Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-05-20
CHAPTER W.
l Go TO the PhlIadelphla Athletlea.

W ~ VIC 'NllahN'p 'pi'a NlIlVtNH
When ! signed with the Forest Citya
II was Understood by the folks at
home that at the end of the season
should 60 back 10 Notre Dame and do
some studying In fact, the old gentle
man made that one of the conditions
before he would consent to let me
Join the Rockford club. ! don't re-
member what my original intention
wss--l didn't usually think far
enough ahead to have intentions-but
when the end of my first season Of
professional baseball arrived nothing
short Of a straitjacket could have
taken me back 10 college Sink or
swim, had cast my lot with the
game and nothing on the little old
planet was going TO sworve me, now
that my mind was made up.
had some reason 10 feel that base
ball was a substantial proposition On
several occasions during the past sea
son had been approached by man
ayers Of various clubs with offers that
seemed almost fabulous TO my youth
full mind What ! really wanted, and
tried my best to get WAS position
with the Chicago club, then under the
management OF Tom Foley the vet
eran billiard room keeper Tom took
my application as joke, and finally
Informed me that he was looking for
players of reputation and not for
schoolhoys with the baseball bug Al.
though didn't know It at the time
! was mighty sore over my failure
10 get 10 ChlCago-lt so happened that
old Toms rundown was one OF the
most fortunate things that ever came
my way.
The management of the Athletic
club of Philadelphia had been keep
ing tab on my work with the Rock
fords, and lust before the close Of the
seagon ! was offered the sum OF 81 250
10 play with that organization during
the season OF 1872 That offer looked
mighty good to me and ! accepted
with thanks | didn't like TO leave
Rockford and the Forest Cltys, for
had found the people Of the little Hi
nois city the squarest ever, but they
couldn't afford to keep me, although |
gave them the first show They were
not certain that they would be able TO
maintain a professional team any
longer, and so ! Jumped at the Phil.
adelphia offer
don't remember Just why, but !
didn't think II necessary 10 consult
the home folks before ! attached my
name with spread eagle flourish 10
the Athletic contract. When the old
gentleman, who was running the An.
son house, heard of II his preliminary
remarks, was told by witness,
were. Something awful Devoted
as he certainly WIS 10 the game, he
didn't relish my way OF doing things,
and my latest exploit seemed to him
like open rebellion Long before | re-
visited Marshalltown, Ave years later,
he had forgotten all about my un.
rlial conduct and that he had evoi
dlgapproved Of the course had taken
without his cooperation
Late IN tho fall | said goodby &c
Rockford and went TO Philadelphia
with the purpose of making myself fl
for the coming season OF baseball as
could do the trick All that winter
worked hard in the gymnasium, only
occasionally playing billiards and TAX
ing in the sights of the great city a.
relaxation.
In spite Of the fact that the seasoT
OF 1871 had been the most prosperous
in the history Of baseball, there wert
many changes IN the membership o
the professional league Some Of Tho
clubs had fallen by the wayside ant
there were several newcomers II
the ranks Conspicuous among th'
absentees was the Chicago club whIcl
had tried 20 hard 10 get into Th'
big FIRE Of October, 1871 which nearl!
wiped the Queen OF the Inland Sea-
off the map, left the city without
baseball organization Had ! succeed
ed in my attempt to break into th'
team should have been STRANDED
with the others My OLD club, the For
est Cltys Of Rockford, was also amont
the missing, so that It seemed provl
Dental that | had gone TO the City o
Brotherly Love.
Al the opening Of the regular play
ing season the Professional league
had II teams on its list, but wheI
iba aaacou wnu ovar only aix were lpf