Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-30
(Chaper IV.--Continuedo
Quoting from another article:

Sunday probably has the longest lower
leg. that 10. from the knee to the foot. OF
any man ever seen in this city 1t has
powerful bullying muscles near the knee
tapering down to actual thinness near the
ankle, . runners foot in every particu-
lar"
At Steubenville, when the national
championships were drawing to a
crisis, Sunday could not refrain from
making a comparison with the ball
players OF his day. The conversation
IL typical, in that it displays the 10y.
atty Of the man, both to his past asso
ciatss and to the calling in which he
frst won recognition. The interview
says:
''You can talk about ~ Cobb. Iris
Speaker. Lajois and all the others.
but there isn't man that has ever come
up to Cap Arson ~ batter" says Evan
geist Billy Sunday. Gap could swine
on that ball-my how he could swins!-
and you could never tell where he would
send 1t. He could give . terrific swat and
there isn't batter today that can sur
pass him.
"And - to pitchers. John Clarissop
toppsd them all. John was the only man
] ever saw who would throw overhanded
and make the ball 90 down and then up
He used to wear his flngernails down tc
1he auiek in throwing that ball ana would
hsve his fingers and the ball covered
with blood.
"And some Of you fellows talk about
1he bQuseos play and other new plays
ct the diamond. Bah! We used to make
these saxs plays Is years ago, only W
p~A S1or
Four times that know OF. scored from
second base on an inheld hit.
mo. sir. We didn't wear any gloves
In those days. You say: oh, the ball
must have been softer Let me tell you
4 vas hard then 20 It 10 today and they.
ussd 70 shoot EN- over juts a. swiftly
to-. Ny. how Clsskson. Mccormick
Charles Radbourne and those fellow
oeulA ssoA the ball over the plate.
Int y0u know in those days fouls did
not eosnt - strikes. Mike Kelly was
really responsible for the present rule
Mike would stand up at the plate and
would hit safely. 1t became An art and
he'd gst the pitcher tired He woulc
stand at the plate all day II they hadn't
made the new ruls On FOUL
It was during his career as base
ball player that Mr.. Sunday was con
verted at the Pacific Garden Mission
In Chicago, under the ministration OF
Harry Monroe. Naturally this event
made decided change in his life, and
while, by his own confession. he was
somewhat given to axcesses In hii
earlier day, 1t II interesting to know
that In q general way his character
and his habits were Of good order
He was esteemed BY all who knew
him. That their standards of life were
not the standards Of leaders In ethical
thought 10 criticism Of present day
society, and not Of the man. In this
connection it is worth while to quote
,Mf. Frank G. Richter, editor Of sport
ing Life," probably the best known
publication Of its class In this country
Mr.. Richter says:
II never had the pleasure Of persona.
scQuaintance with Mr.. Sunday. and there
Iors cannot speak with the authority Of
intinsAts knowledge Of his personality o.
character. But never heard anything
but good Of him from those who knew
him or associated with him. He stood
high with his team mates, and that is
splendid credential In my opinion. 40 nc
hypecs1te could associate long with bal
playorS without being unmarked and
1se consequence. treated with merite<
eontsupt, and perhaps. lot severely alon.
By . class never chary In expression o,
their Views Of men and things, and en-
lsWs6 With uttjs reverence, ~ rule"