The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-26

News OF the death of the rightfi
Jeannette, Pa, reached Philadelph
oi was very sorry to hear about
, Socicss DEATH said Connie Mack
as have alweays had great dea
OF esteem for him. Seybold was one
OF the great outfielders of his day
socks joined me during the first sea
ION OF the Athletics as an American
League team in 1901. He was on
our payrolls until the end of the sea
son OF 1908, a twisted knee ending
his career.
OF late years I haven't heard
much from him. for he was not in
the notion of writing letters, but
knew he was living in comfortable
circumstances at his home in jean
nette, Pa"
Weighed 200 Pounds.
Socks was one Of the bulkiest men
who ever played the outfield. He
weighed fully 200 pounds when with
the Athletics. He was naturally
stout, and even In his rookie days
was a great monolith Of a man.
Seybold was almost the right-hand-
cd Babe Ruth Of his time, although
baseballs manufactured at that pc
Rod could not travel as far as the
rabbit" of 1920 and 1921. He was
the Verdun number on Mr.. Mack s
batting order of that day.
A casual person who sized up Sey-
bold at the park would at once ad-
NIT that he could hit, but would in
variably add that he was slow and
could not field. AS q matter Of fact,
ne was not slow. He only look ed
slow, and that was because Of his
aldermanic girth.
4 Even ball players were fooled, even
teammates on the Athletic club. 1t
IL Athletic history that John Shibe,
one Of the owners of the Athletics.
was the first to appraise Seybold ut
bis true worth.
Socks was such jovial fellow that
he was always center Of interest on
the team. Everybody on the club
liked him. He was always kidded.
Yet the players did not all know
how fast Socks could travel. They
were as much deceived as the man in
the stand.
Therefore. when a certain player
made some reflection on Socks speed,
John Shibe was nearby and heard
him. He said: This is no bet, but I
will give you 500 IL Socks can't beat
Topsy Hartzel In 100-yard race"
The player, who had everything to
win and nothing to lose, gladly con-
scented and thought that he would he
sure Of a century note in his kicks
that night.
The groundkeeper measured off the
required distance, and to the surprise
of nearly everybody on the field,
Socks breasted the tape well in front
of Topsy. Hartzel. who had sprinted
his best, was furious over the result.
The Athletic players who saw this
test never made any remarks there
Otter about Socks being slow.
Let Connie Mack tell the tale of
how Socks defended rightfield at Co
lumbia Park. He said:
Socks was one outfielder who
watched the pitcher and the batsman.
Many a time have seen a liner shoot
to right field and believed that the
hitter had a double or triple only to
see Socks in a dead line waiting for 1t. |
His Judgment of hitter was uncanny. |
He knew how to play for batsman.
He shifted and played differently for
every batsman. Nobody ever played |
lightfield in the history of the Ath |
letics than Seybold." |
Seybold also holds the record Of hit |
ting the longest drive in the history of |
Columbia Park, which lasted eight |
years. He drove ball over the fence
in left center that ran up a small |
street next to Matt Kilroy's place.
Matt WAS lOCdteu tndt Spot III the
old Athletic days.
Seybold was always a fixture in right |
until the season of 1908. On the spring |
training trip that year in New Orleans
he twisted his knee sliding into home
Mate and was virtually OF no use to
the team for the rest of the season.
He was kept on the payrolls until the
end of the season.
Forty seven Years Old at Death.
Socks was forty-seven years old
when he met his death. He was born
In washingtonville, Ohio. He began |
his professional baseball career in 1892
in Altoona, that town which has sent
90 many players to the big leagues.
YOUNGSTOWN, Altoonaa's next door
neishbor, got him the next year and
then after a year in Franklin he
signed in Lancaster and played there
In 1895 in the old Pennsylvania State
LIE ague.
When Socks left Lancaster he
drifted south and had little expert
ence in Richmond, Va. Then Cincin-
natl got him.
The writer, then a kid in short
pants, very well remembers SeyboId
his first visit to the Cincin-
natl ball park on Western avenue and
rindlay streets one morning. He
nv collector. A knot of kids around
me park laughed when he walked to
the entrance to put on uniform for
practice.
Socks appearance queered him the
FIRST day. He was soon released
was fooled by his build.
Those were in the days Of Willie
Keeler, when speed was demanded,
I'D Socks never had fair chance in
John II. Brush, then owner
Of the Reds, farmed him out to Indi-
annapolis, and later Connie Mack got
him for his Milwaukee team In the
western League, and when the Ameri.
AN League was formed, Socks was
fetched to Philadelphia.
Socks perhaps will ,stin be known
N the hard hitting but slow out
FIELDER of early American League
laws, although with a record of sprint
ydctory over Topsy Hartzel, the Man
,'War speed specialist Of the team.
De MOLAY CUNT READY
eOP GAMES AFTER JAN. I