davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-20
McGRAW OWES HIS SUCCESS
 TO INFLUENCE OF CHURCH.

Churches are great institutions, any way you take 'em. Except for the early influences of the church, John McGraw, manager of the New York Giants, might now be g baker or a candlestick maker. It was like this: In Truxton, Cortland county, N. Y., where the little Napoleon" was born and where as a kid he first played baseball the grounds where the vil- lage boys held their games adjoined church. The sacred edifice was in right field. McGraw was left-handed, and so he naturally biffed the ball in- to right field. About every so often, and sometimes with greater frequency, the horsehide smashed through a win doW-pane of the church. Each win dow pane set back Johnny's father the sum of twenty cents. McGraw. Jr, was an observing youngster, and he took notice that every time he smashed a window it was followed by woodshed interview with pepper, af-
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-20
BRUSHES TRIBUTE
 TO JOHN M 'GRAW
New York Club Owner Sends Telegram of Con graduation on Managers Tenth Anniversary.


 Pittsburgh, July 20-Managers John J. McGraw of the New York Giants, was the guest of honor last night at a banquet at a local hotel The ban quet was given to celebrate McGraw' s tenth year as manager of the New York National league team. During the evening he received scores of tele- grams of congratulation from all parts of the country, among them being the following from John T. Brush, presi- dent of the New York National base ball club: John J. .McGraw, Manager of the
 New York Baseball Club.
 .'So rapidly have < they passed, my dear John, they seem. short as any dream, but brief as the years have seemed, each one of them has added fame and 1uster to your name A history of the development during the past decade of the greatest sport the world has ever known, must place your name among those which will live so long as the game endures My admiration for you in the beginning has grown to love, because of, your honor, loyalty. genius and indomitable determination to succeed. I congrat- ulate you upon the record you have made and hope your future may al- ways be with the Giants.
 JOHN T. BRUSH. President New York National Base
 ball Ciubs'
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-20
PRAISE
 FOR OUR ATHLETES
COACH DECLARES NOTHING, BUT RADICAL CHANGE WILL GIVE ENGLAND CHANGE IN
 BERLIN.

London, July 2O-Apologies and ex- plantations for British failures in the recent Olympic track and field events at Stockholm, Sweden, still provide abundant copy for the. press of Lon don. The Evening Press prints a very entertaining interview with F. w. Parker, chief advisory coach of the British team, who arrived yesterday from Stockholm.
 Parker claims that nothing but radi- cal changes in British methods will enable the 'Englishmen to make any sort of showing against the champion Americans at Berlin four years hence. He thinks that his country was too lax .ina Olympic selections, He urges that years instead of months should be devoted to the development of talent, and that quality rather than numbers should be the future aim.
 j Parker pays glowing tribute to the fine condition of the United States representatives. He says his own men were improperly trained and that they ate twice as much as was good for them. The Britons, he says paid lit tie attention to training hours. or training rules. In conclusion he de- clared that the United States spent &125, ,000 on it's team as against $1000 furnished to the Englishmen.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-20
M'CANN'S MEN LOSE GREAT GAME
 TO WHITE WINGS
(By Wagner.)

After battling for seven innings on even terms yesterday the New Haven leaders landed on Dick Tuckey Tn the eighth for five runs, pumping the Mechanics by to- Tuckey was or form during the entire contest and only brilliant support saved him in the earlyIinnings. The youngster has been overworked., He should be glv" en a good rest so that he will be able to get into shape again to go the route Tuckey had won eight straight up to yesterday so nobody mas IT. cense to knock him.
 The Mechanics played fully as good bali as New Haven while Tuckey held
 his ground. In the field they gave an even more spectacular exhibition. They had to because New Haven nad men on bases in every round except the seventh. A rattling double play by Stow and Crook ch0ked off rally in the third and Buck Venable's S great stop of Sherwood's drive saved two runs in the fifth. Red Fisher had an off day. He misjudged Moose Millers long fly in the eighth, let another bah go through his legs and fannsd twice Fanwells the . former Cleveland pitcher, did well for New Haven In the early sessions he had Bridgeport going but the boys were getting to him as the afternoon wore on and might have won out if the local pitch ing had been DetCer. rom CTOOh WAS the leader with two smashing singles.
 Jack Nagle, the scrappy New Ha- ven catcher was ruled off the turf by Umpire Held in the sixth. He kicked on a decision at the plate when Baker slid in on Stow's rap to Flick. Nagle wasn't satisfied with a mild kick. He called the umpire a red haired wannpus or something like that, Clyde Waters took Nagle's place.
 Pop Foster was the bane of Bridge ports existence. The physical cul- ture expert delivered two triples. Moose Miller got the same combina- ton but one of his efforts was mis- judged by Fisher. The Mechanics got run in the fifth on Russelps double and Tuckey's single. New Haven went ahead in the sixth on triples by Foster and Miller and Pepe's sacrifice fly,
 In the half of the sixth the locals tied the score. Baker walked and by great sprinting went to third on Crooks single to center. Spratt pop ped to- Flick but Stow tapped to the inf1eld, Baker sliding home. Eley famed and Venable forced Stow
 The big blow up came in the eighth. With one down Foster tripled and Miller followed suit Dashback got hit filling the bases. After Fan well had whiffed, Flick cleaned the bases with a triple. The score;
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-20
AMATEUR BASEBALL

The American Tigers are sore about an article which the Lafayettes in serted in a local paper recently. The Tigers claim to have a clean record on the diamond and they put the fol- lowing over to the Lafayettes: MI. Hartman, Manager of Lafayette
 Baseball Club:
 In Wednesdays Post We noticed a statement that the Lafayettes thought we were showing the yellow by mak- ing the statement we did, and said we were trying to hold our record from being spoiled.
 We'll, if the Lafayettes want us to repeat this statement we will. but for lack of space in this paper we are not going to have any baseball notes cut short on account of us.
 We sent MT. Hartman, your man ager, word Monday evening before g o'clock in time that MT. Hartman could receive it at 8 o'clock in the morning, and ir' thes letter, stated our reasons. We again sent him. anoth- CT message Wednesday at about 2 o'clock and asking about series not knowing you were going to give us the kids game trick in the evening" But if you wish business we are ready for a series next week but you know what was in the letter and it is s-p to you to do the rest.
 We are willing to play you for the championship although you have no right as you have not played over 6 games and we have just made our record 20 played, lost. So it is up to you to answer.
 J. HEATING, Manager.
 J. SOMERS. Capt. American Tigers.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-20
CAUGHT FLY BALL AS HE RODE IN ENGINE CAB

-9ry'' Cobb, the fleet outfielder of the Detroit baseball team, will have to look to his laurels for catching flies on the run. William T. Madden of Louisville, Ky. Thursday nabbed a hard hit fly while travelling at the rate of fifty miles an hour-in the cab of a Louisville and Nashville engine
 Long distance hits have been record ed when balls were knocked into. pass ing trains and carried miles away, but Madden is the first engine driver who has ever glanced at a. game as his train sped past, seen the ball mailed" and then robbed the left fielder of an increase to his percentage by pluck ing it out of the air.
 Madden might have kept the ball and won pass to to-morrow's game by presenting 1t at the gate, but he threw it back as soon as possible. Ev- en then the fielder was obliged to race a block to recover the sphere.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-20

ter which Johnny was accustomed to take his meals standing for some days. Reasoning from cause to effect. John ny decided that the thing to do under the circumstances was to learn to swat
 the ball to left field instead of to the right garden. Animated by this great idea, he practiced steadily until he was able to bat the ball in almost any direction he wished That mark ed the real beginning of the career of McGraw, one of the greatest baseball the world has ever known. When man or boy thinks once, and
 finds that the process is profitable, he is likely to get the habit. That was
 exactly what happened to Johnny Mc- Graw. Pleased with his success :n eliminating the painful interviews with his father, he began thinking of other schemes to foodwink opposing players.
 At that time Johnny weighed only about no pounds, and as his nine of- ten played against grown-up men, he
 had to make brain-work take the place of mere muscle. On. the kid club. McGraw was a pitcher, but he, also played most of the infield positions when occasion demanded If there mad not been church in right field, Nc Graw might never have been started
 on his career to greatness
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-20
WEST ENDS PLAY FAST
 CEDAR HILLS TOMORROW

The West Ends will play the Cedar Hills of New Haven at West End park tomorrow at 3:30 The Cedar Hills have a tie game with the West Ends and this game should settle the question of supremacy between the teams. Baker, the West End third baseman, will probably leave for one of the big league teams after the game tomorrow so the "fans" had better go out and look him over for the last time He has improved won- derfully since playing here last year and all the big league scouts have their eye on him. Batteries, Hoar and O'Connell, Havenfeltz, Scanlon and Treat.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-20
MIKE GIBBONS ASPIRES TO BE
 CHAMPION OF MIDDLEWEICHTS

! intend to protect myself in the fu- ture and will seek the aid of the law 1T necessary to prevent Palzer from making sucker of himself"
 Although Jack Johnson scored a
 brilliant victory over that intrepid mem mber of the profession, Fireman Jim Flynn, he has not added to his popularity to any great extent. John sons announcement of retirement af- ter Labor Day and statement that he would engage in his last battle on that holiday is not taken seriously, the pop ular belief (and hope), being that he will quit only when he has been given a good licking. There are too many suckers in the game just now for John son to make good on the retirement proposition .
 When the champion announced he would be willing to fight on Labor Day number of offers were hurled at him. Among them a wire from the Garden A. O., of this city, asking his terms for a ten round bout with Joe Jeannette. I understand Jack did not answer the dispatch.
 Victor Bryer, the Paris boxing pro moter, offered the champion $40,000 cash to meet Jeanette in the French capital, stipulating the contest must be for 30 rounds or more. Hugh Me- Intosh, through Tom Andrews, made a bid of $45.O00 and expenses for John son to box Langford and McVey.
 Johnson's only answer to date has been that he will box Al Palzer ten rounds in New York for a. $30,0O0 guar antee Nobody has asked him to meet Palzer that I know of, except big Al himself and he has been very badly advised of late.
 This Johnson is a fine champion, what? Think of these big purses, or &t4 -&xsr -k<><@r 0< as a rule carry winners and losers ends. He wants to box ten rounds with Al Palzer, a mere novice who has nothing but youth and strength to brag of. He will not entertain a prop osition to nlingle with Jeannette, Langford or McVey, any one of whom might knock his block off, even, such a battle would draw.
 What type of cham pion is it who re- ,buffs chalangerS who have fafTIYrearn- ed the right tos contest. for the title; and he gets away with the coarse work, too. He might consent to box Palzer, indeed, but nothing doing for anybody who has "a chance of beating him. wonder would he have the nerve to "sign up''' with Johnny Coulon if a large enough guarantee was forthcoming
 There is no other country under the sun where the sports would stand Tor a champion who refuses to fight un- less given the privilege of choosing his opponent, and guaranteed an un- heard of amount of money for so do- ing. A fighter should not be allowed to hold a title indefinitely without fighting. A champion should be com pelled to defend his honors against all worthy challengers or forfeit his claim Johnson has fought only once since winning from Jeffries and on that occasion met. man he had easily beaten before; a man who did not figure to have a chance in the world.
 JAS. J. CORBETT.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-20
IN MAJOR LEAGUES

& < Fl
 Chance and his outfit had their hands full with the Braves; the Phil- lies are showing them up. And Brook 1yn, always one of the hardest clubs in the league for the Cubs to beat, is on the way, with Nap Rucker prim- ed for two whirls at the miserable nothing to bet-on is Chicago's chance to catch up with the Giants.
 Hughey Jennings is quoted as saying that all the Red Sox lack of being a really high-clasS baseball team is a little confidence in themselves. Accord ing to the Tiger leader, the Boston club is just about 50 per cent. strong CT than it thinks it is. Yet, for all their lack of confidence, the Sox go along their merry way, winning from all corners and pulling late rallies that have become the despair Of all oppoS- ing pitchers.
 Washington is the only club in the league that has an edge on the Red Scx on the season series to date, and the Nationals lead StahPS team by On- 1y one game. The Athletics who in years past could always count on pad ding their percentage at the expense of the Back Bay boys, have been uni fornnly easy for them all season. IT ever Washington drifts back to the safe and sane game of other years there will be little more excitement to the American League race than there is to the National.
 Seems like Harry Davis may have slipped one over on his. old boss, Con nie Mack. Last spring Mack released Harry Krause to Toledo, where the Californian won nine straight games Cleveland lifted Krause and will give him a tryout next week.
 Nap Laioie is out of the game for at least ten days more. Larry's left leg was struck by a batted ball just be- fore he jumped the Maps to attend hls mothers funeral, and the bruise result ant from the injury has become infect ed He has returned to his home at South Euclid, Ohio, and does not ex- pect to play again until the Maps get back to Cleveland.
 On the recommendation of William Holalnder, the Georgetown University star, Clark Griffith has signed Pitcher Eby, of the North York, Pa, team. Eby is twenty years of age and weighs 180 pounds.
 Suspected of being second Joe Tin ker, Joseph Gaffney, shortstoD of the independent Hlnckley team, will be given a tryout by the Cubs He is six feet tail, they say. and quite ball player-in the independent ranks.
 Pitcher Mogridge, who pitched quite a lot of highzclass ball for the White Sox. has been sold to the Lincoln club of the western League. Callahan could not give the youngster all the work he needs and sent him along to Lin- coin with a stout string attached, that he may not grow stale for lack of work.
 Connie Mack has signed another col lege shortstop, one Howard Fafey, of Dartmouth. Fahey, who will report next month, is rated the fastest col
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-20
GAMES TOMORROW
 IN CITY LEAGUE

The City League fans will see some good baseball tomorrow. At the Meadows the Black Rocks will mingle with the Nationals. The Rocks have resumed their winning streak but the Nationals hope to stop them. The Rocks are requested to report at the Brooksides' club rooms at 2:30 tomor- row afternoon.
 At Yost Field, the Yosts and the Brooksides will clash. Manager Kee- mans boys are feeling pretty chesty since they downed the Rocks, but they may have hard work to subdue the Brooksides. Each game will be call ed at 3:30.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-20
SAM KENNEDY WANTSTO
 GET FRANCHISE FOR MERIDEN
New London and Silver City May Be Added
 To Circuit In 1913

team in the race"
 President O'Rourke thinks favorably of Kennedy's idea. The chances are that the league will go back to the eight club circuit next season. Morton F. Plant, the millionaire sportsman. is anxious to put club in New London and is willing to take nothing but his home receipts.
 5 Vita New London and Meriden add ed to the circuit and good financial backing for the new clubs, the league would be greatly strengthend Ken nedy is an able baseball general He always had scrappy teams when he conducted clubs on this circuit and as he is a fine judge of young players he would probably be able to sell enough men to make money on the season even if his attendance receipts were not large.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-20
THIS DATE IN
 PUGILISTIC ANNALS

1SS7-Ike Weir and Johnny Havlin fought their famous ''al night in the woods battle near Westerly, R. l., the game alittle featherweights going eighty rounds to draw. Because of fear of the authorities the match was pulled off in forest at night and continued until daybreak, when both fighters were completely exhaust ed
 1906-Bill Lang defeated Joe Griffen in 6 rounds at Melbourne, Australia.
 1911-Matt Wells outpointed Dick Hyland in 10 rounds at Albany, N. Y.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-20
(By Wagner,)

It is not considered very good policy for newspaper writers to tell base ball manager how to run his team. He is paid to conduct the club and is supposed to know his business. Nevertheless we cannot refrain from voicing the general sentiment that the Bridgeport pitching staff has been poorly handled. It is difficult to see why a promising young pitcher like Barron who has won three out of four starts is kept on the bench while three tWirlers are overworked.F Gibbs and Snyder can perhaps stand the strain of working three games week but Tuckey can't. The Union City boy has wiry build but hasn't the reserve strength to pitch more than two games week. In the early part of the season he couldn't last more than six innings but finally by taking plenty of time between each ball, schooled himself to last the full game. His record is 13swon and five lost so nothing but praise Is due him. He showed in yesterdays game that he had been overWorked.r
 Barron has won three games by steady pitching and gives indications of becoming a good twirler. It would seem like good judgment to use him against the weaker teams in order to help out the other fingers. He might get his bumps but even ii. he lost the other pitchers would De in better shape for the more important games The chances are that if Barron had been used this week so that Tuckey could have rested since Sunday, the Union City boy could have beaten New Haven yesterday. Nobody dis putes that the management has been making efforts to land a first class pitcher. But it appears to be the height of folly to neglect willing youngster like Barron when he is on the bench ready to help out the staff.
 There was rumor about town last night that Pop Foster of New Haven has been sold to the New York Amer jeans. Pop is still great sticker but is too slow in the field for the big league. If the Yankees have secured him they probably want to send him to some other club as part of a. trade for new material
 Benny Kauff who was recently canned by Brockton for failure to hit, joined Hartford yesterday. He Springfield.
 Rube Marquard got another win ming streak under way but there were 25,000 Pittsburgh fans to cheer the home victory in the second game.
 Doyle of the Giants got three hits out of three chances.
 Errors were in order. Detroit to- tailed II, the White Sox 13.
 Rixey, the University of Virginia giant, shared honors with Cravath
 t.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-20
(Bv Wa gnerl

slapper Sam Kennedy, at present a scout for Cleveland, and we'll known to local fans as a former New Lon don and Meriden manager, wants to get a Connecticut League franchise for Meriden next season. He has written a letter to President O'Rourke stating that he is anxious to become a magnate in the Silver City.
 'I am tired travelling about the country as a scout" writes Kennedy q think Meriden would be a paying town I know when I was there be- fore never lost any money. If you extend the league to eight clubs Meri- den will be central town; 1 will have unlimited financial backing and will be in position to put q good
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-20
PARK AVENUE PAVING MATTER

There will be a meeting ofNthe Paw ing and Sewer Commission Monday night, at which time the situation which has developed relative to the Park avenue paving job will be dis cussed. The refusal of the Burns Co. to repair the paving which has buckled in nearly every section of the street, puts it up to the commission to take some action toward putting the street into condition. The matt ter will be threshed out at the meet ing Monday night.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-20
American League,
YESTERDAYS RESULTS.

New York, 4; Cleveland, 3.
 Detroit, 8; Philadelphia, (first game
 Philadelphia. 14; Detroit, S (second game.
 Boston, s; Chicago, (frst game.) Boston, 2; Chicago, 1 (second game.)
 Washington, 5; St. Louis, Cfrst Washington. 10; St. Louis, tsec- ond gane.)
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-20


 Washington took two from St. chance with the Yankees for the low CT berth.
 Bridgeport's defensive play was superb in the early innings. In the third Fanwell led off with a double but Russell got under Flick'si pop fly after a fine run. Then Sherwood hit to Spratt. Jack made a bad throw to Venable and all hands were safe. Cough hit over second but Stow made a splendid stop. He touched second andsthrew to Crook for 8. double play.
 Buck Venable saved the bacon in the fifth. Nagle and Fanwell got hits and Flick sacrificed Sherwood burn ed one down the third base line but Venable made a dazzling stab. He threw home and Nagle was run down. Stow took Coughs grounder for the final out. Maybe there wasn't some cheering after that inning.
 5s@a
 There are some players on the Bridgeport team who haven't been keeping in condition. Manager Nc Cam has read the riot act to them. He says if they don't cut out the gay ance of the season. T won't have any players who are not giving the club their best services" declared the Mechanics pilot today. "I'll suspend them for the rest of the year. no matter if my club finishes in last place.
 Speedy Foran has blossomed out into a pitcher since he left Bridge port. He has won every game he pitched for Northampton and Dan O'Neil has signed him as pitcher for the IIolyoIxe club. Yesterday Foran held Bellows Falls to three hits. Tom Connery's last Hartford team with Benny Kaulf in the lineup will show at Sea Breeze tomorrow. Benny is big favorite here and the fans will turn out to see him. Gus Gar della, last year with Springfield, is also with Hartford. Freddy. Gibbs or Johnny Barron will work for Bridge port.
 On Monday. afternoon the slugging Holyoke crew will perform at New field. This is postponed game. Dan O'Neil may send Speedy Foran against the locals.
 The St. Joseph's will play the Washington Glee club of New Haven at St. Joseph oval tomorrow after noon. Tom Ryder, a local favorite will twirl for the visitors Tillerman or Kelly will work for the Saints
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-20
INDUSTRIAL STANDING
STOvALL SUSPENDED

Washington. July 2o-George stovall. manager of the St. Louis American League baseball team, was notified here yesterday that he had been sus- pended indefinitely
 Ban Johnson, president of the league sent Stoyall notice of his suspension as result of the managers argument with Umpire Westervelt on Wednes- day.