The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-20

by bennett were Lady Baldwin, Getzein,
Conway, Dupee Shaw, Clarkson. SWEETS
| Nichols. and staley
Bennett and Cancel.
Bennett had a side partner, Charley
Camel. while in Detroit, and both were
sold 10 Boston, together with Dan
BroatheTs and Hardie Richardson. IN
1885. CANCEL WIS clean-cut catcher, a
superb thrower, and possessed an even
temper. He was usually high IN the
averages and was an excellent batsman.
Mike Kelly was not a great catcher
from the standpoint OF fielding averages.
but he was q wonderful ball player and
a winner. He was fun OF tricks. knew
the batsmen's weak points, ana was OF
valuable assistance TO his boxmen. He
was a swift and accurate thrower 70
bases and an accomplished kicker, for
life miserable when bis team was receiv-
ing the worst Of the breaks.
Kelly could play anywhere FOR that
matter. He even pitched now and then.
but his strongest point was hitting and
base running. He led the league IN bat
ting in 1856. with an average Of .2ss for
us games.
Buck Ewing's Career.
Buck Ewing. the daddy Of them aIl, vas
In his prime in 1858 and 1889. although he
caught some fine bali in 1890 and 1891
Ewing was a stone wall behind the bat.
He was also wonderful thrower and a
| tremendous hitter. as well as a feet base
stealer.
Like Kelly. he could play well In any
position. and pitched in emergencies
Ewing was a born leader. When he took
hold of the Giants in 1858 and 1889 he won
the National League pennant and the
worlds series twice In succession, and vas
hero with the fans Ewing was a kicker.
but his protests never savored OF ruff
fianism
He was very good natured and joilled
his men continually. In a pinch he was
seldom found wanting. and as an expo
nent OF teamwork ne was never exceIled.
Taking him in all departments Of the
game. he was probably one or the greatest
BAH players that ever put on a uniform.
and veteran critics scorn the assertion
that there are better catchers to-day.
Ewing caught the famous Tim Keefe,
Mickey Welsh, Cannon Bali Crane, Hank
.o'Day. Titcomb, Amos Rusie and other
pitchers with as much ease as if he sat in
a rocking chair Crane was probably the
swiftest pitcher he ever faced. yet he
used to make the big twirler as mad as a
halter by telling him that be had no speed
when the fast ones came shooting over
the plate.
Ewing caught seventy-eight games IN
1885, with a fielding average Of SCI and 2
batting average Of .s06 In 1889 he Off
ciated behind the bat in "a out Of ISL
games. with .S94 in fielding and SIS in
batting.
Chief thinner. an from man, who stood
the battering of many crack pitchers with
the Cleyelands. was the leader IN 1884,
when he caught sighty-eight games with
an average Of .9S5. That was tho year
that Duke Farrell. who had previously
earned fame as a Chicago backstop. was
a bright star at the Polo Grounds when
the Giants. under John NJ Ward, wen the
Temple cup from the Baltimores. Farrell
caught Rusie and Meekln. both speed
merchants, with an ease and grace that
delighted thousands OF fans. many or
whom remember him 10 this day.
Wilbert Robinson, Of the BaItimores.
and John Clement. OF the Philadelphiss.
were tied for first honors in 1885, the for
mer catching seventy-four games and the
latter eighty-fouT. Deacon Jim Mcclure.
another stone wall. carried of the honors
IN 1928 when he caught ninety-two games
for the Washingtons, with an average OF
$50. thinner again led the league in. 1901.
when he offieiated with the wind pad and
mitt in sixty-seven games for the Pitts
5urgs. and Kittridge. then with the Bos-
tons, came back in the following year
with $50 for seventy-two games.
Bergen Is Star.
Bergen. Of the Brooklyns. was the lead
sr in 1908 he showed practically as much
skill then as that of his brother Martin.
who caught eighty-two games for the
3ostons IN 1897, and later committed sui
'ide. Roger Bressnahan will always be
by New York fans as a hard
worker. He caught the great Mathew
ION with skill, and was the life OF the
lew York team.
Charles A. Comiskey, owner Of the Chi
ago White Sox. developed several IA
nous catchers. including Doc Bushong.
aek Boyle, and Billy Sullivan Bushong
aught for Comiskey's St Louis Browns.
Vho won several pennSnts in the old
american Association.
He handled Bobby Caruthers and Long
Dave Foutz, and after being traded 10
he Brooklyns he continued To do excel
INT work. Boyle succeeded Bushong in
t. Louis, and with Pitcher Silver King
S his leading partner in strategy, he de-
eloped remarkable battery. Sullivan,
till with the White S0x. was rated the
est catcher in the American League saw
raj years ago. but he may have gone
ack trife
ossie Shreckengost who caught Rube Z
'addell. Plank Bender and other pitch
rs for the Philadelphia Athletics can
OF be left out OF this story. Neither can
harley Doom, the new manager OF the
hillies, and Morgan Murphy. who was
lmous as catcher OF the champion Bos-
IN American Association team under
rthur Irwin in 1881.
Owen Moran and Abe Atteu have been
atched to box at the Fafrmont 4. G..
ew York, March g.