El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-22
ONE BALL PLAYER
THOT SURELY
GAME BACK
Jimmy Callahan, the Vet
eran Player of Chicago,
a Surprise.
(Ry W. S. Farnsworthl.


dom marvels at the Comeback OF
Jimmy Callahan. in his long career on
the diamond as pitcher, infielder ana
outfielder. After six years away from
the big leagues, he returns to the Chi
cago White Sox and is batting and
fielding as cleverly as he did when he
was supposed to be in his prime, eight
years ago.
Many others have tried to come back.
including such former stars as Herman
Long, Jimmy Collins. Bobby Lowe,
Jiggs Donahue. but not one Of them
could deliver the goods on their re-
turn engagement in fast company Cal
iahan, however, has upset all dope. and
he is far from being a DR.. Osler can
didate.
His Arm Weak.
I was in Chicago with the New York
Yankees a fortnight ago and watched
Callahan's playing closely. had watch
ed him play years ago and I.now found
that, outside of his throwing. he was
just as good as ever His arm. however.
seems to be very weak and the infield-
ers all back out toward him when balls
are hit in that direction so as to re-
lay it. On clouts to right center field
Ping Bodie usually covers them
Callahan is not quite as fast on his
pedals as he was in 1904. either, but
at that he beat out five hunts down
the third base line in the series against
the Yankees and he certainly did
scratch ground to do ii. If he could
take off about 10 more pounds l am
sure that he would be able to get down
to first just as fast as ever.
Jimmy is still the same worker on
pulling in hard hit drives that start off
as though they were going over the
bulwarks He has a keen eye and can
clutch a ball going over his shoulder
as easily as he can fly that he doesn't
have TO move a step for.
Good ON Drives.
In fact l find it much easier to
catch a hard drive than one where I
You often drop those easy ones be-
cause you get careless and take them
too soft"
met Callahan after the final game
with the Yankees and asked him to die
tate his autobiography to me- Now
James has written many interesting
magazine articles. and while he re-
fused to dictate anything to me. he sat
down at my typewriter and with the
speed of SIS rewrite man. punched the
keys as follows:
Came From FftchburS.
Il came originally from F1tchburg,
Mass which should be a circumstances
fit to make that little village the future
Mecca of poets, historians and phi
Iosophers. I was born just 81 years ago,
and in the quiet scenes of Fitchburg l
grew. throve and learned the difference
between a big league ball and plate
of corned beef and cabbage, until 1 was
about 81 years of age
mi In
minor leagues I obtained job with
Philadelphia. and had all my plans ar
ranged for a rapid rush to glory in the
fast company. I didn't get 1t. With
hardly trial I was flung out on my
head, so TO speak. and my dream OF
glory was given reverse English that
made me tired.
Didn't Like Philadelphia.
Few Of the baseball cranks of to-
day know that Philadelphia once
turned me down. That experience has
made me slow to ever condemn young
player. A manager should never reject
youngster for the old war horses
without first giving him thorough
trial
philadelphia. I have been told has
often been sorry that didn't stay
there, but I am glad they canned me-
But for that 1 might now be anchored
a
growing through the busy hours of the
day, and where the ideals OF the ma
tives are confined to a pound of scrap
pie and an undercooked SQUAD.
Went TO Chicago.
st landed in Kansas City after leav-
ing the Slumberburg, made good and
was quite a pet with the fans or tnat
place Kansas City Is all right-a nice
little town. and live baseball center
Ultimately 1 was drafted by Chicago,
and If ever young candidate Tor Dig
league honorS was made useful 1t was
me During my first year on the chi
cago team 1 pitched. and also played
first. second, third, short. right, center
and left fields. The only thing i didn't
do was to catch. and. at that / would
often warm up the pitchers before the
game. 1t was probably through an
oversight of captain Arson that l was
sent to catch game.
For some years I remained with the
Chicago club. and then, seeing chance
to better myself financially, / jumped
to Charley Comiskey. While regarded
Jim Hart and the National league peo-
pie with respect and esteem, had pet
ter opportunities with the American
league. When Clark Griffith went TO
New York to msnage the Yankees,
was made manager of the White Sox-
Managed Semi-Profs.
Finally trouble arose and bought
and managed a semi-pro team in chi
cago. called the Logan Squares. But
Comiskey offered me big money to go
back to his club this spring and L &C
cepted While 7 don't think 1 am as
good as I was seven or eight years
ago, still believe there is lot OF
baseball left in me-"
And there sure Is. Here this veteran
is walloping the pellet around the 500
mark and making catches in right 1ieId
for the White Sox as good as ever.
1t was Arthur Irwin, the YANKEES
scout who really deserves the credit
for unearthing Jimmy. When L Rogers
owned the Philadelphia club he sent
Irwin up to Fitchburg to look over the
young pitcher who had been winning
consistently for a semi-pro team up
there in Massachusetts,. Irwin was
stuck" on the kid and signed him on
the spot. 1t certainly was sad day
when the Quakers let Callahan go with
out giving him decent trial
Doesn't Have to Play.
Callahan is a credit to baseball.
clean living fellow, who pays atten-