The Washington times., 1922-01-23

over the running track. They
win be used only at the football
games. The new Pennsylvania
stadium will seat 5000 specta-
tors.
by the noted manager and ex-player,
Dan OLeary, who was running that
year an Independent club in the
Hoosier State capital. Dan had heard
Of Thompson's slugging ability. many
reports having been circulated around
Sans home town and immediate
neighborhood, where he was consid-
cred a marvel among the farmers. He
was said to swing a bat as heavy and
big as a telegraph pole fashioned out
OF the limb Of q tree, and the drives
he made were rumored to be a mile
or moreover less. He always lost
the ball whenever 1t colIided with his
homemade bludeeon.
O'Leary went out to see the famous
homespun giant in his own lair and
found him on top of q ladder painting
a house.
Are you the Sam Thompson every.
body Is talking about around here, the
fellow that can hit baseball a mile or
so?" asked Dan.
II reckon I be. I can sure crack
EN- some, but don't know about all
that talk you say that's going on.
What might your name be, mister"
replied Sam, still plying his paint
brush.
my name is Dan o'Leary. am
manager Of the Indianapolis baseball
CLUB. How would you like to play ball
with my team? I'll pay you for IT,
What are you getting for painting?''
asked Dan.
Dollar and . half per, and
work twelve hours q day." an
swered Sam. -
''Well. IN give you IS a day and
board. How does that strike you,
Samf" asked Dan.
Gosh all hemlock! viii you?
That hits me mighty betty. You
come near to making me topple off
this ere ladder. I'll come down and
talk with you. I am sort o. knocked
kerplunk. But wonder what the
folks will say? You see, have
never been away from home further
tnan i've miles. and / am sort o.
skeered about going to such big city
as Indianapolis; but I reckon when
l tell paw and nav bout them five
dollars per day they will be willing
10 let me go. How long will l have
10 pc away from home? asked Sam,
On, only all summer replied Oan,
wen, Ian and Sam went TO lha lat.
ter,s home, saw paw and mary
and Sans three brothers, all bigger
and taller than their young brother
VINO was to branch out as a paid
baseball player. The family finally
agreed to let Sam leave the old
neartnstone. but with many misgiv.
ings about the life in the big citv
The HOLSTERS were so far ahead
soon after July that the league
disbanded and the indianapolis team,
with the exception of McKeon and
keenan,, who Joined the Cincinnati
reds, were sold to the Detroit club.
Sam Thompson and the writer were
included in the bunch that went to
Detroit. At that time there was a rule
In FORCE that prevented players who
were released from signing with an.
other club until ten days had elapsed.
Most or the old indianapolis players
were in big demand. Therefore TO OBJ
viate the chance of any Of these new
players deserving. the Detroit club, by
subterfuge, got the players to embark
on q schooner, ostensibfy for a DAYS
fishing trip, but the VOYAGE was
heightened to ten days before the boys
were allowed to disembark.
The immensely Of Brush Field, the
Detroit ball park at that time, was
suitable to bring out Sam Thompson's
great prowess as q long hitter. II the
ball ever got past the outfielders Il
was "good-day." The bases could
easily have been circled twice by the
batter when the ball was hit hard to
center or to right field. I can remem-
Der tho day that nine home runs were
made In one game by the Detroit team,
which included the big Four: Dan
Brouthers, Hardy Richardson, Jack
Rowe and Jim White. The outfielders
were George Wood. left fielder; Eddie
Hanlon, center, and Sam Thompson,
right. The Detroits won the National
League pennant in 1887. The Detroit
club then sold its players, Thompson.
Casey and Mcclure going to the
Phillies.
Gained Fame in Philly.
Thompson continued the enviable
reputation In Philadelphia that he had
gained in Indianapolis and Detroit.
The writer has the idea that IL Sam
Thompson had stepped up on the ball
when at bat instead of shifting his
left foot back he might have been a.
heavy a hitter as Babe Ruth.
I saw Sam hit q ball far over the
right field fence on the Cincinnati
ball grounds when the playing field
was laid out differently from what II
is now. The home plate was then
where right field is now.
1t was a whale of a wallop-a regu.
lar Babe>Ruth blow.