The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-29


become inquisitive enough about MN
to ask, who is this Dave Fultz
says Walter Trumbull. in the New
York World.
There are several answers to this
question, depending upon the source
to which you apply for your informa-
ton. Certain men VINO are powers
In organized baseball would tell you
that he Ia an anarchist. socialist, ego
list, mythologist. tautologist. scioiiJt,
opinionist, pedagogue. demagogue and
an altogether dangerous and unde-
sirable person. Others might 60 so
far As to admit that he was sincere
In his convictions and meant well, but
would at the same time point out
that q certain place is said to use good
Intentions al paving material.
II you went to his friends they
would furnish you with the informa
ton that he Is dark, quiet. soft
spoken Southerner, with the eyes of
An enthusiast, good, firm law and
a most attractive smile. They would
be apt To speak of him as a practical
idealist with a well trained legal u.ind
and a bulldog faculty OF hanging on
70 anything that he once tackled.
They would tell you that his aims
arc high. his ability great and his
honesty beyond question.
Tho third and most impartial an
swer to the question is found In Ms
personal history. David Lewis Fultz
was born In Staunton, Va. the birth
place OF President Wilson. His fath-
er was a Virginia lawyer and MS
grandfather a Virginia judge. The
family went to the South from Penn
sylvania and originally came nom
Holland. This explains some things
about Dave Futz. The moving OF
mountains Is a simple matter com
pared to moving PennsyiVanla
Dutchman from his opinion after once
he has made up his mind.
On his mothers side F'uitz Is
great-Ereat-grandson OF John Merton,
one of the signers OF the Declaration
OF independence.
Attended g. VI. 4.
Al a boy Dave attended the Staup-
ton Military Academy, so neither his
ancestry nor his training did much
toward fitting him for the role of
paciflst He entered Brown University
in the class OF '9s and was mem
Der OF the Delta Phi fraternity. Fultz
is REGARDED by most persons as the
best football player that ever earned
his letter at Brown. He was the star
back OF a great backf1eld. In his Sc
nior year he cnptained his eleven.
Among the men who played football
with him at Brown were klnkead.
now known as the Fighting Sherin,
and Gammons. almost as good back
as Fultx himself
He also was a stellar light In COL
lego baseball and captained the uni
varsity nine in both his Junior and
senior years II is not often that
man is found Of sufficient popularity
and athletic ability to be elected cap
tain Of two college teams the same
season. On the Brown baseball team
Fuitz played second and Lauder third
base. They attracted the attention OF
tho major league managers and were
both signed by the Phillies In the lat
ter part Of the season OF 1898.
The following year took Fultz TO
Baltimore, where he played under
John J. McGraw Then came the
forming OF the American League and
Dave went to Milwaukee with Connie
Mack. where he played shortstop and
second base.
In 1901 the American League In
vaded the East and Mack took F>iltz
and several other players with him to
Philadelphia This was the beginning
OF the present Athletics,
F>ultx had trouble with his arm In
1903 and Connie shifted him to the
outfield This was the season that the
Athletics won their first pennant. ana
Francis C.. Richter. In his editoria!
comment In Reach's Guide Of 1908. In
the championship team. said: David
l. Fultx, the fast and dashing out
fielder Of the Athletic team. has de-
veioped into one of the greatest play
ers in the country. As a run-getter.
= team and inside player. he has not
his equal In either major league to-
day fact that makes him OF the
greatest value to any team he 10 con-
nected with
That year F'ultx played In 1879
games, was at the bat sos times,
scor4d 10 runs. made 15l hits, stole
forty-eight bases and finished the sea-
son with a batting average of 800.
Ed Delehanty led the league that year
with SIS.
Fultz came to the New York Yam
KEGS In 1908. That was in the days
whom Clark Griffith managed the
team and Joseph w. Gordon owned
IT, It was in New York that Dave
finished his big league career
Injured In Came.
One day In the autumn OF 1905 the
Yankees were playing an early game
Of baseball in order to leave the field
to Columbia and Union, who were to
engage In a football battle there later
center field and Eiberfeld was play
ing shortstop. A short fly was raised
toward left center. Both men start
ed for It Fultz Is five feet ten and
Tlberfeld was shorter As n result
when they came together Elherfeld's
head hit Fuitz alongside of the cheek
bone. 1t smashed his Jaw and knock
cd him out. He was taken to the
hospital. and that was the end of his
active baseball career.
During the Off seasons and in his
spare time Fultz had been attending
the New York Law School and he de-
cided to abandon baseball for the
legal profession. In 1906 he went
into partnership with Fred Murphy. a
Brown 80 man. and the Arm Of
Murphy & 'F>ultz still is doing business
at No. Al Wall Street.
After he got out of college Fultz did
more or less coaching of football teams
and when he retired from professional
baseball he took to coaching college
base ball teams and made a wonderful
record with the Navy. His first coach
ing work was at the University of Mis-
souri,, where he was in charge OF the
varsity football team In 1898. He spent
one year. 1908. at Lafayette. and the
following year was coach at Brown.
v~tu T..