Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-19

GREAT COMEBACK" KID WHO
WILL VISIT HERE TELLS AN
EXPERIENCE.

There is perhaps no greater wit II
q the big leagues today than James JONI
Callahan, the famous "come-back" klc
Of the Chicago White Sox, who Will %
one Of the stars Owner Comiskey Will
send to Ottumwa on August 80 to DAT
tie with the Speed Boys. The follow
Ing story OF Cal and an athlete brings
out the storytelling proclivities OF tne
famous Callahan:
ssYou never can tell" says Jimmie
Callahan, "just what people you are
likely to meet In this great game OF
ball. It Is a most surprising field, tina!
OF the Only Game, and I have resolved
never to be startled, not even II were
to encounter the Dowager Empress OF
China catching behind the bat and
Booker T. washington In center 1lelo.
Two years ago. however, wnen
was playing with my semi-pro team OF
Chicago, the Logan Squares, did set
q surprise party. Some local CLUB came
over to my grounds one SATURDAY
afternoon, and we sure had some SPIT
tied ball game, for they played IN rat
thing style all the way through,
ION first base was big, red
checked, fine looking player, strane'
er to me, whose name was given as
O'Brien. The first time / went down to
first this O'Brien stuck out his hip as
I swung BY, and stood me on my head
far out In the prairie Returning to the
base I called the stranger all the
names could think Of, some Of them
far from mailable, and urged him to
come and fight me after the game. He
said never word, but, receiving the
ball from the pitcher, slammed II
against my ribs and fell upon me like
a ton Of rocks as slid back to the
bag.
'sWar was thereby started between
this O'Brien man and James j. Gala
han. In almost every inning something
happened between us. Bang! I'd slide
into first with spikes, and O'Brten
would try to block me off the base,
and would tag me with the hard side
Of the ball. And all the time was
abusing him and daring him to fight
and all the time he was saying never
a word, not even the least answer to
my abusive speech or my ferocious
gestures.
'In the seventh inning managed to
give Mr.. O'Brien the leg and toppled
him over on his back, getting to
second before he could find the ball.
AS I came in at the end Of the inning
ready to start the next frame, l re-
marked to cne Of the reserve men on
the other team: Queer guy, your first
baseman. rye been calling him every
thing I could think Of, and not once
has he said a word in reply The re-
serve man stared at me moment and
then answered: He can't very well
answer. You see, that's Father O'Brfen
the priest of our parish. He loves to
MAY ball, but he can't use any bad
language, even though 1t might be
justified
81 was all broke up. Quick as a
flash I rushed out to first base, eager
to make fullest apologies to the
athletic priest-but / was too late AS
| came up to the base Father O'Brien
was trading gloves with his center
fielder. my lad said he to the center
fielder, can you swear? Can you pro-
fane?'
Well ah-well, Father, have
cursed. but didn't mean IT, the
centerfielder stammered.
Then my son. said Father O'Brien
take this glove and play first base
with all the bad language that goes
with the position!'"