El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-07-30
When Baseball Was Played For
Blood, Studs and Other Things;
Modern Players Travel Is Soft

New York, y. Y, July 30.-Dan O'Lea-
~ was one of the many unique CHARGE
tiers who figured in baseball some %
years ago He was a player and also
a manager, but his managerial efforts
were mostly confined TO independent
clubs where he had the opportunity 70
perform many freak acts that would
have hardly passed IN organized base
ball, but which were 10 his natural
bent.
In 1886, OLeary had taken UP base
ball in Scranton, Pa, as a venture, and,
usual, Dan had entered into the
speculation on a shoestring- In those
days Daniel was not blessed with any
surplus coin. as he has been lately.
OLeary, several years previous to
his Scranton venture, had undertaken
the precarious job of handling team
made up of players who afterward
starred with the Old Nets of New York
Dump rots most of them. but all could
play ball like chain lightning Dan still
had a liking for his "grasseaters" and
the latter dearly loved their old mana
ger. for O'Leary was never guilty Of
making any rules of conduct or habits.
They, therefore. gladly flOcked TO the
OLeary standard when the Scranton
proposition was unfolded 10 them
Ball for suds and Coin.
There may not be much money in
it, said Dan to .'Dasber" Troy, Paddy"
Callahan, -Bolliky'' Taylor and others
of his henchmen, and again there
might If We make any coin you will
get three squares a day and scuttles of
suds, enough every night to float a ship,
besides your salaries. No mOn-no eats;
no mon-no beer. But l think We can
COP
So Dan went to Scranton and com
pleted arrangements, sent for his play
ers and started proceedings Scranton
was in those days perfectly satisfied
with any old ball team if it could only
beat WilkeSbarre, and as Dan ard his
crew were lucky enough to do that
right off the reel, and three straight,
they became popular favorites on the
jump.
The club made money and rolled in
wealth, and luxury, or what they con-
sidered those necessary ingredients 10
happiness-three squares and plenty of
high ones"
There was a team playing in Will
Transport at the time that had beaten
every club they had met that season.
and were anxious to meet the Scran-
tons. also an undefeated team The
game was arranged to be played in
Scranton and many WilliamspOrt sports
accompanied their team. The Williams
port boys had a day or so previously
beaten the Athletics of Philadelphia
and their hackers were feeling very
cocky in consequence and imagined
their team invincible.
Big Odds Offered.
They came to Scranton with big wads
of money and as feeler offered to bet
at odds of 100 to so on their pets. Not
much Scranton money Undertaking. at
those figures. the odds gradually in
creased to 100 to 100 to 20. OLeary had
laid low. 1t was pay day for his play
ers and he had $1,000 tucked away in a
saloon safe with which TO pay his men
their monthly Stipends. But Dan didn't
hesitate a minute when those odds were
namcd-the whole amount went down
on his team Not satisfied with getting
that amount down, for he never was a
piker, Dan went to the saloon proprie-
tor, who owned the place where his
players hung out, and mortgaged his
share of the afternoons gate receipts
for $500. which he also bet on his team.
The night before the game, Dan had |
by offering TO buy everything the sa-
loon proprietor had in his place the next
night, induced him to close his place !
and meeting of the players was called I
by O'Leary- The manager had prepared !
himself by having a full stock of drink /
ables in his own room. and he kept his !
players under his own eye until every :
saloon in town was locked up for the /
night.
Some Ball Playing.
Next day the players heard about I
the heavy betting their manager had 4
done and were suspicious that it was /
the pay money
isn't this pay day?" they asked |
Dan.
Maybe" Dan replied. and then he !
told them how he had placed the money. |
Well. talk about ball playing. why,
those dump rats went at the Williams
port fellows like playing fiends and ,
made nine runs the first inning The /
final score was something like 20 to s.
Did the Dan OLearys, get the eats
and drinks that night? Did they not: |
The manager set up the wine by the |
case, champagne, too.