The Detroit times., 1914-03-20
BULL" DURHAM
WAS BILLIKEN
OF BASEBALL
Jimmy Burke and Charley Carr
Tell of the Luckiest Pitcher
in the Game
AGED OUR JIMMY FIVE
YEARS IN SEASON
Late John Brush Insisted on
Buying Him for $4,000,
Though Worthless
BY RALPH L. YONKER

By RALPH L. YONKER
~ ULFPORT. Miss, March 90
Bull Durham, who pitched for
~ indianapolis when DOME Bush.
RUDE MarQuard, Charley Carr and that
gang were with the club, was one OF
the curios OF baseball.
Jimmy Burke. now scout with the
Tigers. was one of the men who sui
fered most from Durham and his Gu
robustness. Jimmy was manager for
the Louisville club at the time that
Durham was with Indianapolis.
Durham couldn't pitch q ball with
any more speed than school girl"
said Jimmy in Q recent fanfest, "but
he could beat US any time he wanted
to. He could get thousand men on
bases during game and yet never
have run scored on him.
THAT fellow aged me Eve years the
season I was managing Louisville"
mourned Burke. land he never
amounted to Q picayune"
Right" said Charlie Carr. who was
managing Indianapolis when Durham
was there. Here Ia an example OF
the luck that Durham had. In one
game We had the bases packed, no.
body out. the score to 8 In our favor
and our pitcher webbing. I had Dur
ham warming up. knew that he
didn't have . thing. but thought that
I'd take q chance on his luck.
HE went In the box when q fly ball
to the outfield meant . tie score. and .
pitched two balls and he bad the
game.
Tho frst ball he pitched was HIT
to Durham himself, who threw o>the
catcher. forcing one man at home. The
catcher doubled the ball to me at hfst
and We had q double play. The next
batter hit the first ball Durham pitch
ed him on 2 line towards Otto VIII
liams. Williams took the ball ON the
hrst hop and threw his man out at
first by . mile"
Durham was q very lucky PROPOSE
ton for the Indianapolis club. He
never amounted 70 thing a. 4 real
pitcher 90 far az having stun on the
ball was concerned. but he could al
ways win his games by luck. Charlie
Carr took him to Indianapolis when
he had only one pitcher who Was any
good 1t all, Rube MarQuard. He. had
70 have anybody who could throw the
ball. Most Of his pitching star was
laid up In the hospital.
Durham was beaten several times.
He suffered terrific lacings from al.
most every club be faced. Then he
began winning double-headers. He &C
comSlished the almost imposslble feat
OF winning three doubie-headers In .
week and flve Of them In q row. When
ever he started the nrst game Of .
double-header he was looked for TO
% through the two games and win
them.
When the late John T. Brush. who
owned che New York Giants. got ready
TO look over Rube MarQusrd. the In
dianapolis club was at Columbus.
While watching game with Watkins.
Of the indianapolis club, Brush asked
his companion casually about Bull"
This man Durham has been making
quite Q valuable man for you, hasn't
her he asked.
"Oh. yes" said WATKINS. and called
Mr.. Brush's attention to play that
was being made on the field.
won quite . few games for you.
hasn't her. persisted Brush.
Eyes. Quite q few"
Watkins was anxious to make
good deal for MarQuard and he didn't
like to be bothered about Durham.
whom he considered q mediocre man.
"Where IL he now?
Right there. pitching" said Wat
kins.
whats he gotr
There he Is. You can see for your.
SELF
Durham was winning his game.
In the eighth inning Brush said, rs
Durham for sale?"
"rm not trying to sell him." said
Watkins.
"will you put price on him!"
NO" in matter-of-fact way.
That opened Brush's eyes. He be-
gan to think that Watkins was trying
to cover Durham up.
'Will you consider price II I name
it?" he asked.
Always do that" returned Watkins.
"wNl you sell him for $4.500?"
Watkins heart stopped for mo-
ment. Then he said calmly, yes"
So the sale was made.
Durham went TO New York on an
agreement that $500 cash was to De
paid for him and $4,000 by May !.
The Indianapolis club really never be.
lieved that Il would get the $4,000 ex.
ira for him. Along towards the time
that he was to be paid for or turned
back. watkins requested Brush TO give
him to any club In the National league
II he got waivers on him.
Charlie Carr didn't want him back
with indianapolis, and he knew tina.
II New York sent him back he'd have
to keen him In order to placate Indian
fans. who thought him a swell pitcher.
The first OF May came and Durham
was not returned. A week or so after
Watkins received letter from Brush
saying that he had overlooked that
May I agreement about Durham. He
thought that the sale contract had
read May Is. so he supposed he would
have TO keep Durham and enclosed
herewith please find check for $4,000"
Durham lasted about 10 minutes
ro.. nth Nowrf Vnv1r