The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-12-02
Sketch
Of The Life Of The New
President Of The National
League

New York, Nov. 29-When the Ma
tional League magnates meet in this
city on December 8, Governor Tener,
ceed Tom Lynch as president of the
league. This means that an oldtime
ball player will supplant an oldtime
umpire as head of the senior baseball
organization. On the diamond, in COM
mercial life and in politics, Gov. Tener
has been a notable success. He is
looked upon by the National League
moguls as the one man capable of in
stilling harmony among the different
factions of the league and bringing the
old organization up once more, on even
terms with that healthy younger rival,
the American League.
John Kinley Tener was born in
County Tyrone, Ireland July %, 1868.
He came to America at the age of nine,
was educated in the public schools of
Pittsburgh and at the age of eighteen
became a clerk in an Office in the
down and upon the advice of physi-
clans he sought outdoor employment.
While working as a clerk he had earn
ed five dollars game pitching for To-
cal ball teams on Saturday afternoons
and gained considerable fame as
player. His friends, among them Will
liam II. Moody, later justice of the
Supreme Court of the United States,
persuaded him that he would make
good as a professional
In 1885 Tener obtained his first pro-
fessional engagement as first baseman
of the Pittsburgh club. At that time
| he stood feet 3 inches and weighed
| 200 pounds. He was released before
| the season was half over and Joined
the Baltimore team. At his own re-
quest he was released to the Haverhill,
Mass, club, where he played until the
tanned position with business house
in Pittsburgh, but continued to play
baseball at every opportunity.
FTis brilliant record as a pitcher in
and around Pittsburgh brought him to
the attention of A. G. Spalding and led
to job with Capt. Anson's old Chlca-
go White Stockings. Tener more than
made good in fast company and ac-
quired national reputation as pitch
er. He was one of the men chosen
by Spalding to make the famous base
ball tour of the world with the White
Stockings and All-Nationals in 1889
and acted as secretary as well as play
ing great ball.
Mr.. Tener's career as a National
League player lasted from 1887 to 1890.
In 1891 he abandoned the game and
settled in Charleroi, Pa, where he ac-
quired interests in several large cor
porations, became president of a bank
and the head of a street railway COM
pany. His fortune is estimated as
close up to million dollars.
In 1909 Mr.. Tener went to Congress,
and on the expiration of his term he
was nominated for governor of Penn
sylvania by the Republicans, and elect
ed. His term will expire on January
/, 1915. Gov Tenel' made a good rec
ord as governor and enjoys genuine
popularity in his state. He is a Past
Grand Exalted Ruler of the Benevo
lent and Protective Order of Elks and
prominently connected with several
other organizations
From the time he quit baseball near
ly a quarter of century ago, until last
Winter, Mr.. Tener was in no manner
connected with the national game. bu
devoted his whole energy and atten
ton to business and politics. His re
entry into the sphere of baseball was
made when he helped the late William
ii. Locke to purchase the Philadelphia
National League club from Charles p
Taft, of Cincinnati. Now that he is t,
, become president of the Nationa
; League he WILL no doubt, dispose o
his Philadelphia baseball holdings,
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