The Washington herald., 1911-02-05

baseball factor. A couple Of decades
since Dave Dishler had b. b. club in
the pent-up city that was some pumpkins
In those days of italic circuits, when you
played to-day in New Haven. Conn.,. took
a boat tonight for little old bumptious
New York, caught a train to Scranton.
thence via a draft Of empty coal cars
to Wilkesbarre for tomorrow afternoons
game.
Lots Of talent came out of that circuit.
and Dave Dishler developed not a little
Of 1t. Two of them. in particular Mike
Griffin, the celebrated outfielder, and Davy
Mckeough. weres Utica lads. The father
OF each. like Davy Dishler. was in poll
tics. along with everything else that wore
pants in that village Griffin's father was
fan. and knew the game better than
some Of the umpires of the day The
elder Mckeough took little stock in the
game. and seldom went to see his SON
perform.
Davy Mckeough was a catcher, going
from Utica to the Athletics, where he
made his mark, but retired early to go
into business in Utica, where he now
lives. Mike Griffin needs no introduction
TO forty-niner or tenderfoot. His gravest
offense is putting Brooklyn on the base
ball map, but he has lived that down.
Bad Griffin and Dad" McKeough
were political pals and cronies generally.
One day Griffin told McKeough that his
boy got $50 a month more than Davy, and
didn't he think that Mac ought to give
the la-ad lacing for not demanding
more money. If Mike Griffin do be get
tin $50 more a month than my Davy,
and if your Mike is gettip' what he's
worth. sure Davy isn't drawin' any
money for his playing. but is paying for
his fooiishness.' Figure that out while
sharpen my pencil.
However. the elder Griffin coaxed Mac
out that afternoon to see the game.
Davy, who was a noted base runner.
could even in those days perform a few Of
the sliding tricks which those Of short
memory think of as recently evolved.
Both of his hits that day were to short
infield, and he beat both out by splendid
slides. In addition, he stole four bases,
sliding in every time under the ball
Mike Griffin had good day. with three
or four good catches and three long hits,
and was batted around. going into each
base all standing. Us the seafaring men
say.
Dad" Griffin suggested bite of some
thing to eat after the game for them
selves ard the boys, with a wee drop Of
the craythur on the side. Cakes and ale
not being so plentiful in those elder days,
the lads were glad enough to go
with the old scouts-and a pretty good
pair of oldsters they were at that. When
the hardware and the ale came on, Davy
McKeough asked his father how he liked
the game.
Its to Pat Griffin I'll be sayin', Dayy.
I take back what l was tellin' him the
morning. It's to you III say. Davy. is that
what you call baseball? What's the mat
ter with you, Davy? Can't you run from
one of those bags to another without
falling down? I can bate you meself and
kape on my fate at that.
And at that. Davy, it's the worst Of
it you're gettin'. Paddy Griffins boy can
run all right without falling down at
every bag he comes to. but sure he
caught but three or four balls all day,
while you caught a hundred
Davy winked at Mike and Mike grinned
at Davy. while the elder Griffin laughed
loudly.