa sture
new association and new surroundings in
general invariably prove a great tonic
| to players who are failing to please the
/, fans and employers.
| Fight fans are wondering If Jim Jeffries
| will come back. Base ball fans are think
| Ing about the great Bill Donovan. the
| clever Vic Willis. the redotIbtable Cy
| Young, the energetic and ambitious Harry
| Howell and a score of other great stars
| who for years have thrilled fandom with
! their wonderful work They are wonder
ing if they will come back for another
! good year.
| A majority of fighters may fail to toe
| the scratch as good as ever after bad
season. but big percentage of the ball
| players do.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13

Eddie Collins, the star second baseman
Of the Athletics has been struck out by
Cupid. The hard-hitting player is report
ed to be engaged to Miss Mabel Harriet
Doane of Oakieyview, Pa. Miss Doane,
who is graduate OF the Friends Select
School,, is an enthusiastic base ball root
err. She met Collins couple Of years
ago. soon after he joined the Athletics.
Something must be wrong with Hans
Wagner. Here it's February and Hans
hasn't said anything about business rea-
sons forcing him to positively quit the
game.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13
erably better than that attained by the
c1,Ih b,, reDracenfed

club he represented.
Not so many years ago Charley Street
was given chance by the Cincinnati
club Of the National League to demon
strate his ability as a catcher For
some reason or other Street failed to
impress the manager of the Cincinnati
club. and he was handed his knockout
in the shape OF a release without any
strings attached. Street recovered soon
after the count of ten had sounded. and
in q few short. years worked himself
back to the American League for a trial.
He joined the Washington club and in
side of a few weeks demonstrated be-
yond a question of doubt that he was
real big league stuff, and has kept on
delivering ever since. Today he is reck-
oned as one Of the very best catchers in
the American League. Street came back
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13
Isbell Another "Last Man"

Isbel is the last of the famous team
which Comiskey took with him to Chi
cago from st. Paul when the American
League started to expand in 1900, and
which won the championship OF that and
the succeeding season. Comiskey. though.
had an opportunity to sign at that time
a youth who has since won fame on the
diamond. and who is now only in his
prime. This is Charlie Doom. Comiskey
had Doom at st. Paul. but let him go
without trial, saying:
Doom will make better clothing cut
ter Charles trade) than ball player
Isbell. or Dizzy Izzy.'' as he was some
times called, made record for Chicago
similar to what Billy Mailman did for
the Phillies. This was in playing In
every position on the diamond. Little
Phil Geier nearly equaled this record
when with the Phillies. only Geier, after
playing behind the bat and every out
field and three infield positions during
championship games. rounded out his
record by playing first base and pitching
when on transforming trip.
Isbell played every position on the dia-
mond during the same championship sea-
son. He caught in only part Of one
game, this being at Columbia Park
against the Athletics. The surprising
thing about Isbells work was that he ap-
peared to play every Outfield and infield
position equally well.
One day he was stationed In left field
against the Athletics in game, and he
made two of the most remarka BILE catches
ever seen at those famous grounds. Both
catches were made Off Danny Hoffman.
One drive Isbell pulled down with one
hand by leaping sideways as the ball was
shooting past him. while the other
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13

they make up their minds that they are
fit to play ball the coming season.
Both the Clevelands and the Chicago
Nationals do quite little travelling over
the country. Cleveland rather races
away from Chicago because the players
are divided into two teams and will take
part in many exhibition games through
the spring.
An Even Break.
Those teams which center about Hot
Springs, Ark. pair off with about the
same mileage. For instance, Brooklyn
and Boston must go about the same dis
lance to make home again, and Pitts
burg rides but little farther than Gin
cinnati, although the champions will
make their journey longer because they
are to try their skill in some exhibition
games through the west before they
camp down in Forbes Field.
Some OF the Pittsburg players will
make a preliminary stop at West Baden,
Ind, before they go to Hot Springs. Like
the Arkansas resort. there are fine heal
ing waters at the Indiana stop, and some
of the pitchers who will be needed this
year when the fight becomes warmest
for the National League pennant are to
be given a course Of medicinal sprouts
before they try the other kind of medi-
cine in Arkansas.
The Boston Nationals. after their stay
In Augusta, make a long detour toward
the north and west which brings them
as far away from home as Canton, Ohio.
There is where Smith, the catcher of the
team. resides After playing in Canton
they will load themselves aboard an ex-
press and start directly toward New
York, in which city the president of the
Boston club hopes that his outfit shall
have the opening game this year.
The St. Louis Nationals do little travel
ing. The st. Louis Americans fit about
Texas a bit and then will be prepared
to make their debut under their man
aser at the home park.
Cincinnati has short exhibition series
largely in its own territory, while the
hibition games in cities which lie on
their path home. and the Athletics, as is
customary. will not omit any chance
which looks as If there is business in
sight
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13
National League.

Boston-Aususta, Ga. warm in the day.
cool at night.
Brooklyn--Hot Springs, Ark. Climate
variable in early spring. The new man
aser likes the place because he has some
old players who will not be injured by
: course in the baths.
Cincinnati-Hot Springs, Ark. Baths
appeal TO Griffith. Hasn't lot of old
timers to work out
Chicago-New Orleans. New place for
the Cubs. Hot, usually good for ex
lbition games.
New York-Marlin Springs, Tex. In
dorsed by the manager as being one Of
the finest spring training camps he ever
has found. Likes both climate and the
benefit OF the springs.
hiiadelphia-Southern Pines. y. c. EN-
cclient climate. fine air general condi-
tioI.s good. Claimed players do not feel
the transition SO much to the northern
climate as when they train further south
Pittsburg-Hot Springs, Ark. Regular
place for the champions for years. Play
eTS ard management both fond of the
quarters.
ST. Louis-Little Rock, Ark. Near st.
Louis, and the owner of the club thinks
that 1t is plenty far enough south, con-
sidering that his players get a great
many of their games in the early part OF
the year on their own field
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13
Ferris Goes to Minors.

Almost every month sees the passing
of some great old-timer, either to the
minors or into retirement. Indeed, even
some Of those who jumped into fame
after the war started as members of
championship teams have been thrust out
of the big pond, the most recent example
being "Hobe' Ferris, who helped win
two pennants for Boston, and who has
been let go by the st. Louis Americans
OF Connie Mack's original 1901 team.
not one now remains as a White Ele-
plant, and the only man who saw the
American Leagues opening in this city
as member of Mack's band who is still
in major league harness is Lajoe Two
members of the team. though, were Ma
tional Leaguers in 1900 These were
"Topsy'' Hartsel. who was with Chicago
ed second base for New York
So it is all along the line, and it will be
only a short time before q fan will be
able to count upon the fingers of one
hand all the players In the big leagues
who were major league stars In 1901. The
PhillteS, for instance. have only Gleason
on the payroll, while the Boston Amer
leans have got rid of every player who
helped Jimmy Collins land American
League pennants in 1908 and 1904
Another of the old guard shipped back
to the ranks of the minors the other day
was Frank Isbell Of the Chicago White
SoX. who is part owner of the Wichita
LAM club. which has turned out a
us hope. will be more successful than
the young ''southpaW" Jimmy Brennan,
who was secured by the Phillies in the
trade with Cincinnati
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13
FEW "ANTE-bE[LUM"
PLAYERS IN HARNESS
Last Nine Years Have Seen
the Setting of Many Base
Ball Stars.
BY William G. Weart.

PHILADELPHIA. February 12.-The
rosters Of the major league clubs now
contain very few men who were stars
In the National League when war broke
out with that husky infant, the Amer
lean League, in 1901. Barring kid"
Gleason, who is no longer classed as a
player, but rather as an instructor of
balltossers. the Phillies do not contain
player Of ante-bellum days.
or the many players who were members
Of the Phillies when war broke out and
who jumped to Ban Johnsons organiza-
ton few are still In the big swim. These
are Lajoie, Flick and Harry White Ed
Delehanty is dead. Wolverton, Monte
Cross and Bill Bernhard are minor
league managers. Duggleby, who jumped
to the Athletics and back to the Phillies,
and Johnny Townsend are in the minors.
Chick Fraser is following up his nick
name by raising chickens, and Frank
Donohue. who pitched a no-hit game at
Philadelphia Park against Boston, Is a
hotelkeeper in this city.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13
TRAINING QUARTERS
FOR BIG LEAGUES
Advance Guard Already at
Work and Full Army
Awaits Orders.
By John B. Foster.

NEW YORK, February 1H-Take down
last years panama, Il tie highwaymen
didn't despoil it In the ideS of September,
and look upon it reverently and with af-
lection. Base ball is on. The first of the
migratory birds to take flight left New
York yesterday on the good steamship
proteus, bound for New Orleans. They
are members of the New York National
League club. and their ultimate destina-
tcn IS Marlin Springs, Tex, which they
will reach the latter part of next week
From now until the weather thaws like
maple sugar over a glowing charcoal
fire there will be steady procession OF
bail players hunting the warm spots OF
The big republic where they may renovate
muscles which have been weatller-bound
by holding too many high pinochle hands
sid other hands which needed others OF a
Kind 10 make them valuable.
The men who sailed on the steamer
were lew, but they were deadly III
earnest, because most OF them are young
aud this Is their opportunity TO prove
whether they are competent for the high
circles of the great national game.
The first detachment to move forth to
listen for the caroiins of the southern
song birds WAS made IN of Daley, who
pitched for Springfield, H., last year and
will try TO be pitcher for the Giants this
Year; ZacheT, who was an outfielder for
New Haven in 1909; Lush. who is
brother of Billy Lush, the old National
Lacquer, and who will try TO prove that
he can play outfield base ball well enough
Tor the National League; Scott, who
pitched for the Johnstown team of the
Tri-State League; Arlie Latham. who will
again act as coach for the Giants, and
such OF the newspapermen preferred to
sail to Texas rather than go overland.
Next Wednesday John j. McCiraw. with
NatheWson, will leave New York and
viii go direct to st. Louis, where he will
find another batch of young players
awaiting him. These he will put on
board train and accompanied by the big
pitcher will continue his journey to Mar
lin Springs, where he will have the kin
dergarten to himself for more than ten
days before the veterans begin to make
their way to camp.
No one can conscentiouSly maintain
that the base ball season is not at hand
when all of these preparations have pro-
crossed to q successful climax, and from
now until October the plant Of the base
lit and the yodel of the umpire will find
Il responsive echo throughout the land.
Major league clubs have selected the
following warm weather inches for their
training camps In 1910: