Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-22
CROTESQUE NINE
WAS MANAGED
BY GUY HECKER
Ended Career by Handling Pi-
rates, Composed of so Players,
in Brotherhood Year.

tlonal League instead or the
American Association, he would
undoubtedly have been ranked among
the great pitchers of his time, such as
Corcoran, Goldsmith, Clarkson, Nc
Cormick, Radbourne, Keefe, Welch,
Ferguson Crane and Terry. But, like
Caruthers, Foutz, Henderson, Kilroy,
Ramsey and Others his activity was
confined to the American Association,
which, though a major organization,
was by the few baseball writer's of
those days considered notch or two
beneath the class and rank of the
National League, and therefore they
were given scant attention. Foutz
and Caruthers later got into the Ma
tional League, but it was near the end
of their baseball lives.
However, Hecker was one of the
most successful pitchers and all
around players of his day, and prob
ably the greatest and assuredly the
most popular pitcher that ever gained
applause in the Kentucky metropolis
equaleG him, and Jim" Devlin. may
have measured up to his standard for
aHaround play. but for steady, down
right successful work Guy had no su-
rerior. Devlin is the man who was
blacklisted by the National League.
Hecker came from Oil City, Pa, and
Joined the Louisville team in 1882, the
first year of the existence of the
American Association. He was signed
to play first base, and began the
season at that corner of the diamond.
Tony" Mullane was the sole pitcher
for the ALouisvilles, as was the case
with most teams in those days, when
the schedule did not call for more
than three or four games a week.
Pitched Hitless Game.
On one of the Eastern trips of the
team Guy was selected to pitch in an
exhibition game against a strong mi
nor team. He astonished the world by
shutting out the team without hit.
His work was so impressive that ne
was called upon to pitch in cham
pionship games, and at once made
good He and Mullane took regular
turns in playing first base and pitch
ing.
Hecker pitched, and he delights in
telling it. When the Louisvilles again
invaded the East another contest was
arranged with the same minor team,
and Hecker was eager to duplicate
his previous performance, and had no
misgivngS concerning the result
However, this time he was knocked
all over the field, and the boots and
bowls of the frenzied spectators rang
IN his ears for many a day afterward.
IF my head had any inclination to
become swelled," says Guy, that eX
l.erience cured it effectually. 1t was
bitter bnt beneficial lesson to me-"
In 1888 Mullane left the Louisville
team and Hecker became the premier
pitcher, his assistant being Buck
Weaver, who died a few weeks ago
Hecker now began a string of daz-
zling victories, and in 1884 was The
hero of the fans not only in Louis
vile, but throughout the entire Amer
lean Association circuit. His popu-
tarity grew to such proportions that
canes, neCkties, cigars and other com
modities and luxures were named
after him There were twelve cluos
in the American Association in 1884,
and through Hecker's successful work
the Eclipse team, as the Louisvilles
were called, finished third. The Nets,
of New York, with Tim Keefe and
championship. while Columbus, which
had Ed" Morris and Frank Noun
tain as box men, came in second.
Could Pound the Pill.
Iiecker. as limited at. was not only a
good pitcher but also a splendid bat
Ter In 1856 lie led his team in bat
ing, and in the same year broke the
record for individual hitting in the
major organizations In a game on
august Is against Baltimore he hit
Dick Conway six times safely, among
the hits being three home run
smashes, giving hirn a total Of lif
teen bases. The previous record was
a ototal Of thirteen bases, made by
Dave Orr of the Nets, in 1884. EX-
Rctly three years after it was made
Hecker's mark was beaten by Larry
Twitchell, who on August 10, 1889,
made single, a double and three
home runs off Mike Madden, pitching
for Boston. In a game at Cleveland.
Twitchell held the record until May
30 1894 when Bobby Lowe, OF the
Boston team, made a single and four
home runs. total Of seventeen
bases. off Elton Chamberlain, of the
Cincinnati team, which was dupli-
,ated two years later. in 1896, by Ed
DeIehanty who hit Bill Terry for the
same number and size of hits
Hecker remained with Louisville
until two years before the American
Association, in 1892 was consolidated
with the National League forming
twelve club circuit. In the latter part
Of 1889 he acted as umpire in the AS
ISOLATION,
In 1890 the year of the players re-
bellion Hecker was engaged to man
age the Pittsburg team. The team
had been fearfully riddled by ennis
saries of the Players League, only
three George Miller "Aleck" Jones
and William Sowders) being over
looked. Miller did jump, but came
back before the season opened. All
kinds Of material was picked up and
shipped to Hecker, so that the Pitts
burg club broke all records by en-
ploying so players during the season.
GUY often was unable to say how his
team would line up, changes being 50
frequent. Any day before game
Young chap might be seen walking
upon the field and reporting to the
manager. j. Palmer O'Neil. probably
the most picturesque figure in base
ball was at the head OF the Pttsbure
club and gave ear to all applications
no matter from what source. and SEN
the Youngsters 10 Hecker, Who
whether il was a case Of necessity or