The Washington times., 1919-01-11

Even after retiring as a player, and
after he had been elected the head Of
the Eastern Association, O'Rourke
made it q point to get into at least
one game-the. last-every season,
and he continued this practice until
1912, when illness kept hfm from dom
ming the wind-pad and throwing
few men out at second, just to show
that age had neither dimmed his eye
nor withered his muscles.
ORourke was a member of big
league teams for eighteen years and
missed batting better than 800 only
five seasons. He never managed to,
end a season with a 400 average, his
best record being 1886, made in 1890
During his big league career Jim
played with five clubs-Boston, Prov
idence, Buffalo, New York, and Wash
ington-and was three times on Ma
tional League pennant-winning teams
with Providence in 1879 and with
New York in 1883 and 1889.
Born In Bridgeport In 1854.
O'Rourke was born in Bridgeport
August "a, 1854 His baseball career
started in that city, too, for he early
began to play in the many lots there,
and soon showed he had the making
OF real star in him.
When seventeen he Joined the
Oriels, Of Hartford, and the following
year hooked up with the famous
Mansfields, Of Middletown, Conn,
club that in those days was second.
only to such great teams as the At
lantics of Brooklyn, and the Mutuals
Of New York. Graduates from the
Mansfields were such great players as
Tim Murnane, Johnny Clapp, Jimmy
Upper. and Jack Kelly.
In 1872 the Boston Reds, under the
management of the famous Harry
Wright, played the Mansfields, and
Wright at once saw the possibilities
in young O'Rourke, so he signed him
for the following season. He showed
great ability that year with the Bos-
ton team as substitute catcher and
first baseman. In 1874 he was given
a regular job, ousting Charley Gould.
He led the league in fielding that
season and hit well.
When Spalding. White, Barnes, and
McVey-the big Four"-tumped Bos-
ton to Chicago in 1878, ORourke be-
came the regular catcher OF the Reds.
Wouldn't Enter Ring.
While a member of the Bostons Jim
became a very close friend of Patsey
Sheppard. the English boxer and for
while Sheppard tried to make n
fighter o: the hail tosser. Sheppard
insisted that O'Rourke could hit as
hard q punch as John l.. Sullivan in
these days and thought there would
be great honor and much money in
boxing for him. But Jim couldn't
see things that way and stuck to the
national game.
When the Big Four" played their
first game for the Chicago team
against the Bostons at the Hub there
was naturally great rivalry shown,
| and O'Rourke set out to outplay Cal
McNey, who caught for the Chicago
team. And he did outplay the veteran
| in every stage of the game.
Jim remained with Boston until
| 1870, when Harry Wright's brother
George went to Providence to manage
the Grays, taking O'Rourke with him
O'Rourke helped win the National
year. and at the close Of the season
returned to Boston. He played the
following season with the Hub team
In 1881 O'Rourke was with Buffalo
as manager, and was fairly successful
as a leader, but did not manage to
, win a flag in the four years re re-
mained there. He played great ball
himself, though, and in 1884 led the
league in batting, with an average OF
$50.
Mutrie signed o'Rourke.
Jim Mutrie, manager of the New
York Giants, then grabbed O'Rourke
on his reputation as a slugger and
fine all-around player. He remained
with the Giants until 1889. helping
win the National League champion
ships in 1883 and 1889.
O'Rourke was with the New York
Players League team in 1890, and the
following season again PLAYED with