The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-07-13
old HOSS' RADBOURNE,
GREAT HURLING STAR,
DIED OF BROKEN HEART
ny FRANK G. MENKD

- UtOhSA ACdII UIOuSAI 0CoSA ~
one of the greatest pitchers that ever
lived-Charlie "Old Hoss" Radbourne.
And the pathos of it lies in the
fact that it was all caused by the
herculean sacrifice made by Rad
borne in 1884, when he pitched n
consecutive games winning 70 and a
| championship for his team.
The pages of baseball history record
many sterling deeds, many remark
| agile performances and many aston
/ ishing occurrences But as long as
the game endures there will never be
| written chapter of such immortal
glory as that which concerns Rad
| bourne.
| A quarter of a century ago they
| didn't have 20 or 25 men on big
| league roster. A dozen was consid-
cred extravaganza The usual quota
was eleven. But in 1884 the great
| Providence team hit the stretch in
| the campaign with only nine men.
| Radbourne and Charlie Sweeney
were the pitchers. When one was in
the box the other played outfield.
| The two pitchers, among the brightest
stars of their time, had kept Provi-
dence in the pennant fight and about
five weeks before the seasons close
they were well up in first division,
and had an outside chance to whip the
league-leading Phillies in the final
flag fight.
And then one afternoon during prac-
tice, Sweeney revolted. He announc-
ed that he was a pitcher-not an out
fielder. He said that we would pitch
on his pitching days, but that he
would loaf on the other afternoons.
When the manager ordered him to
play the outfield, he announced that
f he was through, took off his uniform
, and never played with Providence
again.
Providence played with eight men
t that day, the two outfielderS trying
to cover the three gardens. AND
Providence was given a terrible beat
. ing.
Ready to Disband
e The next day the owners of the club
? met in special session to decide upon
!. the clubs future. The manager re
f ported it was utterly impossible tc
get another real pitcher to replace
Sweeney. The directors felt that the
: club, with only one experienced
/ pitcher, would be but a football fol-
!, the other teams to kick around.
{; It had been decided to disband tho
/ club for the year. Word of the con
5 templated action got to Radbourne
He hurried to the meeting room, go
an audience with the directors anC
l. said:
= "If YOU gentlemen will hire an out
5. fielder, l will pitch every game re
S manning of this seasons schedule.
Y ask your permission to do this ratneI
n than bring about the disbanding OF
It team which I think still has chance
n to win the pennant.
n The amazing offer was accepted
e And then Radbourne began the per
Torrance of the most brilliant AM
most astounding feat in all Dasepal
4 history.
d "Old Hoss" pitched 27 straigh
d games for his team-and won 70 O
e them. At least half dozen shrtout
were included The only defeat n
Ie knew through those II games was
L two to one triumph secured py bul
le falo, which team garnered only NV
hits and won on errors.
1T Endures Suffering.
20 The suffering and the agony Whlc
e Radbourne endured through the las
- ! three weeks was lSIl liz. <AANNA 49,
game he would go to his room an
" massage his arm. The night after
10 had pitched his twelfth game his arr
lie hung lifeless at his side. He paid tn
e. hotel porter 81 to apply hot towel
II and liniment to the arm all throug
. the night.
In the morning Radbourne's ar
was so stiff that he. could not lift
Is brush to his hair, yet that afternoo
D. he shut out the enemy on the ba
L. field ..-.
So excruciating was the pain in h
pitching arm through the last ten day
that Radbourne several times had
" call in a doctor to give him somethln
A to give him ease and sleep.
nj Through it all Radbourne new
d. whimpered, never murmured. +
a never admitted his suffering to any
e. his mates. He kept secret from the
wv the fact that he was hiring porters
I'D massage his arm, and that he ha