The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-07
Especial to The Farmer.1

Lancaster, Pa, Aug. After savin{
the life of Miss Susanna Steele. Il
Michael K. Smalling, first baseman O.
the local team Of the Tri-State lea
que, was drowned in the Conestots
River at Rock Springs, near here. His
body was recovered, today, and will
be taken to his home in Bridgeport
Conn, for burial
Smalling and Miss Steele ,were pad
ding in canoe and the, girl tried
to change her seat. The frail craft
overturned, throwing both into the
water. Smalling got the girl onto the
overturned craft but it was not buoy
ant enough to support both and he
tried to swim ashore. He sank on the
way.
smalling was the son of Teresa and
the late Michael Kiss of Johnson
street. He played baseball under the
name, Smalling, and was known by
that name all over the CITY, few in
fact calling him by his family name
He was "a years of age and destined
to go higher in the baseball world
He has always been associated with
the athletic fraternity of the city be-
ing a star, not only in baseball but
also in football and basketball.
Standing at least six foot high, with
all the muscles and Drawn of an tn
lete, Smalling made the ideal first
baseman. Unaggressiveness on the
field of strife was his only failing. In
baseball battles he looked upon deci-
sions as they were given. When
Smalling did raise his voice in protest,
there was, indeed, a chance for argu-
ment.
He t.s1 sa zaDall in his makeup since
he played around the South. End lots
in short trousers. Bigger than the
other boys Of his age and having the
ability his prowess always stood out
ed around with the South End team
in the Junior City League back in
1905. Next year and the year follow
ing found him with the 7. M. C. A.
the best club ever turned out by the
association, winning the State Y. M.
C. A. championship for two seasons.
First base appeared to be his natural
position but he was often called upon
to take his position in the pitching
box and was never found wanting. He
showed equal ability in any other po-
sition on the diamond.
In 1908 he held down the first base
assignment for the Yost club runners
up in the Industrial league and was
also with the West Ends The fol-
lowing year he was again with the
Yosts in the Industrial league, the
club dropping out of the league race
in mid season, when still in first
place. Last year he was found again
on the first station with Yosts win
ners of the Factory league pennant
In all the seasons with factory teams
he was picked out as the best first
baseman in the city and was looked
upon as one who would go higher in
the ranks of baseball. He held off
from going into faster company until
this year, when he signed up as first
baseman with the Holyoke club. Hol-
yoke had a seasoned man in Duggan
on the first turn whom Smalling had
to supplant. The team management
noting his ability and his willingness
to learn placed him in left field.
Holyoke, a tail end club, found the
going hard and being short on play
ers Smalling was shifted to numerous
positions, principally to second. The
team being in rut, some of the play
ers had to go. Smalling was unlucky
and drew his release. He was not out
of the game a day, for Dan O'Neil in