The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-06-07
Big Fred Tony
 Strongest Player
Chicago Cubs Pitcher Threw
 Stone Across Mississippi

Manager Chance of the Chicago Cubs probably possesses in Fred Toney the strongest and best all-around athlete in the National league, says the Chi cago News. This does not mean he is the greatest pitcher, hitter or runner, but it does mean he is the most powerful
 To understand and appreciate his wonderful strength one must know and see the feats he is capable of per forming. One must also see his re- markable physique.
 At present Toney tips the beam in the neighborhood of 195 pounds, and he is in excellent playing condition. There is not one ounce of superf1uous flesh on him. On every part of his body the skin is drawn and muscles protrude in knots. Tn spite of this. he is not muscle bound. The only de- is in his pitching arm on the inside of his elbow. He obtained this in a scuffle while in the Blue Grass lea que. It is an injury to the cords, which are tied up and form a knot about half the size of an egg. This does not affect his twirling any, al- though he cannot snap the ball in cold weather with the same free action as he can when the temperature is high.
 Toney attained his wonderful strength on farm in Nashville and in throwing rocks into and across the Cumberland river. Throwing rocks is his principal athletic feat, and he throw rock certain distance.
 While in St. Louis on this last trip he explained his hurling abilities to Joe Tinker. The latter who makes bets with his teammates about as fast as he can think, listened attentively to Toney's ability as a rock thrower As soon as the pitcher finished Tinker spoke up and said: 'Tll bet you s15 to $10 you cannot do it.' Toney lock- ed at the shortstop moment and then said in his southern dialect: "Man, you don't know what you're talking about. I'll take that bet" The wager was made.
 this: He declared he could stand at the home plate in St. Louis and throw over the left field fence. The dis- tance is several hundred yards.
 That afternoon Toney reached the baseball park a little earlier than the other ball players. got ten rocks, just large enough to fit in his hand, and Jimmy Doyle happened to stroll in- to the grounds just as Toney started begging.
 After the game that day Toney told Tinker he would do his share to win the bet. Whilesthey were dis cussing it, Jimmy Doyle spoke up and said he saw Toney throw six rocks over the fence. Toney, the big, hon. est fellow he is. nodded and told what he had done, and Tinker promptly called off the bet.
 After that was over Toney said he would wager he could throw a rock in a sling a half mile Or more. Tinker also doubted his ability to do that. Toney then said the only way to set tie arguments of that kind was to get out and demonstrate.
 The next morning he visited a har- ness shop, purchased leather and made himself a sling. As the ball park was not large enough to make the attempt the Mississippi river, which is about three quarters of a mile wide at St. Louis was selected
 Toney, Tinker and several of the other players congregated on the bank of the river. The husky pitcher chose his stone, took off his coat, set the sling in motion and hurled the stone almost clear across the river. It did not fall many feet short of hitting the other side. When Toney accomplish ed this Tinker said:
 You're a wonder. You win.'