Evening star., 1915-02-14

George did his duty in Canada during
1905 In 1906 he was possessed with
the notion of becoming a magnate in q.
proposed new league, but the scheme
exploded, and George returned to Mon
treal. But this uncertainty of locating
a resting place induced Montreal to re-
mained all season under the manage
ment of Jack Dunn, later the success
full manager of the Baltimore team
There Lachance was surrounded by
such veterans as Walter Brodie. Jack
Cronin, Jack Mccarthy, AL Selbach.
jerry Nops, Chic Fraser and a few
others.
In 1907 Providence secured Bill Alb
stein from Pittsburgh for first base,
and Lachance was let out. He went to
1908, but was sent to New Haven dur
ing the season, and this was the last
heard of him, except that in 1913 he
Was used as a substitute umpire in the
Eastern Association.
Al Wagner's Trials.
Another player left by Gibson at
Montreal was Al Wagner. whom he
shook to join the latter's more famous
brother, Hans, at Pittsburgh. In their
younger days Al was the ball player
and Hans the bat carrier. While Hans
was playing third base with the Pater-
son, N. J., team in 1897 AL was filing
the same position and also playing
short for the Toronto team. Before the
season was over Hans was secured by
the Louisville club, but Al remained
with, Toronto until its close, when he
was secured by Washington for the
1898 campaign. This was the only year
Al spent in the major league, except
for short experience with Kansas
City in 1900, when the cowboy team
was a charter member of the Ameri-
can League.
Al played third base regularly for
the Senators in 1898 until Bert Meyers
was secured from Milwaukee. Meyers
did not make good. and AL was again
placed on third base. after having sub
bed numerous times at short and in
the outfield. Then the club got Jud
Smith from Syracuse and AL was loan
ed to Brooklyn, where he supplanted
Billy Shfndle at third base and, with
slight Interruptions, finished the sea-
son at that station.
In 1899. AL went back to the Eastern
League, where he played, except for
nhat little excursion to Kansas City
during the remainder of his profess
sional career. In the meantime Hans
broke into the National League in 1897,
as noted and has never left it to the
present day.
Gibson caught his first game for
Pittsburgh, which was >also his first
in the National League. on July ., 1905.
The game was played at Cincinnati
and the Reds won, to 1. Deacon
Philippe pitched for the Pirates, while
Bob Ewing did the twirling for the
Reds. being caught by Eddie Phelps.
The other players on the Pittsburg
team were Del Howard. Claude Ritchey.
George Mcbride (subbing for Tommy
Leach) and Hans Wagner. infielders;
Leach (subbing for Fred Clarke),
Clarence Beaumont and Otis Clymer,
outhelders. OF these only four are
still playing in the big leagues. Glib
son and Wagner are still with the
Pirates, Leach is with the Chicago
National League team and Mcbride is.
playing short for Washington.
Becomes Regular Catcher.
Hene Peitz and Fred Carisch We're the
catchers when Gibson joined the Pirates,
but before the season was over Gibson
was asked to do the bulk of the work,
ard he has been doing it right along. In
1907 he caught Nick Maddox in the game
in which Nick did not allow the Brook
lyns a single hit In 1909, the year in
which the Pirates won the National
League and the worlds championship,
Gibson made the record of catching 1874
games in succession.
During his stay Of ten years with the
Pirates Gibson had many understudies,
but none capable enough to take his
place. He still is a strong catcher, and
a hitter whom the fans like to see go to
bat