Evening journal., 1910-02-16
FAN OF EARLY DAYS HAS
HAPPY RECOLLECTIONS OF LAFFERTY

1anes J. Vincent. a former resident
al ,.NcDowenvile," and now village
clerk Il Ontonagon. Mich, has writ
ten tho following interesting letter on
early baseball in Wilmington, ms
tbonghts on the subject haVing beeh
suggested by the recent death OF Frank
b. Lafferty: ,-.r
sporting Editor EVENING JOURNAL
Dear sir: 1 have just read with re-
rret of the death Of Frank r. Lauerty'
The old time pitcher OF the famous
onicksteps of 1S73-74-75 and 76.
THE writer. Just a few days prev
iously was relating to a few basebali
fans the merits of the old club ana
telling them of the once famous pitch
~ now gone and some of the other
great lights and wondering Where enes
were located, II living
I can remember. after S5 years an
sence from the field OF aoton-"Flip
l.anerty. pitcher; Al Hindle, cateher'
NT clinch shortstop; Carey. first base;
mccullough. second basei Fisher thHo
hase. linn Splain. left field; Stidham
center ield. the right fielder mas silp-
ped from my memory.
There was a great game on there
i
o,r hovs won owing 20 two great plays
made by Frank Lafferty.- In one IN
,,ipc with the bases filled and two
men out a hot liner driven waist hisr
~ Ta0ertv was caught with the lef
hand retiring the side, ana Two lh'
,,,,rs later with two men out and two
,nen on bases Lafferty did the saln'
sricj,. with the right hand. winning tn
Eaa.. NH.HFHlH II
eo,s nresent knew who had the ball
AN they heard was the bat crack I'M
hall and the next they saw was trani
preparing 20 strike out another player
1arerty would play all season an'
I do not remember him ever takini
mart in any kicks or disputes. He wa
uniet. unassuming and gentle, mani.
~ ali times. Il was unfortunate 70
him 10 be the great pitcher he was 81
early in the game. Had he been twen
~ years OF thirty years later his ser
vices would have commanded the tol
price in league company.
And the great Little Hindle'. catch
rr-none better, few as good. II
caught game after game for there wer
no subs those days. II you got knock
cd out--on with the game after bein
soused with water. and the boys O
today must recollect all this gram
playing was done by nine or at mos
ten men. and all bare-handed, mitt'
breast protectors and masks were IN
known.
~. 7 played BAH for years, being 70
pitcher Of the almost as fam
&t.3Y4.ooper nine. (SOme old fans ma
trfttnaber us) the nine being com
A,faea Nof young fellows. all followin
6ho irAde Of coopers at Mcdowell
&ilIas anN1 I want 10 say in conclusion
~ mn connection with baseball sine
4SID. j have never met, nor been wit
Mot hlub that had such quiet, gentle
1Alt players as the Quiclssteps.
Eicse was the team:
Hibdle. the smiling catcher"
t H erty who never said or did az
4hIAe but pitched gilt edged bail.
Cllnch. short. stubby, blackeyl
HIkn svho would occasionally get in 4
af runner TO third.
ffafty, the quiet one on frst
Sli<hor. perfect gentleman on thii
nih blayed ball and lined them G
fo"the fence often.
Jimmy Splain. as quiet as any
them and who number OF times pic
ed a ny ball Off the top OF the fen
saving "A few runs.
Jimmy Stidham. who was alws
Johnny on the spot
Mccullough. the same.
And the last one I cannot rememh
but whom / feel assured was as 90