davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-01-22
PLANT PURCHASES
SOME STOCK IN
BRAVES

New York, Jan. 22-Morton F.
Plant, former commodore of the New
York Yacht club, millionaire sports
man and owner of the New London
club of the Eastern league and stock
holder in the Philadelphia Nationals,
is reported to have invested some
money in the Boston Nationals. 1t is
an open secret that all was not sweet
among the stockholders in the Braves
last season and that at one time Percy
Haughton threatened to resign from
the presidency. 1t appears that GER
tain men unacquainted with the game
went into the venture with the ex-
pectation of quick and plentiful re-
turns and when the Braves hit the
toboggan and the box office sheets
struck a slump they were somewhat
wrought up.
1t is said that Commodore Plant
bought some of the stock of nalcon-
tents in order to oblige the Prince
Wise interests, who control the club.
Commodore Plant kept the Eastern
league going last season and may have
to do similar duty this year, for he is
determined to keep his favorite New
London in the fore. Mccain, who
was the highest salaried minor league
manager, has not been retained for
next season. Gene now is holding
down a joo as hotel clerk in the Mohi-
can in New London.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-01-22
JOHNNY SUMMERS
A GOOD BATTLER

Johnny Summers, former welter-
weight champion of Great Britain,
was born at Custom House, England,
on Jan. 81, 1888, and, if he is still
alive, will celebrate his thirty-fifth
birthday. Johnny volunteered early
in the war and became corporal.
During his long ring career, which
started in Australia in 1900, Summers
campaigned in three continents He
came to America in 1907, when he
was a lightweight, and fought many
battles in New York, Boston, New
Haven, Baltimore and other cities. He
was the victor in the majority of his
American contests, but lost decisions
to Matty Bildwin and Bert Keyes. On
his return to England he fought three
battles with Jimmy Britt, the Califor-
MAN winning the first, Summers the
second, and Britt taking the third by a
knockout. In 1909 he fought Fred
die Welsh 20 rounds in London, los
ing the decision. After an Australian
trip, Summers went home and entered
the welterweight division. He was
knocked out by Harry Lewis and Dix
lie Kid, the American negro, but per-
severed until he won the Lord Ions
dale weller, champion belt. He return
ed to Australia in 1913. and was twice
defeated by Harry Stone. of New
York.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-01-22
ARTHUR IRWIN is
OPTIMIST ON WAR

The veteran Arthur Irwin takes a
hopeful view of baseball under war
Conditions He believes that the brand
of baseball served up will be as good
as ever-and that there will be no COM
planning by the players over the few
luxuries IF travel that they will have
to dispense with.
Irwin, who will go back to scouting
next season if the International Lea
que does rot continue, says that back
in 1894 his Philadelphia team, travel
ling on a train that did not have a
dill err, got into Pittsburgh just in time
I. beat it to the ball yard, and. din
Ieriess, preceded TO whip the we'll
fed Pirates.
THE Phillies were behind until the
seventh" says Arthur, tiled things up
that inning and won out in the tenth,
4 to 3. They enjoyed their big meal
that night, 1 think the game was
played the day after the Fourth, but 1
know it was in 1894"
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-01-22
TRIED TO
REVISE RULES
DURING 1857

1t was sixty-one years ago today,
Jan. %, 1857, that the first meeting
of baseball players to attempt a revi-
sion of the playing rules was held in
New York. The original code was
adopted in 1S45, and, although num-
erous changes were suggested, few
were adopted, and the rules remained
practically the same on all important
points. Some of the provisions of this
code would seem very strange today.
The base runner was not allowed to
leave his bag after a fly until the ball
had been returned to the pitcher and
had once been pitched to the bat Eff
forts to change this rule were made
at the 1857 meeting, but the change,
was not adopted until two years later.F
Balls were not called on the twtrleri
until 1853, although from the infancy
of the games the batters were penal
lied for not striking at fair balls. At
first 1t was only necessary for a base,
runner to go near the bases, but a rule
was adopted making it necessary to
touch the. bag. Until 1854 a batter
was out If q fair fly was caught on
the bound, At first the game endeo
only when one side had made twenty
one runs, and it was not until several
years later that contests were made to
consist of nine innings. In the Searly
days the catcher did not play up rSuse
to the plate, but considered himself
a classy player to get the ban ra the
rebound He usually had one or two
assistants to get balls that went past
him. A team consisted Of from ten
to fourteen players.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-01-22
Girl CUE EXPERTS
TO SHOW SKILL
IN This CITY

Three young women pool experts
from New York will be in Bridgeport
all this week, playing exhibition
games of pocket billiards in local bill
lard parlors, clubs and the Stratfeld
hotel, afternoons and evenings, all for
the benefit of the billiard players am
bulance fund which, it is expected,
will send at least 500 ambulances to
France this year. The girls, who are
not professionals in any way, come
from good families in New York, and
are volunteers in the work of spread
ing the gospel of providing help for
the wounded soldiers in the trenches
and in No Mans Land.
Good pool and billiard players are
no rarity among women-in New York,
but in this city such a thing is scarce
ly known or thought of-mostly be-
cause the rooms here are small and
are given over entirely to the male
sex. These girls, Miss Maude and
Miss Irene Flower, sisters, and Miss
Mary Johnson, their close friend, will
show that women can become as ex-
pert with the, cue as can the men,
and that it is only a question of OPP
portunity and practice.
The ladies will have at least one
good opportunity to see the girls at
their best. The Bridgeport club will
hold a ladies' night on Friday even
ing, with music and dancing after the
games, and the members of the other
clubs, with their families, have been
invited to attend. At the Algonquin
club. on Thursday evening, it will be
a stag affair, with open house to other
clubs.
After two games in local rooms this
afternoon the girls will go to the
Brunswick parlors, on Fairfield ave-
nue., opposite the, Plaza theatre, at
o'clock this evening, ready to play
either between themselves or against
the best of the male players there
all to help the soldier boys when they
most need help. The entire SEIZED
ule of exhibitions is as follows:
Tuesday afternoon-Star rooms
Main street, 2:3O p. m; Park rooms
Main street, p. m.
Tuesday evening-Brunswick par.
lors, Fairfield avenue, p. m.
wednesday AFTERNOON " dII1er )
Stratford avenue, 2:30 p. m; Toscan-
nos, East Main street, p. m.
Wednesday eyening-D. KeIly's
State street, 7 p. m; Stratfeld no
! tel, $50 p. m.
Thursday afternoon-Union rooms
| State street, 4 p. m.
| Thursday evening-Connie Lewis
Fairfield avenue, Z p. M; Algonquin
club. $40 p, m.
Friday afternoen-Eckler's MAR
street, 4 p. m.
Friday evening Broad
street, 7 p. m; Bridgeport club. $3.50
p. m.
Saturday be arranged.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-01-22
MORDECAI BROWN
MONEY PITCHER
OF some Note

In a tanning bee in Los Angeles the
other day Frank Chance, the former
Peerless Leader of the Cubs and not
quite so peerless a leader of the Yam
KEGS, said Mordecai Brown was the
greatest money pitcher of all time.
Yes, I know McGraw claims Matty
was the best money pitcher of them
all, and Bender, Mack's old Indian,
was no SLOUGH when money game de-
pended upon his skill, but I'll back
Browns record against them all.
with all respect to Mathewson's
wonderful ability, during a three year
stretch he won only one game from
Brownie, and then he had to pitch a
no hit shutolh' to turn the trick.
Browns work in that play off
game in 1903 is one of the reasons
why Brown must be regarded as above
MatheWson as a money pitcher. 1t
may be recalled that we started Pies
ter, the !efthander, that day. He al
ways had been a bear against the
Giants, and besides poor Brownie had
been nearly worked to death.
after the first three men up got on
base on Jack, one of them scoring,
we ndd 10 SenQ q hurry call IOr
Brownie, and with Kings great aid
we stopped the Giants. Faithful old
Mordecai then held them back, while
we batted Matty for the victory. When
We called Irown in there was only one
thing for him to do, strike out the
dangerous Bresnahan, which he did
and King doubled Herzog off first
base. Had Bresnahan hit then the
Giants would have won the game and
TIE championship"
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-01-22
BUFFALO Great
IN DEVELOPING
CATCHERS

Where the Portland Coast League
club has enjoyed the reputation of be-
ing a great team to develop pitchers
and shortstop, Buffalo must be emit
tied to the prize for turning out star
catchers.
Jimmy Archer was not good enough
fol Detroit in 1907. Two years pre-
viohsly Pittsburgh also had sent him
back to the minors. Buffalo took him
in 1908 and ever since Jimmy has
been one of the real great backstops
and one year was all he had to stay
at Buffalo.
Bill Killifer was not clever enough
for the st. Louis Cardinals in 1910
and he drew ticket to Buffalo. He
fingered there just long enough to
show that he had the real goods and
then went on to Philadelphia, recent
ly being sold to the Cubs.
Wa1ly Schang put in part CT the
1872 campaign with the Bisons. Elev-
en- of the 16 big league clubs put in
lucky manager.
Hank Gowdy was too slow for the
Giants. NcGraw let him go to Buff
falo for the season of 1913 and the
following October, Hank was the big
noise in the Worlds series, being a
big factor in the four straight victor
les scored by the Braves.
Buffalo, however. is not the only
International League town to develop
star backstops. Bill Carrigan and Bill
Fischer got their start at Toronto
Tom Clark and George Gibson serv-
ed at Montreal prior to landing in the
big league. Eddie Burns of the Phil
lies was with Montreal in 1913. Oscar
Stanage Of the Tigers, Forest Cady OF
the Red Sex and Lew McCarty of the
Giants came from Newark.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-01-22

On Trail
OF Pratt
Manager of Yankees Re
news His Bid as Browns
Place Star Second Base
man on the Market.

New York, Jan. 22-It may gladden.
the hearts of Yankee rooters to know
that there's a chance Del Pratt may
land within the stockade and wear
the livery of Ruppert-H Huston this sea-
son.
Running to the steady dope such an
event figures impossible, for every
time the Yankee management started
to make a strategic move some
brother magnate threw a monkey
wrench into the machinery. Still the
unexpected happens now and then,
and this may be the new part of the
calendar.
The joyful tidings come in the
nature of a statement issued last night
by Business Manager Quinn, of the
st. Louis Americans, that Pratt will be
traded. And to kindle smouldering
hope, it is added that Del will land
with New York, Cleveland or Wash
ington.
1t was expected that the deal would
be consummated yesterday, but Miller
Higgins, the new manager of the
Yankees, didn't arrive on the scena
and negotiations were held up until
he is present which event is expected
to take place today.
The fact that the Browns are
awaiting the arrival Of Higgins makes
it appear as if he will have the final
say as to the destination of the much
coveted second sacker.
Miller never disguised the fact that
he earnestly desired the company of
Pratt, but when he sought him a few
weeks ago the St. Louis folks asked
everything but the Yankee uniforms
before closing the deal. This show
of kindness didn't appeal to Colonel
Rupert and Higgins, and they dis
missed the Pratt matter from their
minds.
Ever since Pratt and Lavan were
accused by President Phil Ball of de-
liberateIy laying down. on the st.
Louis club, it was known they could
not play with that team this season
with any se1f-respect Then when
they instituted their suit for SANDER
that move made it more imperative
they should seek new quarters.
Lavan was traded to Washington
recently. Pratt. however, is still in
status quo for, as mentioned before,
the price asked was prohibitive, as
well as ridiculous. A few days ago
word reached here that the suit
would have to be tried before a jury,
and that is probably the reason for
the sudden renewal of negotiations
Not long ago Colonel Rupert, in
discussing the deal, remarked that
though anxious to obtain Pratt he
would not pay the exorbitant sum de-
manded. At the same time the Col
onel added that Joe Gedeon gave
every indication of enjoying a good
season as every expert predicted he
was a coming star second baseman.
Now that the St. Louis management
realizes Pratt would be on their hands
until they listened to reason it is
probable they will talk terms that
are fair to both sides.
Again, it is understood that before
the st. Louis folks allow Pratt to
change homes he must withdraw his
damage suit. There is hardly any
doubt the ball tosser would accede to
these demands, as otherwise it might
ruin his baseball career.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-01-22
That's All There Is to
Tell About Famous
Near-Deal That Fell
Through and st. Louis
Fans Are Asked to
Forget Such a Swap
Ever Was Brewing.

st. Louis, Mo-, Jan. 22.-Another
week of discussion, pickering and idle
gossip in st. Louis baseball circles,
with small amount OF anything def
mite that can be reported. The much
discussed Hornsby trade was laid on
the shelf, for ever and aye, say Branch
Hickey and Jack Observation-Disclosures
arily, at, the most dubious of US will
admit. 1t may be dismissed with this
brief statement: Charley Weeghman
could not come across with the goods
demanded in 'exchange-not green
goods, but playing goods. If the Mad
Spendthrift who heads the cubs could
have delivered to the Cardinals Max
Carey and Jim Vaughn, and perhaps a
couple of lesser players thrown in,
with $4,000 in cash on the side, he
might have had his hearts desire
But Weeghman couldn't, whether he
would not or not if he could doesn't
matter.
Because Weeghman could not de-
liver, Branch Hickey and Jack Hen
bricks turned their backs on him. All
other swaps in which the Cardinals
were concerned Ringing on Mr.
Weeghman being able to go over the
top, all were consequently called off.
Catcher Frank Snyder might have
gone to Pittsburgh, via Chicago, in a
deal for Carey, but no Carey zeal, no
Snyder deal. And so, both Hornsby
land Snyder are still members of the
Cardinals end will continue so, either
actively or otherwise, depending on
whether they come to terms regard
ings alaries, a mere incidental in these
days of uncertainty for a ball player.
President Hickey regrets the pub
licity given the propositions that were
advanced concerning these players,
for he realizes it may incline them
to be uppish in their salary demands,
but such things will out and unless
the fans get the dope that is floating
about said fans soon would lose inter
est in the game. Whatever the effect
on the players, the fans are entitled
to their bit.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-01-22
BROWN IS
DEFEATED
AT ARENA
(New Haven Journal-Courier.)

(New Haven Journal-Courier.)
New Haven, Jan. 22.-One of the
most famous boxing series in New
Haven pugilistic history came to a
dramatic close at the Arena last night
when Battling Kunz of South Nor
walk decisiveIy defeated his ancient
rival, Chic Brown, of this city, in a
slow, but at times, spectacular, 20
round bout. The result came as a
big surprise as well as a bitter disap-
pointment to Browns many adher-
ents who had figured right along that
he would remove this obstacle from
his path and then be in a position to
camp on the trail of more reputable
game. Brown was outclassed prac-
tically all the way. He got away to a
poor start and finished the same way.
Kunz outpointed Brown five to one,
landed the cleaner punches and was
justly entitled to the verdict. At the
end of the bout Referee Dave Fftz-
gerald raised the Battler's right arm
in token of victory.
No harder blow has struck the To-
| cal boxing fraternity in recent years.
When Brown tainted Worlds Cham
pion Leonard and submitted to the
| first knockout of his career, the fans
! grieved. But the feeling at that time
/ did not compare with the mournful
! tones which emanated at the conclu-
sion of last nights scrap. The fans
! had seen their ring idol fairly beaten
| by his most bitter rival. Brown, who
had paved the way for Kunz's sue
cess, not only ran second best, but
suffered the sting of seeing the for
mer rise to the heights of his popu-
larity in the formers home town. Il
was bitter pill to swallow any way
you take it. Little Italy, as a result
is draped in mourning today.
| Last nights scrap was undoubtedly
the poorest of the series. There was
plenty of action injected into the fray
but the spectacular stuff was absent
Browns woefully poor showing may
be attributed, in part. to Kunz's big
! weight advantage as well as the
champions holding tactics. Referee
| Fitzgerald had the time of his life il
| prying the fighters apart during the
first half of the fight. Kunz spent
considerable time in holding Brown
when not inclined to smash him will
right and left smashes. Kunz's tao
tics not. only annoyed Brown bu
made the spectacle an unpleasant on
for ringsiders. AS the close of thu
tenth round Referee Fitzgerald warn
ed both Kunz and Brown that h,
would leave the ring unless the hold
ing ceased. There was not as mucl
holding from that time on.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-01-22
OWNER WEEGMN COULD NOT DELIVER GOODS FOR ROGERS HRNSBY
Only Two of 1914
Braves Are Left
HAS been much COM
ment on the breaking up
- of the champion Athletics

THERE HAS been much com
ment on the breaking up
of the champion Athletics
of 1914, but the changes in the
champion Braves of the same year
have attracted little notice. Yet
they have been almost as radical.
The Braves of 1914, the most
spectacular team in baseball, the
club which defeated the Athletics
in four straight games and caused
Connie to dismember his team will
include in 1913 only two of the
men who made up the winning ag-
gregation of four years ago.
Rudolph is the only one left of
the three pitchers who made pos
sibIe the campaign of 1914 and
who helped trounce the Athletics.
Red Smith, the third baseman who
played throughout the season, but
was in the hospital with a broken
ankle at the time of the Worlds
Series is, with Rudolph, the sole
survivor of the 1914 campaign.
The Braves of 1914 included
Pitchers Tyler, Rudolph, James,
Hess, Davis, Crutcher and Cochre-
ham; CatcheTs Gowdy, Whaling
and Mitchell; Infielders, Schmidt,
Evers, MaranviIIe, Smith and Deal,
and OutfieIders Connolly, Whitfield,
Gather, Mann, Moran and Devore,
and Dugey and Gilbert, utility men.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-01-22
ASKS AMATEUR
REINSTATEMENT

New York, Jan. 22.-Miss Clare Cas-
sci has applied to have her dishar-
ment as an amateur rescinded by the
United States National Lawn Tennis
association.
She is the only player in the coun-
try ever penalized by action of the
executive committee, and she sent her
formal request for reconsideration
of her case to several officers of the
National association a few days ago.
Miss Cassei is making her request for
reinstatement 10 amateur standing at
this time on the advice of Major
George r, Adee, president of the asso-
citation.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-01-22

rush, winning the first eight games
of the season, but was stopped by the
White Sox. The lowly Athletics
checked the eight-game string made
by Cicotte while the Senators devised
him after he had made seven in his
other record.
The seven-straight compiled by Jim
Bagby of the Indians, fairly glistened
with scoreless pitching, for he annexed
five shutouts during his run. Stan
ley Coveleskie, another Indian
moundsman, also was something of a
Whitewater. He had two five game
streaks, smearing the kalsomine three
times during the first run and twice
during the second.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-01-22
JOHNsON's RECORD OF NINE STRAIGHT WINS

pair of Bans mighty left-handers pass
ed the buck to each other for keeps.
1t was Russell who stopped Ruth's
eight straight on May IS, and Ruth
retaliated by slipping the skids under
Russell on Sept. "a, after he had turn
ed in seven wins in a row.
The past season provided a good be-
ginning, but a bad ending for Slim
Love Of the Yankees. He began the
season by winning his first five games,
then, just to show his versatility, he
lost the next five, closing the cam
raign by throwing the White Sox to
defeat, Sept. 20.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-01-22
EIGHT OF TIGERS
IN MILITARY
SERVICE

Detroit, Mich, Jan. 22.-When
Frank J. Navin returns from the East
this week he will be confronted with
the facts regarding mis- ball club. This
Information, about the individual
members, recruits and veterans, was
prepared during his absence by Secre-
tary Charles F. Navin. The list also
includes the names of those who en-
listed or were drafted for either
branch of the national service. The
list discloses that the club has a total
of 20 men to choose its 1918 spring
squad from and that eight men are
now wearing service uniforms.
These eight include but one Tiger
who really was Tiger last year. That
one is George Burns, first baseman.
The others are players who were
merely prospects, anyway, SO that the
team is not as hard hit as it might
seem. The Detroit honor roll, to date,
is as follows:
Fred Nicholson-Outfield last
year with Detroit and st. Paul clubs,
has enlisted in quartermaster' de-
partment of the U. S. Army.
H. S. Ellison-Infielder, last year
with Detroit and st. Paul Clubs, has
enlisted in aviation corps in the Uni
ted States Army.
Ernest NJ. Alten-Left-hand pit
cher, last year with Springfield, Ohio
has been drafted into the National
Army.
Frank FuIler-InfieIder, last yeal
with Newark, has been drafted into
the National Army. Is at Camp Gus
ter at present time.
L. B. llywood-Infielder las
year with San Francisco, is in the
National Army and on his way tt
France.
Georgia Burns-Last year first base
man on Detroit Club, has been draft
ed into the National Army.
DeInar Baker-Catcher, last yea
with San Francisco, has enlisted il
the Naval Reserves and is at presen
at Preside Barracks, San Francisco
John Oldham-Pitcher, last yea
with San Francisco, drafted into tn
National Army.
1t will be noted that the name o
Tyrus Raymond Cobb, Peerless Georg
ian, is not in that list. There was {
disturbing report sent out recent.
tina Tty was about to enlist in tn
Marines, that Mig Clarke had visited
Ty in Georgia and SO enthused hin
over the life of a marine that Ty ha
decided to join forthwith. This mean
a lot to baseball, so Mr.. Cobb wa
wired for confirmation. His answe
came back that he had no present in
/ tention of enlisting and that he woul
not in any event join the marines
Perhaps, he said, if the war continued
; he might be in service before the sea
son ended, but he meant to start TIL
7 baseball season, at least. In any event
L if called, it will be for Army service
l not in the branch to which Mig Clark
belongs.