Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-04-28
BALL PLAYERS WITH GLASSES
How FOur-Eyed Bill white Lost a
Home Run and Saved a
Freak Bet.

There are no players now in. the fast
company who wear glasses TO remedy de-
fects of the eyes," said old Dan Brouthers
recently "Of course, the sun fielders OF
every club wear glasses while chasing flies
In the garden, but they are smoked glass
with plain lenses and have nothing to do
with the sight of the performer. Black
burne of the White sox, am told, wears
glasses now while off the field, and II this
is the case, his faulty sight may have been
the cause Of his poor showing, both at bat
and in the field during the last season.
mo infielder or battery player in any
league, as far as 1 have heard, wears
glasses now nor has there been a spec
tacle wearer since the day of VIII White,
Of whom more anon. And yet, 1t often
seemed to me, that many good ball players
could be added to the list of active stars
II fellows who wore glasses were given con-
sideration or IL their natural reserve and
shyness did not keep them out of the
game.
"A man who has properly fitted glasses
can play just as good ban in certain po-
sitions as anybody else. shouldn't imagine
that an infielder would get along well with
goggles on-a bounding ball might put him
out OF business, and on a hot afternoon,
when the rims OF glasses get wet from
perspiration, he might lose. them while
bending after grounder. Still. why
shouldn't an outfielder, IL he could see bet
ter with lamps on. wear themP And why
shouldn't a pitcher use glasses? And a
catcher, with a good mask on. would have
his lenses perfectly protected.
II saw some college games the last few
years, In which several lads wore glasses.
ms
rahs were as good as any of the others
Long ago saw the second baseman of the
University of Virginia, named Mcclure
playing the infield with enormous spectacles
like those they put on German professors
In q carieature. And this Mcclure was
there strong with the bat and on the mid
die station. He'd have made a crack
professional. glasses and all. If he had
wanted to go into the game
viii White, suppose. was the last OF
the eye-glassed professionals. Near
sighted as ROosevelt-and Teddy could
play good game OF ball. I'll bet-white
was, nevertheless, a great pitcher. He had
the curves, the speed and al sorts OF
scientific trickery. AS a batsman, White
was the limit He batted, Il think, about
1908 each season. The poor fellow couldn't
hit blamed thing, and toward the latter
part OF his career simply swung the bat
three times and retreated benchward.
''One afternoon, with the bases full and
two out. win came to bat. Up in the press
box discussion had been started about
the chances OF base ball, and one of the
reporters remarked that even such a bats
man as White was likely to soak home
run any time Another man raised a loud
guffaw. and exclaimed: Make little bet
with you. Ny gold watch, worth S2O0
against a nickel that White doesn't make
a home rum
The watch and nickel were solemnly
deposited In the hands Of responsible
stakeholder, and Just as the stakes were
put up White made his third blind swing
at the ball. And his bat struck the leather
full and fair on the equatorl
The ball rose high and ,floatsd out far
beyond the farthest fielder They ran
and whooped and beckoned. and White
steamed slowly on around the bases. Up
in the press box the man who had staked
his watch turned white as a ghost and his
breath came in Gasps Of horror. And Just
as win turned third he stumbled. rolled
over and his glasses fell off, While he was
cropping for his glasses the ball came In
and they tagged him out
The man who had staked his watch
got uD and poeketed the nickel. Then,
still very pale. he raised his right hand,
Never again. 90 help me, said he. shall
attend another game Of ball. And ne
never did. He lived for thirty years after.
as I heard the story. and never again set
foot inside 3 ball park."-st Louis Globe
Democrat.
"a. Ok 49, a., $500, a..