davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-15
Kid Broad and Ryan
 Were Born Under the
 Flag of Great Britain.

This is the birthday of two famous old timers of the ring-PAddy Ryan, and Kid Broad. Both were born be- meath the British flag. Ryan in Coun- ty Tipperary. Ireland, on March 15. 1853, and Broad in. Cornwall, Eng land (also the birthplace of Bob Titz- simmons), on March 15. 1878. Pad- dy Ryan worked in the machine shops of Troy, N. r., before he became a fighter. He had had no real prize ring experience when he fought Joe, Cos for the American heavyweight ti- tie in West Virginia in 1880. and WOE in 87 rounds.
 He did not fight again until 1882, when he lost the title to John l.. Sul-' iivan. He fought Sully again in San Francisco, and was again knocked out. He was then beaten by Joe Nc Auliffe, and quit the ring. Kid Broad long famous fo his durability, was a lightweight, and. while often defeated, was a dangerous man. The Kid ia still in the land of the living, but Ryan has long since been laid in his grave.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-15
JEFF PFEFFER SIGNS CONTRACT TO ,HURL FEM
 FOR BROOKLYN AGAIN

Hot Springs, Ark, March 15-Once President Ebbets of the Brooklyn Dodgers and Jeff Pfeffer got down to brass tacks yesterday morning there was little left for the big pitcher to do but affix his signature to con- tract calling for slight increase over last years salary and two bonuses. One is a tidy sum if he wins~twenty- five games or more, and another if he wins in the neighborhood of fifteen. As Jeff was leaving the room of the Superbas' President, Daubert arrived on the scene. Both players were out in uniform yesterday afternoon and took part in the abbreviated game. which was won by Larry Cheney's team by a score of to 4, the <Coonbs players being retired within one run of tieing the score,
 On his first two trips to the plate Daubert hammered out a single and followed this up with another hit, which easily went over the right field fence. In the next inning, Hickman tried to duplicate Jake's smash, but the ball hit the fence and bounded back to the right fielder, who held Jimmy at first. All the players show ed more spirit than any day since their arrival. This, in a measure, was due probably to the signing of Pfeffer and the arrival of Daubert.
 Last night Robbie wired Wheat at his home in Missouri and reply is expected any moment. Unless Stem gel comes to terms soon he will have to show something to keep either Johnston or Hickman from the sum- field of Ebbets Park this year.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-15
EATERS FOOLISH TO WATCH
 BALL AFTER IT HAS BEEN HIT
Ed Reulbach of The Braves Says One Look Has
 Cost Safetes for Players

In the April Baseball Magazine, Ed. Reulbach, of the Braves has an, ar ticle disclosing how much 2-5 of a second affects safe hitting. We quote in part from his magazine story.
 Out" yells the umpire. The base runner ran hard. He dug his spikes into the ground and hurled himself at the bag. But the ball beat. him out in the race by perhaps one fifth of a second.
 The infielders tighten their belts, clap their hands in their gloves and call to one anothef, That's the boy get the next one now" They are on their toes. alert, spirited, eager. The base runner, mopping his face, ambles back to the dug-out and takes his place dejectedly on the bench. Pehaps someone asks, him why he didn't beat the play. He answers curtly- that he ran his best. There is a general feeling that he did run hard under the circumstances, and interest speedily centers in the next play.
 That play is repeated at least ten times in an. average game, but before we dismiss it let's see just what hap Cu. rather sharply to deep short field. The shotstop had to sprint several feet to his right in order to stop the ball. Then he had to recover his balance and set himself for long. hard throw. All this took time and although the ball went straight and true into the first baseman's init, it took large fraction of second to travel across that intervening/space. The batter
 made quick getaway from the plate, Half the success of beating a throw is in getting good start.
 The batter got this start. He was a reasonably fast man and he ran we'll. But he knew when he hit the ball that he had no time to spare. He was curious to see if the short stop fielded the ball clean and just what were his chances of beating the throw. This curiosity led him to cast one look cut across the diamond to where the. shortstop was trying to field the ball, and although he did not cease running, in that one look, he invol- untarily slaekened his speed.
 How much time did he lose? Prob ably at least one fifth of a second and that one- fifth of a second robbed him of hit and perhaps robbed his team mates of the victory.
 During last Worlds Series games timed several runners with a stop watch. Hooper ran to first base in three and two-f1fths seconds. He did not watch the ball. On another oc- casion he hit safely. but he wanted to know whether or not to make a try for second on the play, so. about five yards before he. reached first he slowed up trifle to see how the play was progressing. He reached first in an even four seconds. He could not have made second in any case. while he did have ample time to get to first But the difference in time
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-15
practice before they trotted back to

practice before they trotted back to the hotel for luncheon.
 When tho players reported at the ball yard in the afternoon they lacked the "tpep' and aggressiveness of the morning and Donovan wisely decided to call off the fifth practice game of the training trip. There was not a dissenting voice among the tired players when they learned of the managers decision. The players have worked faithfully and industriously since coming here and Wild William is afraid of overdoing things. Urban Shocker, the young spitbaN pitcher who won considerable fame with the Toronto club last season, is on the sick list, and will be unable t6 practice for several days at least. A rash broke out on his face and he visited one of the local doctors Harry Sparrow, secretary of the club said the pitcher was suffering from eczema.
 The young pitchers with the team are having great deal of trouble with their salary wings. Sam Ross, the lefthander from the Richmond club, iy just aboEt able to lift his arm lover his head. while Bob Mo- Graw, the righthander from the Col orado university, hurt his pitching hand in Tuesdays game and had to retire.
 Bill Piercy and Jack Enwright were also on the crippled list until Tuesday. Piercey pitched the first three innings. He looked so good in the box that it is almost a. sure bet that he will be retained by Donovan.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-15

of three fifths of a second was at least a suggestive tribute to the importance of watching the ball.
 On another occasion Hooper actu- ally made g. double into right field. He did not know that it was 9 double, however, so he slowed up in exact ly the same way and, again reached first in an even four seconds. But in this case he determined to try for sec-' ond and covered the extra distance (which is more difficult than running from the plate to first owing to the turn) in three and three-fifths sec onds.- On both occasions it took Hooper four seconds to reach first when he stopped to watch the ball, although he had shown his ability to reach the bag in three and two-fifth seconds when he made speed his sole object.
 Johnston made clean three base hit He knew it was good for extra from the plate In other words, he did not have to stop to watch the ball. He was bent solely on getting at least to second base in the shortest pos sible time so he breezed merri1y to I oSNOAAN~o and with the coacher waving franti- cally on the base paths slid into third base in cloud of dust, in an even e1even seconds At another time he hit to short-stop, but he turned to watch the play and ran to first in four seconds.
 ; The figures indicate that watching the ball costs the base runner approx imately two-ffths of a second. A good base runner averages, twenty-five feet a second in travelling the distance to first base. If any, act on his part in creases the time needed to cover this distance by two-fifths of a .second, it automatically increases the distance by ten feet.
 Thousands of times each season the runner and the ball reach first base al most at the same instant. Frequently the play is so close that even the um- pire may be in doubt. But if the runner is caught by ten feet, the play is not close "Out by a mile," yells the crowd and they are right, but that Mile" or to be more exact, that ten feet of distance represents just two fifths of a second and that two-hfths of a second is merely an indulgence in the foolish habit of watching the ball. }.
 .aThe pitchers have the game by the throat'' is a popular slogan. We must do anything within reason to keep up batting" is another. True the p1tch- CTS have been generally successful in the duel of wits with the batter, which has gone on since baseball started But the pitchers have won their tr1- umphs through making the most or every possible advantage. If the bat ters want to throw away one of thelr own best assets, whose fault is it? For that is just what the batters do when they watch the ball.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-15
DODGERS GLOOMY AT REPORT ZACH
 WHEAT MAY 60

Hot Springs, Ark. March 15-Gloom in thick layers was spread oveK the .Dodger training camp here yesterday when the news that Zach Wheat may be traded to the Phillies' was an announced. The story originated in St. Petersburg, Fla, where Pat Nor ans crewtis getting into condition for the coming season. The deal, If It goes through, will bring George Whit ted to the Brooklyn club for the fa- nous fly killer. Wheat is without a doubt the most popular player on the Brooklyn, roster, not even barring Jake Daubert, and his loss. if he is to be lost, will be keenly felt by the fans when the barrier is sprung next month.
 Manager Robinson said he knew nothing of the proposed deal, and President Ebbets refused to either af firm or deny the story. There is a feeling here that the rumor is true, for Ebbets declared when he sent out that they would have to accept his terms or be the victims of trades for other men. E
 Although Whitted is valuable ball player to any team, it is hardly pos sible that he would endear himself to the hearts of the Brooklyn fans as Wheat did As soon as the cham pionship season starts the only thing that Wheat does is think, dream and play baseball. He never gets into an argument with the umpires and gives the fans just what they want clean baseball. If Ebbets lets Wheat 20 to another club it will be sad blow to the followers of the game in Brooklyn.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-15
BRAD KOCHER IN
 LINEUP OF GIANT COLTS AT MARLIN

Marlin, Texas, March 1.-Two Of McGraw's first string pitchers, who had not previously been seen in the box in any of the practice games at Emerson park, gave evidence of being nearly ready yesterday afternoon when the regular anad colts battled to a nine-inning tie, to 2. Slim Sallee and Fred Anderson, were the two new corners. Of the pair, Sallee flashed the better wares. The long lefthand- CT sent at few of his sweeping curves over the plate in the first three inn ings He pitched for the regulars and was opposed by Ferdinand Schupp.
 The colts could not score on Sallee and made only two l1its Schupp was hit safely only twice, but allowed a run in the second inning. Zeke Loh- man was Sallee's successor The youngsters tied the score on Lehman, but the regulars regained the lead when Fletcher plunked Al Schacht for home run in the fourth inn ing. Schacht and Lehman retired af- ter the sixth inning and the game was finished by Jaynes for the regu- lars and Anderson for the colts.
 Anderson's most effective ball is the moist ball but he did not attempt to use that delivery today Consequently he was hit rather freely and the colts tied the score again in the ninth. At this point McGraw called off the game as he wanted to give his infield some practice.
 The best hitting was done by Short stop Kilduff of the youngsters. He bumped Lehman for a home run ana Jaynes for a double. Bradley Kocher caught part of the game for the colts, this being his first apeparance in these games. Jack Murray substituted for Robertson in right field for the regu- lars. Robertson Is having trouble with his right knee. the same one that he injured playing football a few seasons ago. At various times Robertson has been forced to have treatment for this knee. After yesterdays game he consulted 9 physician, who told him she had a mild case of water on the knee and advised rest.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-15
TRAINING CAMPS OF MAJORS TEAMS
 WELL SCATTERED

Florida had five big league camps during the 1916 training season, lbut this year 1t has to be content with three-if you count the Athletics as a big league club. Jacksonville, the. metropolis of the State of Flowers, is all puffed up at having the Mackmen as it's guests, which indicates that 1t doesn't take much to exhilarate that city. The Phil1fes are the guests of St. Petersburg. a live little burg of 10000 people, located on the shores of Tampa Bay. The Florida town still sticks to the old name, although it's Russian namsake has changed its name to PetrogTad. M3anni, away down on the Florida east coast, is the transient home Of the Braves It is the farthest south of the training camps, and is 8 live town of 10000, Chamber of Commerce figures. The citrus industry flourishes there. Day tona has been abandoned by the Dod- gers, and Tampa has only memories and not very glorious ones-of the Cubs. v
 Georgia also has three major lea que outfits-the Pirates at Columbus. the Yankees at Macon, and the Wash ingtons at Augusta Ire first named city is place of about 25,000. while Macon and Augusta are about twice that size. Griffith's club has been trying to train in Virginia for several years past, but after having been showed in a few times the manage ment has finally loosened up. and the Griffmen are getting their first taste of real training in several annums.
 Hot Springs, Ark. is the only town with two major league clubs in its midst. The famous Arkansas resort not only has two clubs, but they are the champions of their respective lea gues. the Red Sox and the Dodgers. New Orleans has the Cleveland In- dians, and Shreveport, a lumber and cotton city in northwestern Louisiana, has the dubious glory of entertaining the Reds. California has returned to, the big league training camp map with the Cubs in Pasadena. In that beautiful southern California city, where millionaires and movie stars have their winter habitat, the Cubs are having a great time, with the metropolitan delights of Los Angelesl close at hand. sa@
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-15
TEX RICHARD AND
 SAM M'cR aCKIl
 MAY GET GARDEN

New York, March 15.-Grant Hugh Browne failed to throw his rope around Madison Square Garden yes terdway afternoon. It was the day set aside by the New York Life In- surance company to receive Browne s wealthy associates, and incidently to collect the balance of the purchase price for the famous show place. The insurance company kept open house all day, but it had to close up shop without hearing the chatter of coin.
 Browne had hoped to convince Paris Singer, the man who paid $1OO, 900 down, that the little balance of $500, 900 was nothing at all. Browne asked the insurance company to walt until today before locking him out in the cold. If Browne fails to make a payment to-. day the chances are that he will have to give up M3dison Square Garden promoting as a bad job.
 In the meantime Tex Rickad and Sam McCraclxin loom up again as Browne's most dangerous rivals in the mad scramble for possession of New York's great playhouse. Rickard and McCrackin have been in consultation with the insurance people and they deposited a certified check to cover a years rent should the company give them a lease on the property.
 McCrackin and Rickard were tenn porarily sidetracked when Grant Hugh Browns took possession of the Camden. Up to the time that Browne dropped out of the clear sky, Rickard and McCrackin seemed certain to be- come managers of the place Browne that Tex and Sam roll their little hoops as far away as possible from Madison Square Garden. Sam and Tex, believing that the jig was up, did roll their hoops off to one side to await developments. apparently.
 Rickard has always doubted that Browne would eventually get full con- trol of the Garden and when Grant Hugh began to wobble, he and Samuel put their heads together and deter mined to make a final fight to gain possession. Browne will make a. des- perate effort to talk the New York Life over to hds side today but the tall Texan and the Jolly circus man will be two feet behind him. It looks like anybOdy's Garden.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-15
E.. F. REYNOLDS GETS TIE FOR SECOND PLACE IN
 POOL CHAMPIONSHIPS

New York. March 15-E. s. Ray holds defeated c. Munoz 125 to 37, in the national amateur pocket billiard championship at the New York A. c. last night. Reynolds is now tied with w. A. Tilt for second place, each having won five and lost one gante. J. H. Shoemaker leads with 8 clean record of five victories.
 TheS afternoon match was a long drawn out affair between Gus Gard ner and Edward F. Gray, and the former won by 125 to 108.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-15
MAX CAREY COMES
 TO TERMS AND SIGNS
 UP WITH PITTSBURGH

Pittsb1rg, March i5-Barney Drey- fuss, president of the Pittsburg Na- tiohal league baseball club, announced last night that the signed contract of Max Carey .outfelder, had been re- ceived and telegram had been re- ceived from William Fischer catcher saying he would accept the club s terms and leave for the spring train ing camp at Columbus, Ga, 1mnnedi- ately. Honus Wagner, veteran short stop, Is the only Pirate who has not signed a contract, but he usually awits until the season is near before he signs.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-15
PLAN ELABORATE OPENING OF
 EASTERN BASEBALL SEAS0N'
Four New York Publishers Will Send Singers to-
 Newfield and Big Parade Expected.

would get the final game of tho series and the local manager won So the Ribbons and Norwalk will clash at Colonial hall next Tuesday night in the deciding battle There would be greater financial Inducements to play in Norwa.k because the hall is larger but Manager Leavy thinks tho Rib bons will have a better chance o6 v1c- tory on the home floor.
 Bill Hollenbac1E, the footba1 coach, received a pretty raw deal at Syracuse university. There was . fight between two factions in the football squad last season and as a result the team went to pieces. Then about eight players took part in @ professional game and were suspended by the faculty. In spite of all these handdcaps the play CTS appeared to think Hollenback was responsible for they asked him to re- couldn't stay SO he sent his resigna- tion yesterday. M
 The holdouts are gradually coming into the fold Outfeuder Duffy Lewis and Pitcher Dutch Leonard, two of. the most stubborn of the Red Sox kickers, have announced from Califor- mia that they will go to Hot Springs Ark, to talk things over with Owner Frazee. If they make that long jour ney 1t is a cinch they will sign rather than pay their own fare back to Cali fornia.
 Benny Kauff is up to his old trfcRs again At Marlin in a recent game between Giants squads, he slammed his bat against the fenec in disgust because a recruit made the third out while Benny was at bat. Benny had been excused in the seventh inning Tby McGraw but insisted on staying in the contest so he could bat once more. Then when he stood there with his
 bat on his shoulder tho recruit tried to make third on a passed ball and when he was caught Kauff had to walk away from the plate without having a chance at the ball
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-15
(By Wagner.)

The words and music of When Maggie Dooley Does the Hooley- Hooley'' will usher in the Eastern league baseball 'season at Newf1eld park: Manager Kriche11 has arrang- ed with four of the leading New York song publishers to send their singers and while the players are warming up the warblers will cut the plate with the latest parlor hits.
 This musical dish is always served at openings in big league parks and Manager Krichell thinks it will make & hit here. The parade before the game will be bigger than in previous years. The American Chain Athletic association will engage band and there will be a flock of automobiles to carry the players and invited guests.
 Manager ,Kriche11 and President Clark Lane of the local club went to spalding's in New York yesterday and selected two sets of new uniforms, one for the road and the other for home games. One of the Improvements the fans will relish will be chair seats instead of benches in the grandstand
 
 Owner C1arkin of Hartford says Tom Connery, his former manager. will pass judgment son all new players before Manager Abste&n signs them for Hartford. Both five in St. Louis so Conhery can give his poinion of the men. It isn't very complimentary to Abstein, though, to say he cannot pick a good player, without outside aid. Although he had the Reading, Pa.. five booked for next Tuesday night, Manager Leavy of the Blue Rdbbon five was forced to cancel the date be- cause of the Norwalk teams victory in the state championship series last Tuesday night A coin was tossed to see whether Norwalk or Bridgeport
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-15

cam are taking part Messrs. Illus ton, Sparrow and Donovan have had some trouble in keeping their stom- achs back so that their line could right dress properly, but they are as snimble as anybody on their feet.
 The players, notwithstanding their short term as warriors, have fairly soldierly bearing as they wheel. into formation by fours and march smart 4y around the field in their playing togs. Sergeant Gibson is not without a senfe of humor. Recently he smil- ed audibly when at the command of "Salute' several pupils raised the wrong hand. : 'The salute, he ex- plained, "is always made with the
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-15

right hand.'' The erring southpaws didn't have to be told again.
 Sergeant Gibson is pleased. "I want thisl to be the best drilled baseball squad of a11," he told the players, land from the attitude with which you take hold am sure you will be. I've nev- CT seen green men do so we'll" Man ager Bill Donovan is pleased with the youngsters he has on hand, and he expects to land two or three stars among the lot. Upper picture shows Yankee squad taking militay drill. Lower group shows four of Dono- vans young twirlers. No. 1, Sam Ross; 2, Robert McGraw; 3, Alex Ferguson; 4, Jack Enright.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-15
CASEY BROS. WINNERS
 OVER QUINN-BURDICk
 IN HANDBALL DOUBLES

Tne Casey Brothers of the Emmet club won their match with Quinn and Burdick in the city h andball doubles tournament held at the Y. M. c. A. yesterday. The winners took the first game by 21 to 16 and the second 21 to 15. They lost the third 21 to IA. Frost and Ha,nnan beat Spei6el and Clark without much trouble. This afternoon Walter. Haggerty and S. D. Locke, were booked to play Kelly and Thompson. The standing:
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-15
BEN BAILEY ON wARPATH

Moose" Sullivan or New Haven sends the following:
 Ben Bailey, a member of my sta- ble, is open to box Young Murphy of Bridgeport. Young McMahon of Strat- ford or any other boy in Connecticut who can scale 107 to 115. He is par ticularly anxious for a bout with Young Murphy
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-15
PITCHER PERCY TO STAY WITH TANK
 SQUAD THIS YEAR

Macon, Ga., March 15-Thero was no practice game between the rockies and the regulars here yesterday after noon, although the sun was hot enough to fry eggs on the sidewalk
 The Col. Rtppert-Capt. Huston outfit had long and strenuous military drill in the morning and all hour or more of lively batting and fielding