Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-04-01
Some Facts About the
Famous COrbett Brothers


Two brothers--the Corbett boys, were
athletically inclined from the time they
first fell out Of their trundle beds. The
manner in which they landed indicated
this. Out in California amid the frag-
rance of the orange groves, and roses
were these two lads reared. In their
extreme youth they gave every indica-
tion of becoming great athletes, for
they were passionately fond of all
sports pertaining to skill, nerve and
strength.
Jim, the older of tue Two, in his early
youth, was ambitious to be ball player
"a great one Joe, the younger, had
mad d9sire to be a pugilist-to shine as
great boxer. Now James spent many
hours trying to become proficient in the
national game, but twas of no purpose,
for the tall lad would never make
finished ball player. He could play the
game fast enough for amateur contests,
but would never make professional in.
100 years. That was the verdict of his
friends On the other hand the dream
of Joe Corbett's ambition was to be a
boxer like Charley Mitchell, Jacl
Dempsey, or even Joe Choynski, but til
wouldbe pugilist failed to show the
necessary qualities, failed to impress his
friends by his skill with the mitts, and
they handed out the verdict that JoC
would never do in the roped arena.
They were a sad pair of athletes
that is, athletically sad. As time wore
on Jim discovered that he possessed con
siderable skill as a boxer, the manner in
which he banged the other fellows jaw
convinced his friends that he was there
with the mitts. But James never cared
for the boxing game as youngster
nothing but baseball for him, but wha
was the use; if he couldn't make the
select class he didn't want to go at ALL
Now brother Joe hadn't much use for
the game of baseball and only played
it under great pressure, and brother
Jim IS coaXing. One day an old-timer
mentioned to Joseph that he would
make a good pitcher from the manner
in which he pegged the ball across the
diamond, it fairly smoked in its flights.
This suggestion awakened new idea in
the athletic brain and breast of Joe.
The clever youngster had come to the
conclusion that he would never amount
to much as "pug," so gave all his
spare time to reheersing the tricks Of
the pitching game and in short time
proved beyond all doubt that ia had
the makings Of n real hurler in him.
James Corbatt although he was very
loath to abandon all hope Of ever
amounting to anything as ball tosser,
finally gave up in despair of ever get
ting any farther than the sand lot bri.
gode, turned his fulltattention to the
boxing game and soon learned to like
the sport and enjoyed the fun of knock
ing the other fellow 3 block off. He be
came so proficient with his dukes that
the average local expert was easy for
him. His skin attracted considerable
attention and in a short time he found
himself famous as a scientific boxer.
His march to fame came in leaps and
bounds, and one day he licked the cham
pion heavyweight serapper of the world,
displaying q new style Of fighting.
which was a revelation to all experts Of
the old school and might add, the new
And the geRtlemanly young lad who de.
spisel the fighting game at ope time
and detested the idea Of ever becoming
pugilist became the champion of the
world in knocking the block off ell as
pirants who dared to meet him.
Brother Joe, the would-be boxer, who
despsed baseball in his infantile years
made a success as an amateur pitcher,
then proved he could qualify for faster
company, so he got a job with the Cali
fornia State league. He proved such a
whirlwind in hurting a baseball that he
was offered a trial with the best base
ball club in the world, including Homo
lulu. In his very first season with the
Baltimore team when it was the class
lest aggregation ever punched together
Joe Corbett pitched and won two games
in the Temple Cup series Of 1896, to de
eide which was the best team in base.
ball. That season the Orioles won all
four games. The following season Joe
Corbett was the star pitcher of the big
12-club National league and no one was
more proud Of his little brothter than
was Champion James r. Corbett, and
you can bet that little Joe was proud