Evening star., 1925-12-22

one OF the most colorful players of q
public.
Kelly was beloved by ball players
as well as by base ball followers. He
was particularly kind to youngsters
who were breaking into the game and
did all he could to help them. The
first time that I saw Kelly he was
manager of the Cincinnati team.
known as "Kelly's Killers" I was
At that time a member of the Louis
vile team, but not getting along well
because / was weak at bat. Cinctn-
natl was in the American Association
and so was Louisville.
Tips Him OF.
The first time 1 came to bat in that
game Kelly remarked, "Ah, I see,
new one" After a pause he asked me,
How you hittin' em?" 1 told Kelly
that / was not hitting much and he
said: "All right, I'll see what I can
do for you. Now, the first pitch is a
fast ball through the groove I did
not offer at the ball, but it was just
what Kelly said it would be, fast
one through the groove. why didn't
you go after that one?" asked Kelly.
l told him 1 thought he was fooling.
Well, you saw I wasn't. Now, to
show you I'm honest, I'm signing for
tIc SAINT tHllS dSdlH. L MS OIle IL
going to be a fast ball right through
the groove" 1 got set for a fast ball.
swung and hit for two bases. Kelly
had ordered the pitcher to pitch an
other fast one, just as he told me he
would.
The next time came to bat Kelly
said: well, you hit the last one, and
YOU seem to be good on them fast
ones, so I'll give you another chance.
I'm going to have him hand you an
other fast one through the groove"
[ took him at his word, got set,
swung and hit another two-bagger.
Kelly had made good again.
Strikes Out Twice.
When I came up for the third time
Kelly said: ''Well, kid, you've gotten
two extra-base hits today. That's
pretty good. That will make your
average for the day 400 or 500 and
there amt many guys hittin' that.
Now, I've gotten you two hits, and
the rest Of the game you'll have to
shift for yourself. I'm not goin' to
tell you what's comin'.''
got no more hits that day, but
instead / struck out twice in a row.
Kelly, l believe, was the most dis
cussed player of his time. He pulled
so many plays that had never been
attempted before and was so spectac-
ular about it that he naturally came
in for general discussion. Kelly was
born Snowman. He knew how to
appeal to the crowds.
One of his plays that I remember
distinctly came near the close of his
career. lie was with Boston at that
time and captain of the team. In
those days the captain had absolute
power over the players on the field
and he could take one out at q
moments notice. In this particular
game Kelly was sitting on the bench
and Charlie Bennett was catching.
The batter hit a high foul toward the
bench. Bennett had lost sight of the
ball and there was not chance for
him to make the catch. Kelly jumped
up and shouted, Bennett, you're out
Of the game" and then he made the
catch. There was long protest, but
Kelly won out. He made good on his
point that Bennett was out of the
game as soon as he yelled and that he
was free to make the catch. The re-
suit was a new rule. That used to be
the result of most of Kelly's spec
tacular plays.
thinner and Mcclure.
Chief thinner and Jim Mcclure
really belonged to the old school. l
couple tnelr names because tnere was
much resemblance between their play
ing styles. thinner and Mcclure were
what we called "workhorses.' They
would catch more than 100 games a
year and work all the exhibition
games. Both were hard hitters, but
both were slow on their feet. Both
We're excellent judges of batsmen.
The names Of Archer and King are
generally coupled because they both
achieved fame as members Of the
Chicago Cubs Is years ago. They
were two of the best Of the modern
catchers. King was probably the
better of the two-intelligent, a good
thrower and a fair batter. His work
against Detroit in the world series Of
1907 and 1908, together with the pitch
ing of Mordecai Brown, the three
fingered miner, We're the outstanding
features of the series.
Archer found himself after he Joined
the Chicago team, becoming a wonder
full backstop and a great thrower. He
could throw from crouching posi-
ton and when he did take a step to
get the ball away, he stepped back
wards, the only catcher in history who
ever stepped back to throw ball. He
was severely burned on the throwing
arm at one time and the long scar
that resulted aided him materially IN
throwing, giving him more snap. He
worked pitchers in fine style and was
generally regarded as smart re-
ceiYer.
.-l,f