Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-13
C0M|sKEY LED WAY
WAS PIONEER IN STYLE
OF PLAYING FIRST BAG
President OF Chicago White Soy Club
Started Mt $50 Il Month, but
Was Raised to sI.5,

Ever since the White Sox won the
worlds championship stories and
"reminiscences of tho president OF the
Chicago club have been going the
rounds. They tell OF how Comisksy
first got into the game and how nc n1ads
the Browns famous. but perhaps Chri,
Won der Abe and Arlic Latham had
something to do with this as we'll as
Comiskcy.
However. old baseball fans and plsy-
crs still maintain that Comiskcy was
The first man to play first base In the
modern manner. The old fashioned
way was TO stand close to tho bag
and take the rifle-shot throws Most
of the first hasemen were biz, husky
fellows. and Dan Brouther8 was tho
idea in this regard. Dan couldn't be
knocked down or out OF the way
Comiskey. unlike his contemporaries.
played wide Of the bag and taught hi,
pitchers to cover it when he could not
get over to first ahead OF the runner
Later on Fred Tenncy showed Com
iskey n wrinkle or two on plsyinc tho
bag. and then Hal Chase. who even
surpassed Tenney in sensational play7.
But to get back to Comiskey and let
ono OF the old-timcTs tell about him.
Hs says:
1t was in the year 1881. or just abou,
thirty-six years ago. that Charley
Comiskey made his debut in a real
baseball park.
The place was Sportsman's Park. St
Louis
Al Sphinx was then secretary o, tn.
l.OI RI
that game that no got Charley a lob
as hrst baseman OF tho aftcrward
world -famous ST. Louis team, tho frat
professional engagement of his lie.
IL was In the summer Of 1851 that
req sullivan brought the Dubuque team
TO St Louis TO play the Browns.
Among Spink's multifarious duties \,
secretary at that time "a lob vhi,h
'hen' oy the way. carried no regular
salary or monetary reward) was to re-
ceive visiting players, escort them IN
'helr hotel and see that they were
properly cared for.
1t was while on duty bent. therefor.
mat Sphinx met the Dubuque team, =.
they came UP Third Street, led by sui.
IVAN each wearing a straw hat and
ions linen busters and carrying base
ball bat
IL was 3rd OF July. and they had
come to play three games.
ha nd
boxes in an ancient hostelry at Fourth
and Locust Streets, called Tho r.vsra,,
House. e''
AS Ted Sullivan put it. as ho wIpcd
inc Precipitation from his brow:
Wen play tho Browns three great
games mere if we don't melt before we
get out to the grounds
ana three great games thew nI,vod
but all they got for their pains wa,
lhree days board and lodging at a 81.
a-day Motel and n bus ride to and from
the ball park.
stiil they went away happy as lark,
nnu 'atcI Cofniskey and Sullivan came
oach 10 JOIN forces with the Browns
Comiskey's salary when he st,r,,a
WIN the Browns in 1852. the first wear
or the American Association. was 81,
Il month. as 80
lie was perhaps the lowest salaricd
man on the team, but this was due n
,n 'ucl mat nc was mere boy. and
lhat ne was looked on as sjmnlv an
experiment. an
nut IN his first month he took the
iifst oase job away from Oscar Walker
"saSoHcu veteran in the position and
~ ",s second month Comiskey's work
lihu become so brilliant that his salary
was raised from SIS to s1o5 a month
season. "ou' inc
eomlskey at this time was very +,II
slender and boyish looking.
re soon became noted for his uui.t
h hnd sehtiemaniy demcanor, traits he
mao acquired AZ the Catholic COLLEGE
at st. Mary's in his schoojhov Is
ano soon he became a warm favor}t.
in st. Louis ''s
not after taking hold OF the Brown.
.n as captain and then as manarer
.nis quiet and timid spirit disappeared
ana a coniskcy became AS bold. fearless
team. which. undae his leadersbir
lurea American Association and thrp
worlds championships '"e"
" ~, -