The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-07-29

Of the best players in the National
league. If any one could have found
Schultz up to 1898 a detailed
map would be needed. He was born
in Cochocton, N. Y, and started play.
ing ball with Glen Aubrey. From there
he went to Poseyville, from Poseyville
to Poseytuck, to Hickory Grove. to
Blossburg, and finally in 1897 got upon
the edge Of the map at Waverly, play.
ing there two years. Then he went
to Lestershire, and reached Syracuse
in 1902.
Schultz proved to be the man need.
ed. In him Chance had found one Of
the rarest baseball treasures. a third
batter" The third batter In any team
10 the most important. He must hit
long flies. hit hard, bunt and run, be-
cause ahead Of him in a well-con-
structed team are two batters who
are on the team for their ability to
get on" and the third man must be y
able either to move them up or hit
them home. (.
The team. after 10 years Of effort
was growing strong, but not steady.
It fought hard for the pennant in 1906.
but was beaten. Chicago at last had
a contender in the pennant race. Sc
lee was sick, and he did things he
would not have done had be been we'll
Having a team almost complete, he
was kept from wrecking it only BY
Chance. Selee wanted to release Slae
gle; he wanted to let Evers go; no
was SO anxious to get rid Of Holman
that he refused to permit him to praos
tise IN the diamond with the other
players. In the middle of the season
Selee's illness forced him to surrender
and Chance was chosen as manager.
The big, awkward youngster who had
Joined the team at West Baden seven
years earlier, suddenly showed him.
self a great baseball leader. The day
he took charge of the team he said:
I'VE need pitchers, we must have q
new third baseman, and q hitting out.
fielder before we can win the pen.
nant."
Casey was playing a fair third base
and Maloney was a sensational, If en-
ratio, %outfielder, and was the idol q
the crowd. That winter the team was
sold by Hart, who had spent SO many
years trying to create a winner, to q
Webb Murphy, who gave Chance abso
lutte power as far as playing and get
ting players vas concerned.
Chance knew the men he wanted.
He wanted four; and three Of them no
got. To get the first one he made
one of the most spectacular deals ever
recorded in baseball history. This man
was James Sheckard, a brilliant,
clever and much-wanted outfielder
who had disturbed the Brooklyn club
by playing hop scotch with the Ameri-
can league during the war. Here the
gossip Of the club proved valuable.
Sheckard was dissatisfied with Brook
lyn, and Chance knew 1t. The Brook
'vn management did not think Sbech
ard was giving his best services, but
feared to trade a man who was popu-
lar with the spectators. The trade
Chance made to get Sheckard stunned
Chicago followers Of the game. He
gave Outfelders Mccarthy ard Ma
loney, Third Baseman Casey and
Pitcher Briggs, with $4,000 added.
Chance was satisfied. His outficld
was complete at last. He swung
Schultz to right field, his natural po-
sition, put Sheckard in left, and with
Clo a. To- a4-ko.H -5ol 49, ~,o,1- 10
finished. ez,
Chance realized third base must be
filed OF his pennant hopes would
filter away at that corner. He knew
the man he wanted, Harry Steinfeldt,
who was playing Indifferent ball with
Cincinnati. He was slow. a heavy hit
ter, a good fielder and a wonderful
thrower. Again inside gossip directed
Chance to a man while older man.
ayers, not closely in touch with play
ers, listened to other stories. Chance
knew Steinfeldt, had played with him
two winters in California, and knew
also that internal d%issentions were
causing the trouble In the Cincinnati
ranks. The Cincinnati club was anx-
tous to trade Steinf1eldt, but gossip
among his enemies in Cincinnati had
kept other clubs from bidding for the
player. Chance asked Murphy to
make a trade. Murphy went to Gin
cinnati, but the stories whispered to
him sent him flying back to Chicago
without the player. A few days
latet Murphy asked Chance: What
third baseman can we get?"
"Steinfeldt," said Chance.
Murphy argued. but went to Gin
cinnat and again returned without
the player, but with even more start
ling stories to tell Chance. Who shall
We get?" he asked.
Z. 'steinfeldt." replied Chance. I'M
moved.
So Murphy. still unconvinced, went
to Cincinnati and traded Weimer. q
left-handed pitcher for Steinfeldt.
The team was complete at last. The
- Ma 49, MbI