The Washington times., 1910-03-11

those in our midst-he is playing second
| base. wherefore joak on word midst-is
Wade Hampton Klllfer. This baseball
What Is II is twenty-three wears of age,
. feet 9i2 inches high. and weighs l'o
pounds without catchers pad. lie
weighs heavier than this on the mind
or Manager McAleer. who Is trying 10
decide whether W. Hampton is catcp-
er. second baseman, or outielder.
He was born and raised IN Paw
Paw, Mich, which is not a joke town,
but has had more jokes written about it
than any other town on the map except
COhOes. Painted Post, and that other
Michigan metropolis. Kalamazoo in
which last place our hero received the
beginnings Of his education in Kala-
mazoo College. This was IN 1908. bad
year for small grafters In the Post
office Department. but not so worse for
the big ones. Il was at this exponent
OF the higher learning that the legend
originated that Killifer was a catcher
He backstopped for the college nine.
and his vermilion top was a beacon Of
hope for the freshmen when attacked
by the gIddy sophs.
In 1904 and 1905 the subject OF the
monograph was at the University Of
Michigan, but was not on the ball team.
Probably the fact that he had not wres-
tied Frank Gotch or Farmer Burns.
and attended lectures regularly. blinded
The manager 20 the latent national pas
timing talent in the person OF W. Hamp-
ton Kiuifer. genuine future great.
The year of grace 1906 saw our hero
playing second base and numerous
other positions for the Kalamazoo team
in the South Michigan League. the
league which Joe Jackson. president or
the Baseball Writers Association. car
ries around in his vest pocket, despite
invariable. annual attempts to rob him
OF the same. Having acquired at dear
old Alma Mater the art Of hitting a
Minnesota rooter with both hands at
once, and being fun OF college spirit
and ginger, the South Michigan League.
with its merry wars, was an excellent
place in which 20 develop aggressive
ness TO high degree. and that IS what
happened with W. II. Knufer. You may
smlte him on the left cheek, but when
me turns The left 10 YOU il rs protected
10y crouch and ne is busy leading with
"A right swing.
Ibis nimbleness In the iufeld. coupled
/ with good batting, caused Kiuifer TO be
sold TO Detroit AT the end OF the 1895
season in the s VI. t. Hugh Jennings
looked him over carefully. but maybe
the glare Of the combined carmine
top pieces or the manager and recruit
affected the sight Anyhow. HuEhcy
couldn't quite see our hero and loaned
him TO Johustown. in the TrF-State
League. where ne remained two months.
beinE recalled in September He al
teruated that year between second base
and short stop.
In 1905 ne was yicariousIv second
I bascman. third baScman. short stop and
general goat for the Detroit American
League champions. seldom playing the
same place more than two days, and
once in a while playing two positions
i'm one day When 10 comes 10 skipping
from place 10 place he has the chamois
Of the Alps looking ike Roaring BIZ
Clarke running.
Ia 1903 he was all OF this again for
Detroit, hut for fear ne would become
the outheld. and sometimes 10 the
bench. Toward the middle Of the 1909
season mo was traded 90 Washington.
along with Germany Schaefsr. for Jim
Delehanty. and. as we have said. he is
still Iite=ally in our midst, playing more
or less second base. The FUN round of
hiS tour OF baseball positions was nearly
completed in Washington when CantilIon
called him in one day from the outfeld
To- catch. in an emerEeuCy He showed
so well that he may become a catcher
as q steady job. unless the club needs
somebody 90 paint the dagpoIe. when
ne viii undoubtedly ger the assignment
All he has 10 do now is 20 pitch a game
ann play first game or two and he
Will have run the whole Camut We
believe hs could do well in either Of
these positions and We hope NcAleer
gives him a chance, for the lad has