Evening star., 1915-04-03
BY ERNEST J. LANIGAN.

the New York Yankees can arrange
many special Bill Donovan days if he
desires to celebrate those dates on
which the Smiling Leader distinguished
himself. April %, for example, there
could be a celebration on the occasion
of the anniversary of Donovan's major
league debut. Five days later there
could be another special day. on the
vans first appearance against New
York team. April's skiddoo date could
be utilized for a celebration in honor
of Wild Bill, because it was April %.
1903, that he pitched his first game in
the American League.
William L. Donovan, seventh pilot OF
the unfortunate New York Americans.
is Lawrence tMass) product, just as
is Patrick ]. Donovan, new leader of
the Buffalo Internationals. Bill reached
this sphere October 13. 1876. other re-
nowned pastimers born the same day
of the month being George Edward
Waddell, holder of the American
League strike-out record. and John c.
home-run record. Bill's early days
were spent in Philadelphia, and he
pitched for Sunbury, Pawtucket and
Waterbury before Washington obtained
him. What he did for those clubs will
ever remain mystery, the guide
books failing to show it. 1t is certi-
fed fact however. that Donovan grad
uated to the major organization from
the Waterbury club, which finished
fifth in the Connecticut State League
race. and which was managed by Roger
Connor
When Donovan Joined the Nationals
Tom Brown was their manager and
Jack Doyle was their captain. Bills
name does not appear in the National
League averages of 1898. but he was
long. ]. Earl Wagner, who was paying
the freight, considering Donovan an
athlete of great promise, most worthy
of being held on to.
Made Poor Start.
Donovan in 1898 won one and lost
six games for the Senators. He reached
Washington with two advance notices
one of being wild man and one of
being a great eater. If that kid could
pitch as well as he eats" remarked a
base ball expert of those days. "he
would make Rusie look like a back
number" Donovan's National League
debut was accomplished April %. 1898.
a day famous in National League an
nails, because on 1t two no-hit games
were pitched. one by Jay Hughes OF
Baltimore and the other by Theodore
Breitenstein of Cincinnati. Wild Bill
was an added starter in the game with
the Superbas, who won, IL to Z. Bill
Dinneen. American League umpire. and
Morris (Doc) Amole were Donoyan's
predecessors on the rubber in this
combat the result of which had been
settled before the youthful hurler en-
tered it. The game was played in
Washington.
Five days later Donovan faced. for
the first time, a team representing the
city which now has a deep interest in
his work. The Giants. led by "Scrappy
Bill" Joyce, made mincemeat of the
Senators, 20 to g, in game that was
stopped by darkness at the end of the
seventh inning. Donovan. however. was
not responsible for the score of runs
the Gothamites procured. The visitors
had twelve tallies to their credit when
he went on the hurting hill at the
start of the fifth frame. j. Bentley
Seymour was the first Giant to bat
George Van Haltren the second. and he
walked. and Mike Tiernan the third.
and he singled. The Giants made five
runs i'll the fifth. two i'll the sixth and
one in the seventh. and then darkness
kindly closed in. Bob Emslie umpired
that year reported the running account
of the sixth inning:
.Si' sauntered- Van did body hunt
Tiernan died at first. unassisted. "Si''
and Van advancing. Doyle muffed
Leahy's heave of Joyce's grounder. "St''
tallying and Van getting third. Van
tailed on Davis out. per Wrigley and
Doyle. Scrappy reaching second; Glea-
son famed. Two runs.
Soaked Dummy Hoy.
June Fred Clarke's LouisvilleS man