The Republican journal., 1911-05-11
"Dilly" Not Dead.
Says so Himself and Writes an Interesting
Letter on Old-Time Base Ball.

Letter on Old-Time Base Ball.
Sometime ago in these sketches un-
dertook to tell a few things about Pitch
er Billy Dilworth and in the story in
cidentally mentioned that he was dead.
Manager Garsitv thought that he was
and had the same impression myself.
But the other day got letter from
''Dill'' in which he denies the assertion
and insists that both Clarity and | are
mistaken.
Coming from such good authority am
not disposed to question Dill's assertion
and take this opportunity to extend con-
gratulatlons and also apologies.
Dlll's letter is dated Madison and he
writes something as follows:
''tfom the peaceful seclusion of my
suburban retreat it seems far cry to
the base ball arena, yet the flash of your
limelight reaches me and caused me
more or less wonderment. Why is this
thusly? Is it a call of the wild to COM
bat orce more, or, is it merely vision
perverted by the mist of ages? Know
ing the aptitude of the journalistic pen
to act contrary at times, | can under
stand its boiling with you. The pen at
times, as if taking fendish delight in
showing that it is 'mightier than the
sword fingers lovingly in the cratic
parts of humanity and there are so
many nice things that are overlooked.
My friend Mr.. Clarity is wag more
or less, but mighty good fellow, and
was very popular with ladies on the cir
cult when was with him. If he is in
the theatrical business yet he shows
poor discernment in overlooking the
vaudeville team of Dilworth and Mains
Billy | mean. Wouldn't we do thrill
ing half hour performance on the stage!
Talk about Sherlock Holmes, he was not
IN II with Bill Mains in the trail of old
wagon tongues for batsticks and violins.
and | was his assistant.
Then Dill goes on to give little sketch
OF ms base ball career, and little more
IN detail and more interestingly than |
was able to do.
Speaking of his amateur days in Bel
fast he writes that he was very success
full throughout the State, which is mat
ter Of base ball history. He was the
only pitcher on the team and did all the
work pitching three or four games a
week. His last week on the team he
pitched six games and won four of them.
The Belfast team was strictly local or
ganlzation and included three brothers,
Dill goes on as follows:
THE last part of the season of 1885
the Belfast team took it's last trip
through the State with me as it's pitcher.
Monday we played Colby college, Win
ming. In this game l pitched my last
game with the delivery known as under
hand. The next day, Tuesday, we won
an eleven inning game in Lewiston,
pitching for the first time the overland
or present style of delivery, without
practice. The next forenoon we played
Bowdoin college IN Brunswick and lost
the game. Thursday we played Bidde-
ford and Friday played in Portland with
the league team, it being an off day, and
won. That was my last amateur game.
The next day, Saturday, the Portland
league team played Newburyport. l
had been signed at Newburyport and
pitched the game, beating Portland for
the second time in two days. It was the
first professional game had ever seen,
let alone playing in.
81 finished the season with Newbury-
port and was then 18 years of age. In
1886 l was with Brockton under Mana
ger McGunnigle, and before the season
was ended was traded to Binghampton
in what was then the International
league, now the Eastern.
81 had good success and was wanted
by the New York Nationals, but was
satisfied where l was. was with Bing-
hampton until the middle of the season
of 1887 when went to Oshkosh, Wiscon-
sin, with Frank Seelee. In 1888 was
with Haverhill under Manager Fred Doe
in the Interstate league. had offers to
60 back to the International, but thought