The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-02-27
TRIBUTE TO keller
Wee Willie Was King of
Scientific Batsmen.
HE QUITS THE GAME RICH
Success of Former Yankee Outfielder
Due EatIFeIy to His Great Eye on
Pays Great Little Chap a Fine Com
pIiment-Saved His Money.
MaaAmaso,

From The New YORK Globe.
lie was the king of right fielders. He
stood alone in the game When he was
playing with Ned Hanlon over IN Brook
iyn he was regarded by all ball players
as the most scientific batter In baseball.
Looking from any angle, batting. fielding,
and base running and brain matter, it is
doubtful If there ever was a more val
liable man to a baseball team than VIII
lam Keller. who has been given his un-
conditional release by the New York
Americans.
Bill hasn't decided on his future plans.
but don't be bit alarmed If he puts his
little bat on his shoulder and helps Bill
Dahlen out in Brooklyn. Then don't be
surprised If Wee Willie" is seen strut
ting around the Polo Grounds.
Cnquestionably much OF Keeler's sue
cess in batting was due TO his great eye.
he would stand up there in his own way
with that rolling pin and never move
away from the dish II he got one he
liked he took crack at il. FEEDERS for
years tried to find out his weakness and
how to arrange the in and out field IN
order to stop him from making base hits
and breaking up ball games. II was no
use. One day there was a game which
Tim Hurst was umpiring. Keller let one
go and Hurst called ball. The catcher
made roar, claiming strike.
How can you call anything like that
a ball2" was the question put to Tim.
Had a Fine Batting Eye.
Anything that Keller doesn't strike
at is a ball?' was Hurst's rejoinder.
That's the regard umplres had of Bill
and his good eye in gauging deliveries.
We all know what the answer was
Keller gave when he was asked the
secret Of his hitting ability. 1t was u
hit them where they amt"
Il never saw a ball player who could
go up and bit al kinds of pitching like
Keller could" said Hugiley Jennings one
day. He had four hits one day in De-
troit One was slammed in right field,
the next one over second base, and the
other just past the third sack. and Kee-
Ter kept 10 form as a scientific batter by
laying one down and beating it oua. He
was a wonder"
Since Willie has been on the hill top,
where he went IN 1903 he has been of
great service to the Yankees. He has
done a great deal for the American
League. and for this reason Frank Far
rel. the owner of the New York Ameri-
cans, gave him the unconditional release
IN 0rdar thaf no COULD d - - ,.f.s...s
II is the intention of Sailing to have
nothing but young blood around the
Broadway grounds. Keller admits that
they have been beating him step or two
the past two years. and that he could dis
cover that he wasn't as fast as he used
TO be. But wouldn't he be a very handy
enc to have around?
Tom Lynch had the following TO say
about Keller at the baseball meeting at
the Waldorf:
There Is ore OF the gentlemen of base
ball. and I had him tabled that way all
the time. There is no use telling what
a good ball player he was. I would Ike
to get a man like Keller TO umpire for
me, and when he leaves the game he
can come TO me and say the word and
he can have the job
1t may be that Keller will consider
that sort of position
We have told over and over again how
Keller stands in the financial line. He
has his money invested in real estate in
Brooklyn, and was one ball player who
thought that the day would come when
/ bank roll would be the proper thing.