The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1926-06-24
"REMINISCENCES
OF OLDEN DAYS"

When baseball was first organ
lied here, in 1870, its pr0genitors
were Commander G. w. Thomas
of the Naval Station, w. S. Hall,
manager of the Western Union
Telegraph Co., and r. B. Grant, a
school teacher, brother-in-law of
George w. Reynolds. There were
three clubs, viz: Seminoles, Is
land Cities, and Ocean Stars
(boys of 49, They used to play
on the Green" extending from
Elizabeth to Simonton streets, and
from Dey street, to about half of
the block between Greene and
Front streets. The spectators
used to sit on logs, along the
northern side of Dey street. NY
playmates and self used to play
tops, marbles, fly kites, play steal
hats and ten yards; nowadays
boys would not think of indulging
in such games at 16 years old.
You should have seen w. d.
Cash playing second base for the
Seminoles. He was 33 years old
at the time; a swift runner, and a
good all around player, dressed in
dark blue serge knickerbockers,
blue and white stockings, and
shoes to match, and blue and
white striped cap. He used to
cayort around second base quicker
than a grasshopper. | often talk
ed with him about those good old
days. John w. Sawyer, first
base, Charles Maloney, third base,
Frank Maloney and VIM. ]. AL
bury tBilly Ions) pitchers, E. o.
Locke, catcher, Lewis Pierce, left
field, Judge l.. w.. Bethel, short
stop, Frank Knight, centerfield,
DIR. Mason Whitehurst, Willie Tiff,
Joseph Moss, Geo. B. Patterson,
Claude Babcock, Jerry Fogarty,
Johnny Henson, Samuel Curry
Milton Curry's uncle), VIM. H.
Geiger Pops father, John Rich
ardson and Chas. II. Curry George
and Henry Curry's eldest brotherl
were the best players of the Semi
noles. George Dillon, first base,
Charles Dillon, second base, Chas.
Clarke, third base, Adolphus Ba-
ker, left field. f. Roberts, Tom
Johnson, (Tom jack, right field,
Geo. Lewis. stortstop, Salisbury
Hicks, pitcher, and Hiram Full
ford. catcher. Henry Garfield and
Edwin Hicks were the principal
players of the Island Cities, B. B.
Whalton was their President and
Manager. George II. Curry,
Henry Curry. and self
(pitchers). VIM. Gordon, first
base. Seferino Almeda, left field.
Charles Pierce. third base, Joseph
Almeda. shortstop, Calvin Parks,
right field, Peter +. Knight, sec
ond base. James Walker, DIR.
Frank Lester. VIM. Solomon,
Thomas Henson. VIM. S. Johnson,
William and Charles Richardson
were the best players of the Ocean
Stars. We appointed 0det Grillon
President and Manager. He was a
six footer and weighed about $50
pounds. The reason he was made
President and Manager was in
case US boys quarreled among our
selves he was big and able enough
to manage us.
We used to fly humming kites.
with short pulling braces so that
they would not fly more than 25
feet above the street. They made
a loud racket, like an aeroplane.
Had to use strong cast-net Irvine,
as ordinary cord could not hold
them. We used to play a game
called THE Battle of the Kites"
Each boy had an opponent and
you had to be a good strategist
and navigator. in order to avoid
being cut away by the sharp pieces
of glass or razor blade attached TO
the end Of your opponents kite
tail. Hertell and Cameron were
the best kite makers and flyers.
One day during the war Colonel