New Britain herald., 1927-06-18
'0LD TIME FANS
 LAUD THEIR HEROES
Recount Feats Performed by
 Athletes in Days Gone By


 ing its most interesting stages and the dopesters on the outcome of the major leagues will soon be busy picking their respective champions. Interest in the daily games staged is at its height and to many, though they are unatle to witness the con- tests. there .s plenty of excitement Tn the stories written about the bat ties of this or that team for an ad- vance in the league standing.
 However, there never will be baseball games played in any league like those which are being played daily through "reminiscences of . little group of "youngtimers" who congregate daily in the Sports mems Exchange on Railroad Ar cade and go over. play by play. the days of yore when the tellers of the tales were in their heyday and among the best on the diamonds.
 Anytime one gets Denny Donahue, Frank Cox. Matty Egan. Snowy Doherty, Joe Bowen, Brick" Burns. Jack Doyle and many others togeth- CT chinning about the days gone by. no radio reception. drama. moving picture or other event of modern times could exude tithe of the in- terest their stories create. When these men of weighty years. some with streaks of grey where once were golden locks and others with expanded waistlines, turn back to the days when they were "kids," in the sand lots of those days. the pages of history are revealed and priceless stories are recounted.
 For more than an hour yesterday the ring was we'll warmed up. Dem ny Donaf1ue started things by re- calling the fcats of Ed Cashin. wild and woolly pitcher who was one of the speediest twirlers ever in these parts. Ed was peculiar duck with a million dollar arm and very little baseball wisdom.
 He used to throw in the days when no catcher's mitt was used and the physiognony of the back stopper was unprotected by kind- ly mask. It was his delight to "cross up" his catcher on the signals and whirl an in-curve where an out curve was called and vice versa. The result was that many good catcher was incapacitated with split fingers in attempting to catch his slants.
 One day when the old Tabs team was playing in South Manchester if took four catchers to go in be- hind the bat to finish the game. Nicky Coleman started the game but he didn't even last an inning. Cashin whirled the ball down the alley" An outcurve was expected and instead d fast one was thrown. Coleman caught the ball on the ends of the fingers unprotected by any thing except a small kid glove "itn the fingers cut out, and his hand was split.
 Ed Hol,eran. father of the recent star catcher, Tommy was called m to take Coleman's place. He lasted only a little while longer when nc too had to retire because ot injuries: Then Billy German was summoned to the position but Bill suffered fate like his two predecessors.
 The manager in desperation waved to Mart welch out in the outfield to come in and catch. Mart was wise to Cashin's pet hobby and as he came in to take his position he walked over to the box and told cashin in no uncertain terms. that he would either pitch rightly to him or he would be gently crowned with baseball bat.
 Mart finished the game without making an error and the New Brit ain team won. The Tabs team in those days lined lip as follows: Mart i welch C, Ed Cashin D, Matty Egan ss. Daniel Sullivan 1b. Billy Long 2b. John Sautter sb. Micky Fitz- patrick If. Billy German of and Jeff Culbert If.
 The Tabs not only didn't lose a game that year but Cashin went through the entire season of 1887 without having run scored on him, Tn the Manchester game. Judge Bowers. at that time. Yale's premier pitcher. was in the box for 
 Sidelights on the game regarding he rules in those days form an in- eresting chapter. The pitchers box wa. eight feet long and the pitcher Was allowed to take several jumps ,eforc he threw the ball. Many of he twirlers used to get terrific ,peed on the ball because of this