Evening star., 1915-01-22
BY JOHN n. GRUBER.

From the time 1t entered a team in
the National League in 1888 Phlladei-
phia always could boast of possessing
trio of strong outfieiders. Beginning
with Bill Purcell and down to Sher-
wood r. Magee, the left side Of the
outfleld was each season guarded by
star of some brilliancy. Looking down
the list, such names as J. +. Manning,
George Wood, Billy Hamilton, Ed Dele
hanty. Shorty Slagle, George Browne
and Jack Barry are encountered. all
splendid players and hard and timely
hitters. In running bases they were
daring and speedy. and in fielding their
position they had few superiors.
Magee the last of the great Philadel
phia left flelders. was born in Claren-
don. Pa, August 6. 1884. He Joined the
Phillies in 1903, playing his first game
outf1eld was then made up of Jack
Barry in left Roy Thomas In center
and John Titus IN right. The last
named met with an injury. and Man
kee. was compelled to hunt substi-
tute. His attention was called to Ma
gee. who was doing fine work for the
Lindens. an Independent team at Car
and placed him in left field, sending
Barry to take Titus place in right
Masee was not glittering success in
his initial game. as the following criti-
shows: Sherwood Magee of Carlisle
was tried in left field ard misjudged
two flies. which cost runs"
However. the way he walloped the
ball atoned for his omissions in the
field. 1t Is true. he got only one hit
off Jack Cronin, but he never failed
to hit the ball hard every time he went
to bat. Cronin pitched for Brooklyn.
tHh = ~ O
Duggleby and Frank Sparks pitched
for the Phillies, who then were in last
place and remained in that position
until the end of the season. Frank
Roth caught for the Phillies in that
game. and Jack Doyle was on first
base. Kid Gleason on second Bob Hall
on third and Robert Hulswitt at short
Not Not one of these players. including
ring, except Magee.
Always Improved.
Magee improved with each subse-
quent game, and when Titus returned
to the outfield Barry was released to
the Chicago team, with which he be-
came a reliable all-around sub. Magee
was kept in left field and given a regu-
lar berth.
Two weeks after he Joined the Phil
lies Magee saw Herman Long, the
great old shortstop, play his last game
in the National League. This was at
Pittsburgh July 49, Long came from
Toledo, where he had managed and
played short for the Mudhens. He re-
signed from the team near the end of
June. and Hugh Duffy, his old compan-
ion in arms at Boston during the nine
ties, gave him final trial The trial
was limited to one game. and although
Herman got a hit, while Magee got
none, the veteran was regretfully let
go.
In the race of 1905 the Phillies wound
up in fourth place, the strong outfield
having much to do with the improved
standing. Magee, Thomas and Titus
worked side by side for four years.
Then came the first break. 1t occurred
in 1908. under the management of
the Phillies. In June of that year
Thomas was given his passport to
Pittsburgh, and Wilfred Osborne was
placed in center field. Osborne joined
the Phillies in 1907. coming from the
Chicago Cubs, who had purchased him
from Canton, Ohio. for $4,000. His stay
with the Phillies, however, was of
short duration. Just about year from
the date he became a regular the Phil
adelphia club traded Louis Richie, Bus
ter Brown and Dave Shean to the Bos-
ton club for Johnny Bates and Charley
Starr Bates Immediately took pos
session of center field and Osborne was
released.
For two seasons Magee. Bates and
Titus held together. and then the third
break in the outfe1d occurred. In 1911
the Philadelphia club engaged In d
trade that held the attention of the
country. It gave the Cincinnati club
Johnny Bates. George McQuillen. Ed