The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1914-10-20
Baseball Evangelist


then went and sat down on a corner.
never go by that place but pray. It -
Van Buren, street, Chicago.
"As I said, we walked on down the
street to the cofna1. It was vacant
lot at that time. We sat down on the
curbing. Across the street company
of men and women were playing on in
struments-horns, nutss and slide from
bones-and the others were singing the
gospel hymns that I used to hear my
mother sing back In the log cabin in
Iowa, and back In the old church where
1 used to go to Sunday school.
"And God painted on the canvas Of my
memory q vivid picture Of the scenes of
other days and other faces.
MANY have long since turned to dust.
I sobbed and sobbed and young man
stepped out and said:
1--WE are going down to the Pacific
Garden Mission: wont you come down to
the Missionf am sure you will enjoy
It, You can hear dfunkards tell how they
have been saved from the red light dis
trict.'
ct arose and said to the boys:
I'm through. We've come to the part
ing OF the ways,' and I turned by back
on them. Some Of them laughed and
some of them Knocked me: one of them
gave me announcement; others never
said a word.
'"Twenty-six yeasv ago I turned and
left that little group on the corner Of
State and Madison streets. walked to the
little mission, went on my knees and
staggered out o< s1n and into the arms
Of the Savior.
cago where I was keeping company with
a girl, now my wife. Nell I married
Nell She was Presbyterian. SO I am
Presbyterian. Had she been . Catholic
I would have bean 2 cathonc-because
was hot on tho trail OF Nell
THE next day I had to go out to the
ball park and psacttce. Every morning
at 10 o'clock we had to be out there and
practice. I never slspt that night. I was
afraid Of the hogDs-aAush that gang would
give me because bad taken my stand
for Jesus Christ
1T walked down 10 the old bah grounds
I will never fosgse u I slipped my key
into the wicket EaAa. and the first man to
meet me after ut inside was Mike
Kelley.
'sUp came NIKE Ksalsy," he said: Bill,
I'm proud Of you. Religion u not my
long suit. but Tn hslD you Al caA.' Up
rame Arson. Pfsfbar. Garrison. Flint.
Jimmy Mccormick. Burns, Williamson
and Dalrymple. There wasn't fellow In
that gang who knocked; every fellow
had q word Of encouragement for me.
troit club. We wsfe neck and neck for
the championship. That club had Thomp-
son, Richardson. Rowe, Dunlap, Hanlon
and Bennett. and they could play ball
IT was playing right Geld and John g..
Clarkson was pitching. He was as fine q
pitcher as ever crawied into uniform
There are some pitcherS today, O'Tooie.
Bender, Wood, MAfhewson, johnson,
MarQuard. but do not belisve any one
Of them stood In the class with Clarkson.
I'VE had two man out and they had q
man on second and one on third, and
Bennett, their old catcher, was at the bat.
Charley had three balls and two strikes
on him. Charley couldn't hit high ball;
/ don't mean q Scotch highball. but he
could kill them when they went about his
knee.
1T hollered to Garrison and said: One
more and we got EN-
You know every pitcher digs q hole In
the ground where he puts his foot when
he IL pitching. John stuck his foot In
the hole and he went clear to the ground.
Oh, he could make than dance. He could
throw over-handed and the bali would
go down and up like that. He II the only
man on earth have seen do that. That
ball would 80 BY % fast that Their
mometer would drop two degrees. John
went clear down. and a. he went to throw
the ball his right foot slipped and the
II saw Charley swing hard and heard
the bat hit the ball with terrific blow.
Bennett had smashed the bali on the
| nose. saw the ball rise In the air and
knew It was going clear over my head
IT could judge within 10 feet Of where
the bali would light. turned my back
| to the ball and ran
| yelled: Stand backr and that crowd
| opened like the Red 80 opened for the
rod Of Moses: ran on, and - ran
| made q prayer; Il wasn't theological
either. I tell you that I said: God, II
you ever helped mortal man. help me gel
that ball. and you haven't very much
time to make Up your mind either.'
stopped
II thought Wa close enough 10 catch
| II. looked back and saw Il gotnE ovel
my head, and jumped and showed my
left hand out and the ball hit Il and
stuck. At the rate was going. the mo-
the Feet OF q team OF horses. I Jumped
up with the bah In my hand. Up came
Tom Johnson He was Afterwards may.
or Of Cleveland.
Here - 80 Bar, buy yourself the be-,
hat In Chicago. That catch won me g..
500. Tomorrow 20 and buy yourself thu
best suit Of cloehas you can ind In Chi
| cago.'
IAN old Method1s< minister said to M
few years ago: Why. William. yoS
didn't take the IA d1d Jour I saad. YoS
bet I did'
'LlstsnI MIKE Kszlsy was sold 10 Bos
ton for $4,000 He came up to me and
showed mo . check for 6.ooo John L
Sullivan. the champSon fighter. wen
around with . suhscription paper and tn
boys raised over Q4ooo TO buy Mike Z
| house.
They gave MHke Q desd TO the housl
and they had u.1O left and gave him I
certificate Of deposit for that
His salary for playing with Bostcu
was 100 . year. AT the end Of tina,
season Nike had spent the 5000 pur
chase price and the =. 900 he received q,
salary and the q BOO they gave him and
had q mortgage on the house And wher
he died In Pennsyivania they wen
around with . subscription 10 get none,
enough to put him In the ground. MIX,
| sat there ON the corner with me . year,
1 ~hax r naAas hurw~ r.