South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-02
BASEBALL At N. D.
IN LIMELIGHT
Some of the Gold and Blue
Men are Expected to Make
the Big Leagues.
BY Charles A. Grimes.

BY Charles a. Grimes.
Who will be Notre Danes next
big leaguer2
The question was put yesterday
afternoon in the gym whilst half
a hundred minims. preps, and a
few college men went through a lot
OF snappy indoor baseball prepare
tion. The diamond bog got the
boys yesterday afternoon and they
went 10 whipping the ball around
the gym in regular mid-July form.
Sore arms and charley horses, yeh!
They're bound TO come!
But who cares about such all
ments2 Every one Of those play
e-s, even Eagle Eye, the Indian prep
from Oklahoma, is a potential if
not a prospective big Lacquer.
Again the que5tion-who will be
Notre Danes next big ieaguer? Bet
ter perhaps to say next big leag-
uers" for there is a likelihood Of N
least two varsity candidates gradual
ing into the big show after the cur
tain falls on college ball next June.
The question may seem a bit pre-
fortnight big league mines will be
well on their way in southern flights.
and baseball at Notre Dame viii be
a reality in practice.
Before the Gold and Blue boys
get down TO indoor practice in earn
est a few hot-stove league prOph-
ecies and remarks are in order. A
baseball season at Notre Dame could
scarcely be called successful IL at
least one NOtre Dame diamond lum-
mary failed TO grab off a meal in
the big show" Notre Dame fol-
lowers have become so accustomed
to seeing Gold and Blue stars step
into major league berths every
year. that a break seems almost inn
possible 20 them.
Chief Meyer, known about the
university as a ''big Lacquer for a
day was the last of the locals 10
step into the big tent. The fact that
ne is back in school has nothing to
do with the case: he got up to Chi
cago and graced a White Sox uni
form longer than a day TO be true
but. like Philadelphia Jack McDe-
Wits millionaire appellation
Chiefs" 'for-a-day" sticks. Chief
kept 'em guessing over a month
Then he stepped down only a pes
10 do his bit with Columbus of the
American association.
Before the CHER there was the
longated 'sRupe" Mills who in 1915
became the subject OF nationwide
discussion in sporting circles. The
rangy first-saeker left Notre Dame
for the Newark Federals When
the outlaw league pulled a Matthias
Erzberger and signed the National
Agreement armistice a lot of Fed
"Rupe." The tall boy had an iron
bound contract and he made his
Federal league boss. Pat Powers
stick by II. Powers tried to per
suade "Rupe" 70 give up his right
and be transferred 20 some other
big league team.
"Rupe" however. fell not for the
suassion. Instead he held out FOR
his salary. Finally, thinking he had
the player cornered, Powers ordered
"Rupe" 10 report 20 the Fedora
league park every morning and aft
ernoon for three hours of practice
with and by himself. 'Rupe" com
piled with the order. Day after day
he was the crowd. the batter, the
manager. the pitcher. in fact two
whole teams all one summer. Tie
knocked out hes and chased 'en
for three months and-collected his
full salary He lived up to the con
tract, Powers was obliged TO come
through.
Dame 70 Pittsburgh about the time
Mills made his professional debut
and got away for two seasons. Joe
Kenny also went to "backstopping'
for Muggsy McGraw's giants abOu
the same time
Sill further back "Cy" Williams
stepped from the Notre Dame gar
dens into a permanent place in lef
field for the Chicago Cubs. Far
reT. Wells and Duggan all received
offers from the majors and McCar
thy who Joined the South Benz
Central leaguers only 20 win his way
TO a place with the Chicago Nation
ais a year later played professiona
ball from tie close OF his college
career. La.hrop also went direct q
the White Sox.
Going back more than five year
there were dozens of Notre Dam'