Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-21
ZOE HORNUNG WAS A BRIGHT
STAR IN OUTFIELD YEARS AGO
Safe Hitter, Combined With Fleetness of Foot, Sure
Catch and Great Throwing Were
His Qualifications.
BY JOHN H. GRUBER.

=. BY JOHN H. GRUBER.
-nae national game, since its introduction
intn professionalism, can boast OF many
frst-class outfielders. Even in the early
DAYS or the game. in order to qualify for
the position. the player was required 10
demonstrate that he was "a sure eaten, a
lorsg-distance thrower and an active run
metz to which was added "a safe hitter
Tixse qualifications were possessed by Joe
Honung, who during eight years guarded
leff. field for the Boston Natiopal League
team. Joc. during half his stay at Boston,
w:xs the lone star in the outer gardens,
plaSing in left field year after year with
out interruption, whereas center and right
fields changed occupants nearly every sea-
sos. He saw many good ones go and
coffe some of whom remained only one
year. like Bill Crowley, Fred Lewis. Ed
Rowan. Peter Hotalins and Paul Rad
fold Late I'm 1885 the Boston club Sc
cured Dicky Johnston from the Virginia
club of Richmond, member of the East
err, League, and he at once divided the
outSeld honors with Joe.
Aornung got into prominence in 1871 as
leftfelder of the Tecumseh team of Lon
dons Ont, which won the international
IsSt.uc championship that year. He also
n,aied with the Tecumsehs in 1878, When
hssaon the Clipper prize awarded to thu
bcst left fielder. although he had such
stars to compete against as Mike and Tom
Mansell. Lew DickeTson, Bill Crowley
GeaGge Wood and John OKourkc va
luoss Goldsmith and Phil Powers were the
battery for the Canadian team during
Hesnungs two years connection with 1t.
Mar the close of 1878 Joe joined the But
fgh team. also of the international
League In 1873 Buffalo became meu;-
bet'of the National League and iiornuns
coriinucd a Bison iii that year and IN
Is~a In the latter year he covered first
b;tsf, Danny Stearns being placed in left
field. Among other players on the team
were Jimmy Calvin, Dave Force and Har-
die Richardson.
= Caught on the Bound.
V.hcn Joe broke into the game Il fair
1yshad to be caught on the fly to put out
a man put a batsman who hit Il foul was
OUT. il the ball was caught on the firs-
bound The ball used by tie National
League was the Mahn ball, and its use
was made compulsory, as Is me case now
with the Spalding ball in the National
League and the Reach ball in the Ameri-
can League. In all championship games
the balls were furnished by the home
club. which was compelled to furnish six
balls during the series with each club.
When the ball became out of shape or
cut or ripped so as to expose the yarn or
in any way was so injured as TO be unflt
for fair use a new ball was called for by
the umpire at the end of even innings at
the request of either captain. In ex-
min fha rYIla a m a
1t would not be fair for one side TO
have begun an innings play with the ball
deadened by previous use, while the other
side has a new and more elastic ball
with which to finish the inning.
The umpire could not at has own option
call for a new ball unless one or the
other captain called for 1t. However, in
case the bal was lost the umpire could
after the expiration of five minutes call
for a new one
Another curious rule. adopted In 1913,
allowed a team to use a tenth man, who
vas called the right shortstop, and who
took his stand between frs base ard
second. He was not. however, obliged to
remain in that part of the field. He was
considered the utility man and available
FOR any position, especially as backstop.
When extra speed was used by the pitcn-
err he could be placed behind the catcher.
where he was expected TO take high fouls
and fouls .on the first bound. This rule
was never observed in the National
League. although the same commentator
quoted above declared.
This tenth man is absolutely required
to make full base ball field and to fully
complete TIE game.
lie also c5ntended that the right short
stop position should be occupied by ,be
caprain "as it is just the position TO
enable him to fully review the field. be-
sides one i'm which he will have less work
10 do than in that of any other
The Famous Big Four.
In 1881 Hornung joined the Boston
team, being succeeded at Buffalo by Dan
BROTHERS at first base. Big Dan was
with Baltimore and Rochester in 1880. He
and Deacon White joined the Bisons the
same year QSSD. With the Bisons were
HaYdie Richardson. who had Joined in
1879, and Jack Rowe, who joined in 1880
This quartet. as all know, became the
famous Big Four.
Joe, at Boston in 1851. had for COM
pantons in the outfield Bill Crowley in
center and Fred Lewis in right. Crowley
was, with Hornung at Buffalo. but re-
NAMED only one year with the Boston
team He played his last game In 1855.
with the London, Ont, team. and died
July II. 1891. at Gloucester. y. J. Lewis
was. star outfielder. but a light hitter,
WHO. shone for a brief time and never
remained much longer than one season
with any team His last work was done
at Mobile In 1885,
As mentioned previously. the men III
center and right fields of the Boston team
charged every year. in 1882 Ed Rowan
and Pete Hotaling succeeded Crowley and
Lewis. Changes occurred regularly every
season until 1885, when Johnston was Sc
cured. who. for five years. held posses
sion of center field. Dicky w:ts one of the
most brilliant fielders that ever played
ball, but he was of a convivial character
which cut short his base ball career. He
jumped to the Boston Players League
team IN 1880. and early in June was
transferred to the New York team. In
1921 he was with the Cincinnati Ameri-
can Association team, under the manage
Tnept Of Mike Kelly. In the middle OF
August the team was transferred to MIL
waukee. but neither Kelly nor Johnston
vent along. This was the last year FOL
Johnston in fast company. In 1892 hi
vas with the New Haven team. a men,
ber, OF the Eastern League. which wa.
expelled In June because it neglected tc
pay Its players. Dicky was awarded 10
the Eimira club of the same league He
ES