The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-28
THORPE CONFESSES HE
PLAYED PROFESSIONAL
BALL; is DISQUALIFIED

NEW YORK, Jan. 27.--Jim Thorpe
the greatest all-around athlete that
this or any other country had ever
known--Jim Thorpe. Vthe wonderful
Indian football, baseball, basketball
and lacrosse player. broad and, high
jumper, hurdler and sprinter laureled
by king and acclaimed by millions
has finally admitted his sins against
the laws of amateurism
The one small indiscretion of his
athletic youth has come forward al
this late day, after he had won all the
glories that could be gained in his
chosen field. and he finds himself
branded as a protest. nal"
1t seems little thing that this
great Carlisle star did. In the sum-
mer of 1909 and 1910 he played base
ball for money with the Rocky Mount
team of the Eastern Carolina asso-
citation, as we'll as the Fayetteville
team of the same league--a league
that stands for all the professional
ball player means when he refers
scornfully to the bushes"
Today this league-~prohabIy never
very hale and hearty In it's most pros
porous days--is defunct. but 1t lived
long enough to furnish a means for
the destruction of the career as an
amateur of the greatest athlete of all
times.
All the material honors that Thorpe
gained in the Olympic games of 1879
the trophies and what-n not, have been
stripped from the Indian holder. and
they will be returned to the donors
None of his marvellous records will
stand They will be wiped out COM
pietely. as IL they never existed, al
though II Is rather doubtful If this
summary method will remove them
from the memory of the people who
follow athletic events,
The destruction of these records
will work a revolution in the athletic
world. Martin Sheridan will regain
his old all-around American record
Sweden will move UP in athletic stand
Ing; other countries will likewise
profit, all because one pure blooded
American played a little baseball for
hire, a few years ago,
Writes IA Confession.
Thorpe says he did not play for
the actual money he gained
My property brings me In enough
money to live on liked to play base
ball" he SAYS in his letter admitting
the charges against him.
Il hope" he says in another place
In the letter. Il will be partly ex-
cused by the fact that I was simply
an Indian schoolboy, and did not know
all about such things
This is the note of pathos in the
proceeding
One Clancy. manager of a team In
a bush league was The unconscious
author Of Thorpes amateur down
fall. A reporter. Interviewing Clancy
saw picture OF a baseball club ami
recognized Thorpe in the group. Clan
cy tried 10 back out of the situation
but the truth was out, and ON top OF
the story as published came hundreds
OF letters to the Amateur Athletic
union from people who suddenly re-
memhered having known Thorpe well
as ball player.
In fact. il develops that down South,
where Thorpe played. and among his
friends and acquaintance. there was
no secret made Of the fact that nc
had played ball for money: they didn't
know there was any particular han IN
in H. During the Olympic games
Southern papers printed stories and
pictures OF the great Indian lauoing
his prowess, and constantly referrine
10 his baseball connections in tbs
Carolinas. and no hint Of this reache !
the ears of the amateur authorities.
An investigation was proposed. but
before IL could be held Thorpe him
self comes forward with his confes-
sion No such turmoil has been Gre
ated IN the athletic world since the
time Arthur DuffeV. the greatest