The Washington times., 1915-01-18
California Lightweight First
Saw Light Of Day in Fresno,
Chances Birthplace.

Fresno Is famous as being the center
Of the California raisin industry. but
1t also has other claims to fame. 1t Is
the birthplace of Frank Leroy Chance.
the once peerless leader of the diamond.
and 1t was the scene of Chief Meyer .
baseball debut. the Chief having been
engaged to "k!ck' Job press and prin:
raisin boxes five days week and play
ball on saturdays and Sundays. Fresno
v also entitled to whateeV glory ap-
pertains to the birthplace Of frankie
Burns. the California lightweight boxer.
who was born in the raisin city Just
twenty-four years ago today. Frankie
who is no relation to the little Jersey
City boxer of the same name-started
his pugilistic career in Oakland to
which city he removed at the age Of
fifteen. He absorbed considerable edu-
cation in the Oakland high school, ana
was engaged u the occupation Of "A
bug bit him. 1t was all quite accidental.
frankie had never had a glove on when n
one night. with a bunch of boys. he
attended a boxing show in Oakland. 1t
featherweights listed failed to put in
an appearance. and the referee invited
anv featherweight present to step to
the front and take the place of the
NHiSSlH8 lAu rEanhle COHlpdIlOHS
dared him to volunteer. and young
Burns proved himself a good sport by
marching up to the ring. frankie 8
friends expected he would get a good
drubbing. but instead Of that the young
ster waded into his more experienced
opponent and won by a mile.
After that Burns became a boxing bug
for fair. and. after cleaning up the
amateur ranks. entered the professional
arena. His first year in the ring. 1908
10 N nil nd
nothing worse than a draw. In 1909 he
defeated number OF lads. including
Willie Ritchie, who was then just start.
ing in the game. In 1910 frankie made
fghting draws with frankie Madden a,
New York. and with Mattye Baldwin
at Newark. On his return to CalifQrnis
he stayed ten rounds with Owen Moran
bust lost on a foul to One Round Hogan
won on a foul. He knocked out Lew
Powell in the nineteenth round. and was
then matched for the lightweight title
with Ad Wolgast. but was knocked ou,
the Californian has been defeated by
Jack Britton and Tommy Murphy, but
has whipped Joe Azevedo. Tommy Nc
Farland and other good boys, and has
fought twenty-round draw with Gil.
bert Gallant. the French-Canadian who
recently defeated Leach Cross
James j. Collins. once one OF the
greatest intielders of the diamond. was
born in Buffalo forty-two years ago to.
day. Collins was for six years. from
1901 to 1906. tho pilot Of the Boston
Americans, and in 1903 and 1904 he an.
nexed the pennant. He played with
Louisville before going to Boston. and
for several years he batted over the
800 mark While at third base he had
few equals.
Tomorrow will be the thirty-seventt
birthday Of Joseph F. Hagan. who va.
known durinE~his long and distinguished
ring career as Philadelphia Jack
o Brien. At one time Jack claimed the
middleweight title. and later he entered
the heavyweight ranks. although he wa.
never very much above the middle
weight limit Jack was the principa
trival of Tommy Burns for the honors
vacated by Jeffries. and fought the Ca
madam twenty rounds to draw at l,o.
Angeles in 1906. The following year III
fought Tommy again and lost tn,
decision In twenty rouESs. OBrien's rims
career covered over fifteen years. anC
he is still able to put up good hou
with the gloves