The Washington herald., 1912-11-26
Mike Kelly, Diamonds
First Real Funny Man
"King Ke," Original Comedian of the Ball Field.
Schaefer and Altrock Now Hold
the Boards.

left the grounds. The Chicagoes had
won the game.
1t was not until the next morning that
small boy came into the bah park
of the Bostons had handed him a ball
that he said had been hit over the fence
in the ninth inning OF the game the
day before by Hornung.
The boy was perched on the back fence
and saw the ball all the way after IL
passed over Kelly's head, and he thought
Boston had won the game. He saw in
Chicagoes were credited with the victory,
and like a loyal Boston rooter brought
the ball back and told his story.
There was much ado made about the
incident at the time and the Bostons
put in a claim for the game, but II was
no go. Afterward. though, Kelly ac-
knowledged the joke and 1t further added
to his reputation as a winning ball play
er and a wit.
king Ker' went on the stage after
that and was just as popular a thespian
as he was n ball player.
Arlie Latham, when he was with the
st. Louis Browns and Chicago Brother
hood club, twenty-one years ago. was a
real comedian. He was very funny in
his talk and acrObatic stunts. He was
not at his best with the Giants a year
ago, IOT ne WAS nlTeu Us NlONH NAAGLA
and forced himself to be funny.
. 1t was Latham who, when the Chi
cagoes and Giants were playing in 1880,
on the present Polo grounds. built a
bonfire back of third base and lighted
candles to inforce his claim to the UNI
pires that It was too dark to continue
the game. Arlie was on the stage, too,
in the Runaway Colt and other plays.
Bug Holiday was another player
bn a, , clown With
his cap cooked away down over one eye
and his little swagger he made quite a
hit with the crowds. 1t was Bug who
once corrected an umpire who shouted
Three balls; take your base" when
an opposing player who was at bat
shouted You mean, Mr.. Umpire. three
balls. take your watch. You're a rob-
ber!''
Dan O'Leary was a funny player and
couldn't help II. II WAS Dan who, after
running all the way around the bases on
a long drive, was so incensed at the
umpire for calling the hit foul that
he held up his hands appealingly TO the
sky and moaned:
Suffering humanity. What strange Ia
tality is following me?'
Ran Bases Wrong Way.
In the same game Dan, who was a
left-handed batter. hit right-handed'
there being a 'southpaw' in the box,
and walIoped out a clean home run. But
unfortunately. by reason of batting out
OF his usual way, he started toward third
and made the circuit of the bases the
wrong way around. He was called out.
In terrible anger, he walked up in front
of the grandstand and. glaring at his
jumps" shouted: Ladies and gentlemen.
have l got to kill another umpire? / will
allow YOU to decide"
Pete Browning. after whom the fam
Gus Louisville slugger' bats were
named. was another comedian. although
he didn't know it. He knew little but
baseball In looking at a picture in a
store window Of a President and his Cab
met, Pete remarked: Il wonder what
nine that is? I never played against
them
Then there was Orator George
Schafer, Walter Brodie, Tom Tucker. Kid
Gleason. Juice" Latham. Roaring Bit
Harbridge. 'Ubbo Joe Hornung, Dad
Clarke. Jess Burkett, and lots OF others,
who by their cccentricities. personal
characteristics OF manner and talk.
were considered fully up to the high
class clowns and comedians of the pres
ent day entertainers of the diamond.
Germany Schaefer and Nick AltroCk
are considered to be in.