The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-11-29


X ~tnryes ahout the funny stunts he
ipulled. He was left-helder and worh-
led IN the days when Sam thompson
(! Charley Bennett, and few others
INere in their prime. Hitting wash
one OF his strongest points, A. IL
fBpink tells the following good yarn
about O'Leary In his great book: ihe
National Came"
Dan O'Leary was one OF the many
unique characters that figured In base
lball some % years ago. lie was
}player and also manager, but MS
managerial efforts were mostly con-
I 1lued to independent clubs, where he
had the opportunity to perform many
freak acts, that would have hardiy
|passed In organized baseball, but
! which were to his natural bent.
"In 1886, O'Leary had taken up
Baseball In Scranton, Pa, as venture,
and. as usual Dan had entered into
the speculation on shoestring. In
those days Daniel was not blessed
with any surplus coin, as he has been
lately.
"OLeary, several years previous to
ihfss Scranton venture, had undertaken
tfhe precarious job OF handling a team
! made up of players, who afterwards
! starred with the Old Nets OF New
York. dump lots" most OF them. but
MI could play ball like chained light
ming. Dan still had liking for his
s~xrass-eaters' and the latter dearly
loved their old manager, for O'Leary
was never guilty of making any rules
of conduct or habits. They, there
49, -. IN ha
standard when the Scranton PROPOSE
4 ti0ns was unfolded to them.
There may not be much money in
It. said Dan to ''Dasher'' Troy, Pad
,dYv Callahan, BILLY" Taylor and 9TH
ers OF his henchman, "and again there
might. If we make any coin you VIII
get three squares day and scuttles
OF suds, enough every night to float
ship, besides your salaries. No mon
mo eats; no mon-no beer. But
think we can cop"
Begins at Scranton.
$50 Dan started at Scranton, and
Completed arrangements sent for his
players and started proceedings.
Scranton was In those days perfectly
satisfied with any old ball team, II IL
could only beat Wilkesbarre, and as
Dan and his crew were lucky enough
to do that right Off the real, and three
straight, they became popular favor
ties in the jump.
The club made money and rolled in
wealth, and luxury, or what they con-
,sidered those necessary ingredients TO
happiness three squares and plenty
Of high ones.
There was team playing in VIII
at that time that had beaten
|eyery club they had met that season,
land were anxious to meet the Scran-
ltOns, also an undefeated team. The
(xame was arranged to be played in
Scranton and many Williamsport
sports accompanied their teams. The
JWilliamsport boys had a day or two
tproviously beaten the Athletics of
Philadelphia, and their hackers were
ceiling very cocky in consequence and
Imagined their team invincible.
4 They Came Weli-Heeled.
rThey came to Scranton with big
lR1ds OF money and as feeler offered
To- bet at odds Of 100 to 80 on their
|pct1 Not much Scranton money ma
I1ctlalizing at those figures, the odds
GRADUALLY increased to 100 to 20.
{Q'keary laid low, II was pay day for
~ players and he had $500 tucked
InHay In saloon safe with which to
nv his men their monthly stipends.
B1t Dan didn't hesitate a minute
1Rhen those odds were named-the
whole amount went down on his team.
gDf satisfied with getting that amount
t1twn, for he never was piker, Dan