New Britain herald., 1928-07-14
I0LD timers STILL
| EXCEL ON DIAMOND
Schroeder and Noonan Continue
TO Play Good Game

this season are several players who
were stars on the local sandlots
some years back, and are still able
to give good account Of themselves
despite the competition put forth by
younger men. bent on making good
and as yet oblivious to the pains Of
stiffening muscles and the draw
back of speedless legs.
Prominent among these old tim
ers are johnny" Schroeder and
Mickey" Noonan. whose high rat
ing among the amateur catchers in
the state 10 or Is years back was
we'll merited. Schroeder is one of
machine, which heads the other
clubs and is the favorite for cham
pionship honors at the present time.
His hitting has been timely and his
all around playing excellent. Noon
an, backstopping for Larry Man
gan's Russwins. is one.of the reasons
for that clubs fine showing He
has added the pep the team need
ed in past seasons and his experience
and stea diness have instilled a world
OF confidence into the younger
players, with the result that no out
fit in the circuit can safely take the
Russwins lightly no matter what the
score may be as the innings pass.
A while back, the names of
Schroeder and Noonan were on the
lips of every follower of local anna
turs clubs Playing with the Sham
rocks, whose home field was the old
Town Lott off Talcott street,
Schroeder made a reputation as a
heavy swatter, and il was not long
until he caught on with the Del
phis. led by ABE" Witkin. For
several seasons he played behind the
plate and at first base and led the
club in hitting. and few years
later he starred with the high
school team, handling the slants of
Bill" Walsh. "Rube" Bentley, and
other classy twirlers of that time.
After leaving High school and enter
ing the employ of the Stanley
Works, he was member Of teams
representing the concern in indus
trial leagues for several teams.
Warner johnson, Jack Kelly,
Roy Stevenson. Jack" Storey and
MERGE Jacobson, the latter an
international league star for the
past several seasons. were with the
Stanley Works and many a battle
they put up at Electric Field, Wal
nut Hill Park and the Pioneer field
on Ellis street.
About fifteen years ago when John
Powers. now in the motion picture
business, organized and managed
the New Britain INDEPENDENTS.
Schroeder was taken on and PLAYED
a steady game. Later he went to
| Collinsville and played several sea
sons. He was a prime favorite with
the fans in the axe town, his slug
glng being an outstanding feature
OF the teams play. Now he is
catching Walter Scott, leading
pitcher In the Industrial league,
and doing fine job of it, too.
/ Noonan first came into public
notice as a catcher when he and
William (Fish) Ahern were battery
mates on the Pioneers, the pride of
the south end for several seasons.
Lacking several pounds of Schroe-
der's weight. Noonan nevertheless
! handled many speedy pitchers and
hit we'll enough to keep a place on
any team Of that period. He was
smart" and ever on the alert for
opportunities to pick off base run
ners who took chances, especially
around first base. He had class. too
his movements back of the plate
being pretty to watch.
When the Independents and the
| Pioneers clashed for the city cham
rionship. one of the features of the
games was the work of the catchers
Schroeder, cool and steady, planted
like rock with his big mitt held
| up as target, was a striking con-
trast to Noonan. nervous, impatient
and poppy. Few base runners cared
TO take chances with the heavy, de.
liliberatte throw of Schroeder or the
steel like snap with which Noonan
GOT the ball down TO the midway,
Schroeder had Jesse Norton. Bug
gy' Fitzpatrick. and Howard Blinn
10 fear, each of them being loaded
with speed while Noonan's worries
were centered in Bill Berry, Eddie
Goeh and Red" Campbell. a dan
serous trio on the base paths Tha,
the Independents won the cham
plonship is a matter of history, bu,
the rivalry between the opposing
catchers has gone on apace and is
being watched by the followers oil
the Industrial League this season.
Noonan had a few seasons in this
! Virginia League and also caught TO,
several semipro clubs in this stat.
| during the past several seasons. Tn.
doubtedly there are base runners to.
day who can afford to take chances
With his arm, but he still has hi.
old dash and spirit and adds TO this
color Of every game in which h
plays.