Evening journal., 1915-09-01
BRESNAHAN Is YEARS
With THE MAJORS
Made His Start In the Big
League With Old Wash
ington Nationals
LATHAM FOUND
THE GREAT PLAYER

Just eighteen years ago Friday a
kid pitcher who answered tc the
name of Roger Bresnahan made his
big league debut in a Washington uni
form, the capital city being at that
time represented in the old twelve
club National circuit. AT that time
Roger was still on the sunny side of
twenty-one. Born in Dublin. he emil
grated with his parents to the land of
promise and finally settled in Toledo.
where he first played bail with anna
teur and semi-pro clubs. The future
leader Of the Cardinals and the Cubs
was playing with Lima O., in 1897.
when his pitching attracted the at
/ tentiOn of the major league scouts,
and resulted in his engagement by
the Washingtons
During the remainder of the 1897
season Roger twirled in seven games
and lost only one. AT that. he wasn't
much of a pitcher, for his control
was rotten, although he had a world
of speed The members Of the team
were extremely fond of the kid, how
ever. and they worked their heads off
to help him win his games. AS a
pitcher Roger didn't make very big
hit with the fans, who dubbed him
l"Horseshoe.'
Roger didn't last long as a box art
list. and when Washington released
him he was considered just another
flash in the PAN" and nobody ex-
pected to hear any more OF him.
That is, nobody but Roger. He had
the fighting spirit of his Irish ances-
tors, and he wasn't a gutter. He
began playing in the infeld and out
field. with an occasional turn behind
the bat, and when John McGraw took
charge of the Baltimore team in the
American League in 1901 he made
Roger his regular catcher In 1902
he was sent TO the third bag. and
when McGraw went to the Giants
that year he took Roger with him.
For some time Bresnahan played
mostly in the outer gardens, and Il
was not until 1905 that he began to
make reputation as one of the
greatest catchers in the game.
In 1909 Roger made his debut as q
pilot at the head of the Cardinals
and. although he had what looked
like a tail-ender team, he made
great race for the flag when he hat
, once got under way. He left tn,
Raiahs to go TO Chicago, and this
year became the leader of the Cubs
Arlie Latham, the famous old thirt
baseman of Chris Won der Ahe's ST
/ Louis Browns. who also played witt
Chicago and Cincinnati. was the dis
, iCONerer of Roger Brpgnahan Arff,
was scouting for Earl Wagner, owner
! OF the Washington club, back in 1897
b and went to Lima. o., 10 give thl
r once-oyer 10 the Toledo boy who wal
! said 10 be a phenomenon. Arli,
proved then, as on many other occa
) sions, that he was a foxy old scout
) for he reported that while he though
= Bresnahan had the making of a grea
E ball player. he didn't think a lot O
! him as a twirler. Latham's judgmen
D was sound, for If Roger had stuck Il
{ pitching he would long ago have van
- ished from the game Latham. b,
D the way, is still mixed up in tn
e diamond pastime although his caree
r as a player is now ancient history
I Arlie has lately been playing the rol
p OF minor league umpire. after sovera
D years spent in the service of the Ney
I York Giants as scout. Latham be
E gan playing professional ball som
thirty-three years ago. with III
b Philadelphia club Of the dead and for
gotten Alliance League. He gaine
his greatest fame with the St Loui
/ Browns, and was with that club 70
nearly a decade.