Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-11-22

There is no greater name among Ma
tlonal league pitchers than Ed Ruel-
bach. Mathewson was his superior in all
around work, so was Mordecai Brown.
But neither Mathewson nor Brown ever
exceeded or even equalled the consist
entity brilliant record by which Reul-
bach won the title of the shut out
King"
The history of those successive years
when the Cubs were the greatest base
ball machine ever built are starred with
the brilliant exploits of Reulbach whose
dazzling feats furnish the highest eX-
ample of that clubs almost absolute per-
lection.
How the greatest pitcher began his
career and some of the choicest remi-
niscences from that career are all given
in graphic detail in the following arti-
Gle.
In his third year at Notre Dame,
Reulbach was so far improved that he
was elected captain of the varsity, and
was, without question, their leading
pitcher. 1t was on the strength of this
third year that he Joined team of
college stars playing in then what was
called the Northern league at Montpelier
and Barre, in Vermont. AS the pros
poets for a good year looked better in
this league than a Sedalia. he made ev-
cry effort to purchase his release from
the latter club. He had been receiving
$125 per month for a five months sea-
son at Sedalia, and now demanded 5000
per month for his services. This the
club refused to pay and Reulbach re-
fused to sign
Instead he went to Montpelier and
Barre, and. having out-worn the name
of Lawson. adopted the equally service
able one of Sheldon. Young Mr.. Shell
don was supposed to pitch twice per
week and for this received 800, or $40
per game. Having pitched two games
and won them both, and the affairs OF
the club being in prosperous condition,
he was raised to 1925 per week plus a
collection taken among the fans. This
collection frequently amounted to con-
siderable sum- Incidentally Mr.. Shell
don approved of certain conduct which
Mr.. Reubach might not have done, and
finding that he won about all his games
he commenced betting on himself, be-
ginning with $25 which he later raised
to 500 per game as he discovered the
profits of such a course. The season II
this league lasted 10 weeks, at the enc
of which, Mr. Sheldon taking his accu'
mulated experience and accumulated
cash, journeyed on to Hinsdale, n. H.,
where he signed a contract to pitch q
games for a lump sum of $500. The
career of Mr.. Sheldon at Hinsdale was
unique, in the annals of baseball. Tht
club was an Independent team run by
a local millionaire named William Ami
don. Mr.. Amidon was not only a grea
sportsman and a good sport, but mil
lionaire as well, and his aggressive
spirit coupled with his abundant re
sources, led him to adopt a club of hi
own.
In this venture he was uniquely ant
conspicuously generous Part of Shell
don's contract was to bring with him
catcher, infielder, an outfielder, and an
other pitcher who adopted the cognome
of O'Brien whatever his right nam,
might have been.
Mr.. Amidon treated his players wit
the utmost consideration housing then
in the best hotel at his own expense
and allowed them the use of his horse
and carriages. His grounds which com
prised the baseball diamond were, in
sense, private. They had been used b
the kids of the town as their baseba
field, and possessed some essential differ
ences when compared with the Pol
Grounds, for instance. In the first plac
there was a vegetable garden about 2
feet to the rear of the catcher and thi
individual in his mad rush for foul file
was supposed to tread gently on tn
growing plants. First base was exactl
Is feet from the bank of the Connect
cut river and here the player on the in
ital sack was reinforced by a boy an
dog who were stationed on the ban
and whose duty 1t was to recapture an
balls which might get away from tn
first baseman and fall into the rive
If they fell short, the boy was suppose
to be able to extract them from the cui
rent with stick, If they went out to
far in the stream, the dog was presse
into service and fulfilled his part of tt
contract by swimming out and bringir
in the wayward pellet in his moutl
The right fielder played close to IL
river bank, and, not having WINGS We
unable to chase any ball which migl
go to his right. The centre fielder ha
his sphere of operations considerabl
curtailed by rail fence about ten fe
behind where he would ordinarily star
when waiting for a rather short QUITE
fly. The left fielder stood ON a stet
hillside about so feet high where he he
commanding view of the game. TIL
hill was of great assistance to the th
baseman, for any hot grounders Whit
might come his way he could let go
him without any effort to stop thei
knowing that they would strike the STE