New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-06
Anson Strings
With Oldtime
Ball Players
Declares Rusie, Ewing and
Lange Three Best Men
Game Has Known

There arc but a few Of tie oldtin-,
left such as used what was Ia.
called a tooth protector" while play;r,
baseball. and when concrete sts,S,
and more than -a-million-dollar bas.b.u
parks were not even dreamed Of, me.
less reality. That was in the day q,
Cap Arson, better known as "Po,s
one Of the daddies Of baseball
Arson tells many interesting stor.
Of his baseball career. "Good bss.s,n
was played twenty years before u.
game was taken in hand by the Nstien
League. in 1916" said Arson, whiI.,.
was in town recently. "But Of eosr.
in those days there were not 80 mar
ball players to be had. Yet with n,
present wealth OF material in the n,
leagues there are comparatively ~
really good players. In my opinisa.
Wagner and LaJoie, though they a..
growing old. possess more natural ssill
than the younger stars OF to-day. VITA
the possible exception Of Ty Cobb ans
Tris Speaker.
Leagues Develop Fast.
when the sport was first Originated
leagues were developed faster ina,
players. II was almost impossible :
get more than a few high class nu
FOR each team. SO it was necessary "a
fill in with men who were called plsy.
ers. but really were nothing more shsn
hod carriers and truck drivers shs
thought they could play
When asked if he had ever seen sny
pitchers better than Walter johnson,
Christy Mathewson, Alexander ard
other modern stars, Arson said "Yes.'
he believes that Amos Rusie, who
pitched for the Giants from 1890 until
1885, was the greatest OF them all.
"Rusie had as much speed as John.
son, better control and the tastes,
curve ball I ever saw" said Arson. "Hs
was physically the superior Of johnson
Mathewson and Alexander, and was
built like JEFF Tesreau, OF the Giants
There was no limit TO his endursnes.
Tim Keefe, who was with the Giants
back in 1888, was also a master. He
was among the first pitchers to perfee,
what is known as change OF pace Ysi
there were many other stars who
pitched a slow ball as well as the speed
ers. The best catcher / ever saw play
was Buck Ewing. who caught for TIE
Giants when they won the worlds
championship in 1883 and 1889. have
never to this day seen his equal, bg.
little Walters, of the New York Yam
KEGS. reminds ne Of Ewing's Throwing
TO bases.
LANCE in Class by Himself
Ewing was a quick thinker and 4
natural born leader. Bill Lange, who
played for me when had charge Of the
Chicago National League club, was IL
class by himself as an outfielder. he
was a better outfelder than Cobb Or
Speaker and a phenomenal thrower, ars
one wear he stole 100 bases. William.
son, LANCE, Pfeffer and Your Uncle 9
could throw a ball $50 yards. IL w
in 1877 that I won a throwing msit'
with Jack Remson in Hartford with I
record of 127 yards 4 inches"
When asked about the umpire trou.
bles in the various leagues Arson said:
THE umpire system was bad in ny
time. as it is now, and. Furthermore, Il
always will be bad. The big leagues
ought TO have umpire chiefs who could
travel about the circuits as inspector,
and report on the poor work OF the helc
officials or 90 into the minor Leagues n
search of new men. A man OF Mathew
sons ability. for instance, should be
engaged in such a capacity. But there
are some very capable umpires. Buy
Evans. of the American League, IN ny
opinion, is the best of the modern crop
In the old days John Gaffney was ns
star ump-fearless square and clio"
student of the rules. John Kelly 700
was a good field judge, even II ne &c
fine me 500 once"
Sunday Better Evangelist
How about Billy Sunday" Cap vas
asked
"Billy is a better evangelist than :
ball PLAYER" was the reply. he va
the fastest runner that ever drew o.
spiked shoe when we played on
Chicago team, but he didn't slwsa
exercise the best judgment IN stealE
bases. He was an excellent outheles
and a fair hitter and his inhuenSe.
among the Chicago players was good
Arson honestly believes that ne eos.
manage some of the big teams to-en
as we'll as anybody, and stated that
would gledly return 20 the fold 70 nn
the reins upon request. "Baseosn w.,
my first love and I'll stick 70 the ''
game 70 the end" he said.