The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1912-09-18
Now i'm the Great Base
ball Firmament.
RAY CHAPMAN FAST COMING
To the Front on the Diamond
Has Surprised Lovers
of Sport.
THE SENSATION OF THE YEAR

1t is not perhaps generally known
that Mr.. Ray Chapman, who is at
present the sensation in baseball
circles, is a native Ohio county boy.
He is the son OF Mr.. and Mrs. Ev-
erette Chapman, and was born at
McHenry, a mining town OF this
county, about 22 years ago. When
he was about IL years old he moved
win his parents to Herrin, ILL.,,
where the family have since re-
sided. When a boy he was a pupil
OF Attorney i. NJ. Woodward, Of
Hartford, who taught school at Nc
Henry Since moving to Herrin he
has graduated from the high school
there. He was always a bright stu
dent and during playtime at school,
his chief recreation was ball-play-
ing. He was great devotee OF the
game and early manifested fine tai
ents. He is a modest young man of
lovable personality. strictly moral
habits, and beaIs his hOnors easily
and good naturally. He is not
boastful OF his prowess, but just
plays ball" and let's the lovers of
the game see what he can do. Hi9
home folks here are proud OF his
distinction. He is a first cousin of
Mr.. and Mrs. Ike Sanderfur and a
second cousin OF Masters Park and
Gail Taylor, OF Hartford.
Concerning his career in the
baseball field, the following is what
the sporting editor of the Louis
vile Herald has to say of Mr.. Chap
man:
From the infeld OF 2 country
town high school nine to the Amer
lean League in three years-such
has been the fash across the base
ball armament of Ray Chapman.
the chain-lightning short stop Of
the Cleveland club and the latest
sensation OF baseball.
Like Ralph Capron. that other
sensation of the association, Chap
man is a speed marvel. EIe used TO
do a hundred yards in 10 20 ste.
onds, and the 22O yards in 23 fiat,
when a student in the Herrin, H.,
high school, and was quite some
football player.
Chapman has been burning up
the American Association this sea-
son, and it was only a question nf
time when he would be sold, trad
ell or drafted into one of the MAJ:
leagues.
II there was any likelihood of
fai: chance at Chapman, the record
of 500, 500 set by Barney Dreyfuss
when he bought Marty O'Toole
would be broken.
In fact, Frank Farrell, owner OF
the New York American league
club, has said he would make this
price look cheap If Somers would
put his star upon the block.
But Somers isn't selling Chap
while the Maps need men
like him-and they do right now.
At the beginning of the season Oh
son was the Nap captain. but lit
tie matter of boxing skill between
him and Pitcher Mitchell resulted
In his reduction to the ranks and
the appointment OF the brains OF
the Cleveland team-Joe Birming-
ham.
Chapman is a short stop, and a
whirlwind short stop, too. He has
a powerful throwing arm and the
ability to throw from almost any
position. He is so fast that he gets
n front of the ball when another
would be trying for it with his fin
ger tips.
Every big league scout has look
I'd at Chapman this summer, al
hough each knew the time was
wasted.
In forty-eight games Chapman
'tole twenty bases, and from his po-
'ition as cleanup batter, fourth,
scored thirty-seven runs. He made
'ixty-one hits. his average being |
351. And best of all. he hits in
he pinches. His fielding has been
and his base running |
,ne of the marvels of the same.
Chapman hesitated. when he left /
high school, between a scholastic |
and q contract from the |