The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-10-25
dan" Shannon Dead
Well Known Old Time Ball
Player Succumbs to
Pneumonia.
Was One of the Native Bridge
pOrters Who Made Good
In the National
PaStime.

| After a comparatively brief illness
! at his home, 379 Pequonnock street,
| Daniel w. Shannon, baIl-player, cap
tain and manager of teams of the
various leagues. including the Nation
| al and later an umpire of note in the
Eastern league, died early this morn
ing. He was wen known in this sec
| ton where he was Familiarity known
as Dan" and many balI-players
throughout this country upon learning
| of his death will mourn his 1oss
Dan Shannon, of Bridgeport birth
! was a natural born player from his
childhood. First belonging to small
'snines' about the city. he later Sc
cured experience with professional
teams about the state. As second
baseman he shone with bri1liancy.
Back in the 8O's he was introduced
into Bridgeport as member of the
team Of which Henry r. Parrot, the
father Of baseball in this city, then
| presided as head The team played on
| the old Barnum grounds State
street, later moving to grounds at
Newde1d and Stratford avenues. Shan
non became well acquainted with
James H. O'Rourke, then connected
with New York baseball interests, and
it was through the. 1atter's influence
that Shannon went to New York to
L
| lied in 1891 mostly of the original Ma
tionaT league Giants to compete with
the National league which had control
of New York baseball from 1876. They
played directly beside the Nationals at
the Polo Ground field in New York,
but were absorbed the following year.
Shannon made such a fine reputa-
ton that he was offered and accepted
the position of captain and manager
of the Philadelphia Nationals Later
he occupied the same position with the
Louisville team of the American As
sociation, Omaha of the Northwestern
Association, Macon Of the Southern
League. Newark, NJ T., and then to
the Connecticut, now the Eastern
League, as umpire, which he filled
most satisfactorily for many years
Speaking of him today, President
O'Rourke of the Eastern League, said:
'I have known Dan Shannon for many
years. It was through my solicitation
that he Joined the Brotherhood team
at New York in 1891 where he played
second base under the management OK
Jim 8dutrie, who then controlled the
team.
He was not only capable player,
being exceptionally good at hitting
and base-running, but was a congenia1
companion and letter perfect in the
history of the game as well the cali
Der of all the players past and pres
ent. In fact this knowledge extended
to almost every athletic event He
was an authority upon baseball mat
ter and possessed of a wonderful fund
of Information which he could pre-
duce at a. minutes notice. He was
later an. excellent umpire, we'll liked
and popular and his death here will
be the deepest source of regret to both
old and young in baseball annals.
A report that Dan Shannon had
been the first manager to take a team
around the world, is denied both by
his brother and baseball authorities
who say there was but one team TAX
en- around the world and that was
financed by Al. Spau1ding, some years
before Shannon attained prominence.
The deceased who has for the past
few years been employed by the Yost
Typewriter Compa to whom he
rendered valuable aid in making the
team what it is, besides a widow IS
survived by one son, Henry; three
brothers, Henry, the well known at
torney. Luke and James; and two sis
ters, Mrs. James Sniderwind and Mrs.
William Tighe. of this city.
Dan Shannon was one of the bright
est ball players in the history of the
game While manager of the old
Bridgeport teams he developed and
sent into big league company some of
the greatest stars of the profession.
Men like Eddie Con1ey and Jimmie
Cooney, the latter for many years
a star back stop of the Chicagos, were
signed by him for the state league
and under his direction sent into faster
company. The same is true of Jimmy
Ryan, who in his day was one of
the greatest outhelders in the Nation
al league, having played under Pop
Arson with the Chicagos for many
years. Also Ed Flanagan, who be-
came a star first sacker for the Phil
lies.
In Dan Shannon's day Connie Mack
now the manager of the World Cham
pions, was a catcher for the Meri-
den team being the receiving end of
the famous battery Of Moo1io and
Mack Shannon and Mack were life
long friends and the latter will be
grieved to hear of the demise of his
old pal.
The death of Dan Shannon awakens
memories dear to the heart of the
fans of a generation ago. There are
many men who watched the develop
ment of Shannon who believe that in
his prime he was one of the greatest
guardians of second sack the game
ever knew.
Certainly few managers ever show
ed less of a selfish spirit. There was
no time when Dan was SO happy as
He was prince of good fellows with
a finely cultivated mind and a wealth
of anecdote that made his compan-
ionship one to be priced. Dan Shan
non will be missed in those circles
where he was wont to pass his Iefs-
ure hours during these latter days.
PEACENTAKER GETS BEATING.