The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-04-08
(By Harvey +. Woodruff.

10Y I1dIScy IL NNOOuIulksy
Chicago, April Catcher Jimmy
Archer Of the Chicago Cubs owes his
position as. the greatest catcher. in
major league baseball in part to the
fact that he fell into a vat Of scalding
sap on Feb. IS, 1902. while working
in a cooperage factory in Toronto.
When Archer emerged from the
of his right arm had contracted until
it was one inch shorter than the left.
The cords also prevented him from
drawing back his arm to make a long
follow through throw, while the pain
of such an attempt was intense.
Therefore, by necessity, Jimmy was
forced to adopt the squat position and
snap throw, which he has made ia
nous and which has no imitators.
Archer figures hat his position gives
him an advantage Of five steps of a
fast base runner at full speed. because
he is able to snap shots to the bases
without getting set for the throw. His
computations are interesting.
back his arm to get the ball in posi-
ton to throw the base runner would
advance two steps: that two steps
would be gained while he vas taking
a step forward and getting set, and
that the position Of the ball back over
his shoulder where most throws orig
mate would account for the fifth step.
the difference between Archer's snap
throw Of necessity and the, throw he
might be making. except for the acct
dent, would easily average one stolen
base per game by the opposition. To
a man catching 11s games. as Archer
did last year. that would mean lis
opposing stolen bases cut oR-for
runners are wary Of Archer's marks
manship-which is enough to turn the
tide in many games.
Born in Dublin.
James Patrick Archer was born in
Dublin, ireland, IN May 10, 1883. AL
though his father was a Lancashire
honestly. for his mother was Irish
born and bred. Archer pere was a
sergeant major in the First Royal
Dragons, stationed at Dublin, but
four months after Jimmy was born
emigrated to Canada, living first at
Windsor and later at Toronto. where
ne is engaged in the concrete business.
chial school at Toronto. De La Sale
high school. and took a business
course at st. Michael's college, where
he was regarded az a good student.
Archer's first work was as office boy
for a wholesale clothing house. He
worked up to the title OF assistant
salesman. but not to its salary. 10 quit
and shipbuilder. which he followed in
winters. ever after becoming a profess
sional ball player.
Unlike most great diamond stars.
Jimmy was not especially proficient
as a boy. He played only on Satur-
days and his father was so opposed
to his practice that he usually found
something for Jimmy to do when a
match was scheduled.
Reported to Fargo.
But Jimmy's fall into that sap vat
of a cooperage plant. where he was
working during a lull in his own trade.
started him as a professional player.
throwing. Coming from the hospital,
Jimmy did not feel strong enough to
work, but he did feel strong enough
to report on June 1 to the Fargo. ",
D.. baseball club Of the Northern
league. Of which Tommy Reynolds, a
Toronto friend. was manager. His
salary was 800 per month.
On July S. four players, including
Manager Reynolds and Archer. jump.
ed the Fargo club and took part In n
tournament at Virden, Man. The fol.
lowing season. 1908. ne played at
Brandon, and in 1904, reported to
Reynolds. who had become manager
VI tuc A1OOuo SIuO VI LILO iowa state
league. Ills salary had mounted to
$176 per month.
Just as things were going nicely,
Reynolds, Archer and McGuree, n
shortstop. were ordered by the nation
nj association to report back to the
Fargo club. from which they had
Jumped two years previously. Before
the order was made effective. the
Northern league blew up and Archer
finished the season in Boone.
Attracted Pirate Scout.
! Archer's work, however. had It.