The Washington times., 1913-11-22
CHICAGO WATCHES
LENA" BLAcKBURNE
Fans Wonder Whether He Will
DispIace Heine Berger At
Second Base.

CHICAGO, Nov. Z2-White Sox fans are
wondering whether Russell Blackburne
will be able to dethrone Heine Berger
as guardian of the keystone sack Of the
Sox for the 1914 season. The two once
fought it out for an infield berth, and
next spring they will renew their battle.
Blackburne was once the idol Of the
South Side followers He was liked for
his brilliant and daring work in the field.
He is one of the best and most willing
workers in the game and is always try
ing his best to help his team win. Many
Of the baseball scribes believe that he
would have made good in major league
company had he not been handicapped
with an injured knee. Blackburne was
nicknamed Lena by the White SoX
rcoters and won a warm spot for him
self in the hearts Of many of the South
Siders.
Lena" Blackburne was born in Pal
myra, N. j., August 10, 1855. He began
playing professional baseball with the
Riverton, Palmyra, team, in 1906. He
Jumped this team the following season
and played Independent ball. Worcester
Of the New England League signed him
up in 1908, and here Blackburne was re-
garded as one of the best in the league.
Both his fielding and batting were good.
Hugh Duffy, who was managing the
Providence team Of the international
League at that time, noticed the bril-
liant work Blackstone put up In the
New England League, and signed him
I'D for his Providence Grays in 1903.
While with the Providence team Black
burne was one of the heaviest hitters in
the league, and when Duffy was signed
by Owen Comiskey to succeed Billy
Sullivan as manager of the South Sid
ers. Blackburne came along with his
manager and Rollo Zeider. Both OF
them won regular berths in 1910, and
put up fine game. The price paid to
Providence for Blackburne was $500
and Players Jakey Atz and Mike Wal-
day.
In his first year in major league COM
pany Blackburne was not a whale with
his sensational field work. He finished
the 1910 season with batting mark of
ia.
The 1911 season found Blackburne
warming up the bench. He was out of
the lineup during this season, owing TO
an injury to his knee, and had to be
operated on several times. The young
ster could never recover sufficiently to
get into the game as a regular, and was
later succeeded at short by Buck Wea-
yer, who now has that Job cinched
Blackburne will have a good chance
to win a regular position for himser.
Callahan needs a good second sacker,
and, should Blackburne come up TO ex-
pectations. Re will no doubt win the
berth. Reports from the American As
sociation state that he has greatly i'm
proved In batting. which is good news
for the South Side bugs.
Back in the spring OF 1910 Berger and
Blackburne fought 1t out for an in
field berth. Berger looked a little raw
and was turned over to the Coast
League for more experience. 1t is be-
lieved by many OF the Sox fans that
the 1914 season will again find Berger
in the Coast League, while Blackburne
will be drawing his salary from the Sox.
Manager Callahan sent Blackburne
along with Jimmy Block to the Milwau-
kee Brewers as part payment for Ray
Schalk, the young sensational catcher
in the middle of the 1912 season. Black
burne was glad when Callahan made
the deal that sent him to the Brewers,
as he was then able to get into the
lineup regularly and show the fans
that he really had some baseball talent
IN him. Blackbourne was awarded to
the Cubs in the fail of 1912 through the
draft route, but the boss of the Cubs
withdrew his claim on him. declaring
that he wasn't a heavy enough batter
to stick with the West Siders.