The Detroit times., 1910-12-02
THE TIMES SPORT PAGE
ONCE
PITCHED 81 GAMES
AND LOST BUT ONE
GREATEST PITCHER OF ALL TIME HUNG OUT
RECORD FOR CONSECUTIVE EFFORT NEVER
EVEN CLOSELY APPROACHED.

Il can win the dag, all right" said
he. quietly and in matter-of-fact
tone.
And then followed the most remark
able battle for a penant that the
world has ever seen.
Radbourne then established a rec
ord that has never been equalled, one
that will live when more expensive
contests will have been blissfully for
gotten. In twenty-seven consecutive
games Radbourne won twenty-six OF
them. In four games with Boston he
had three shut-outs; only one run was
scored. and only seventeen hits were
made. This defeat was suffered at the
hands OF Buffalo by score OF 10 o,
and even then only five hits were made
OF him. showing that the defeat was
not due To poor pitching. Needless TO
say, Providence won the pennant, or
rather, Radbourne won the pennant.
Overwork Cost His Arm.
But the great player had 10 pay the
price. No arm could stand that awful
strain without great agony. Morning
after morning when Radbourne arose
he could not lift his arm as high as
his waist. He had TO brush his hair
with his left hand. But he did not
give UP the game. He would slip out
10 the park about two hours before
the rest OF the team put in an appear
ance and would begin the excruciating
process OF limbering up. lie could
pitch the ball only a few feet when
he would first go out; but he would
keep on trying. time after time, rub
bing his arm with his left hand. Some
times his face would be drawn up into
contortions. but never a word OF COM
plant left his lips.
Half an hour before the game was
to begin, the players would slip out
to see how old Hoss" was getting
along, they would sit patiently on the
bench waiting for his arm TO get into
condition. When he was able TO throw
from second TO home base. rousing
cheer would go I'D. for they knew
that meant the winning Of the gam"
for them.
Refused To Take Release.
After Radbourne's great season with
Providence, managers all over the
country were on his heels. Flattering
offers poured in, and he was not un-
der contract with Providence for the
next season, either. When The con-
test was over the late Ned Allen.
president OF the team that season s"nf
for Radbourne. He laid the re,ea.e
before him. and close beside II a
blank contract. Radbourne looked at
them both for several minutes, and
hnn oil
the blank out for a sum only little
higher than he had been getting. and
tore up the release. Allen almost
fell on his neck and wept for JOY.
Radbourne's last year In baseball
was with Cincinnati In 1891, but II
was a sad year. II seems a pity that
the career OF so great ball player
should have ended so sadly. That
year his work showed great deteriora-
ton for the awful strain made In 1884
was beginning TO tell on his arm. At
the end of the season he was too
proud TO 90 into minor league base
ball. and so entirely withdrew from
the game He returned TO Bloomington,
where he opened a billiard hall. He
had little 10 say, and in unwinking
silence would sit In corner and
watch the young men laugh as they
played. He would talk about himself
only when cornered, and then only
few short words. He had always
been an ardent fisherman, hunter and
sportsman. but he gave up the open
life. Each year his tactlturnity in
creased. until he became almost sui
len.
After time he gave up his billiard
hall and retired into the obscurity OF
his home, seldom lettis~ people see
him. At last, in 1897, when he was
g years old, he fell iii and soon pass |
ID away Even when he was on his
ieath bed. few OF his friends knew !
hat he was i'll. The bitterness OF
'enility had gripped him unrelenting-
y.
And so lived and passed away the |
treat Hercules OF baseball.
Copyright, 1910. by the National !
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