The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-25
SPORTS OF A DAY
PICTURES SENT 10 M'CANN BY
 HIS ADMIRERS

HlO AUmlktkO
 An admirer of Manager McCann has presented him with photos of Pitcher Lovett and Catcher Monyan, the champion battery of the Bridge port team of 1887. Manager Gene is giving the photos a conspicuous place on the walls in his rooms in the Con- are in large tin type form, and de- pict baseball players much unlike those of today. Both are big husky players, and look to be twice the size of an ordinary player of today. The garb of that time is also somewhat different instead of the natty base ball shirts with the pretty letters mas on the arm, the boys then were attired in heavy flannel shirts with turn down collars. The players wore black ties.
 pr. Harry Thielman of Jersey City, who was gunner on the "Skeeters" in 1903 when Gene McCann brought the pennant to the Jersey City, and also a former big league heaver, has forwarded to Manager McCann Ghe genial scout has friends galore) larged sized photos of crowds attending the opening game with New Haven at Newfield last season. Tn one of the pictures, a fine view is obtained of the crowds in left field and along the third base line. In the foreground Mayor B. T. Buckingham is caught in the act of delivering the first ball of the season. He has his old right wing curling about his head with his left foot to the pitchers plate and his right pedal entwining the left. It's catching his honor just right. To his left is Manager Gene McCann attired in Bridgeport uniform while direct ly behind him is Pitcher "Chief" Sny- der, with his usual smile. ready to work out against the White Wings. Another photo has the crowds lining the Bridgeport players warming up before the start of the game and also the Wheeler & Wilson band through whose assistance the season was off cially and memorably opened. Still another photo is a great view of the Every one is in holiday attire mak- ing pretty picture. When the pie lures arrived yesterday, Manager Gene secured the picture wire and did little hanging himself, the first piece of real work since he left Hamilton. Pa, years ago to accept his first pro- fessional engagement.
 Get these mid-winter tips-"McCann picks the Mechanics Cameron likes the White Wings "Clarkn says it's the Senators" Keller backs Ponies," 'O'NeiI says watch the Perfectos," ;" Edwards says the Larks for first or second "McPartlin wonders" and "Winkler has hoDes.''
 Catcher Harvey H. Russell, who will be turned over to the Mechanics by the Yankees sent in his signed con- tract to the American leaguers yester- day. Russell last season backstopped for Ernest Burbank. another Hilltop thur Irwin, his capturer, player of great promise. When Russell blows into Bridgeport at the beginning of the season he will be in great trim as he has been ordered by the Tanks to report at Athens, their training quarters on March D.. Russell halls from Hampton, Va.
 Manager McCann has received a rather novel letter from an unknown diamond star in Cornwall, N. r., who would like to have his name on the Mechanic payroll. The aspirant says that he has Tots of confidence, youth, health, fair wing and a good repu- tation among the seinipros around my part of the country" He is catcher.
 Ban Johnson, president of the Amer can League. has instructed the secre- taries of the clubs in his organiza- players on the reserve list asking them to tell where and when they were born, what they weigh. how tall they are and what clubs they have played with. This information, as re- ceiTed, will be tabulated and will be released for publication just before the opening of the championship sea- son.
 Billy Murray former manager of the Phillies, was responsible for two play CTS of the Philadelphia American League club getting into the Society of the Three Hundred last year. Mur- White Elephants in 1910, but in the season of 1908 he made the plea that a batter who walloped a long fly to the outfield that brought in a man should be credited with a sacrifice hit Placed on the Rules Committee, was incorporated into the code.
 The records of the American League for 1910 show thirteen men to have batted 300 or better. Jack McInnes, the schoolboy shortstop of the Ath- letics, wouldn't have been in the SWdtterS' SelecI SOCiety IT It hadn1t been for the sacrifice fly and neither would Danny Murphy. the veteran outfielder. McIinnes's average, ac- cording to the scoring rules in vogue before batters got credit for aerial sacrifices would have been .297 and Murphy's .296
 The sacrifice fly rule did not tend to make the race between Ty Cobb and Larry Lajoie for the Chalmers car any closer, as each renowned hit smith whanged out five long flies that brought men scooting home. Sam Crawford, the Detroit outfielder, bene- fitted most by the sacrifice fly rule, as he made seventeen drives to the outfeld which, though caught. brought men galloping home over the plate. The tonsorial artist from Wahoo, Neb., was the only American Leaguer of 1910 who reached double figures in sacrifice flies. Jake Stahl of the Bos- ton Red Sox, with nine, ranked second in this respect.
 DO0J TRAM CEJ ECTEN