New Britain herald., 1930-07-22
PETE WILSON'S DROP BALL
 MYSTERY TO MANY BATSMEN
Southpaw Starred in Box 25 Years Ago - Made Good With Hartford Team and Later Joined the New York Highanders - Paddy O'Mara His Battery Mate in Many Games - Local Fans Flock to Con- tests to See Him in Action-StilI Plays Game

Just 25 years ago this summer, when interest in professional base ball in this section was so keen not even the most pessimistic observer would dare predict that cities such as New Haven, Hartford and Provi- dence would be unable to support clubs as they have proven to be this season, young southpaw twirler. Peter Wilson by name, was attract ing wide attention by his feats in the box. Although he lived in For estville, he was regarded as a na- tive son by New Britain fans, and he later lived here, as do some mem bers of his family at the present l time.
 Pete was 19 years of age in 1905 | and he was the mainstay of the American Silver Co. team of For estville, where he was so highly re- garded he hesitated to hook up with a professional team despite numer- ous attractive offers. He finally joined the Hartford team and made ! good from the start, later going to the New York Highlanders as the representatives of the metropolis in | the American league were then | known, and for several seasons he was rated one Of the best twirlers in the circuit. Walter Manning, a | pitcher. and Birdie Cree. an out i fielder were members of the High flanders at that time, and one of the | first big stars to face Wilson in his | rookie days in the big show was the famous Ty Cobb, who was then in | his prime.
 After leaving big league baseball | Pete was a member of various clubs and several seasons ago he made his appearance on the firing line at St. l Mary's field in this city with the American Chain team of Bridgeport. He makes his home in Bridgeport and occasionally toes the slab for teams in that city. Naturally, his fost one hasn't the hop it used to have, and his famous drop ball lacks the old zip. but like many another old timer. he has enough baseball brains to carry him over many a tough spot.
 O'Mara On Receiving End
 Pete, before entering professional ball. had Paddy OMara of this city IS his battery mate and their serv- ices were much in demand through out ConenctiCut. They were we'll known in Bristol, Plainville. Tor rington and other places where weekend games drew large crowds and rivalry between towns was of the kind the fans of today fre- quently hear of but seldom witness.
 OMara, who has been in the To- cal police department for several years. will never forget Pete Will sons drop ball. It came up to the plate like a fast, straight one, but just at the wrong second for the hitter, it broke sharply, thuddng into Paddy's big mitt a few inches from the ground. It was Pete's acc in the hole and often with men or bases he threw it three times to eacf batter, not even taking the precau- ton of mixing in a waste" ball, SC confident was he that he could foo the batsman. Of course, he was fooled some of the time, but in the majority of pinches he came out on the right end Of the duel.
 When he started with Hartford in the Connecticut league. New Britain was not represented, but local fans went by trolley cars and trains to Meriden, New Haven and other cit ies about the circuit when he was scheduled to pitch. He was colorful as most left handlers are, and like the majority of them, he was wild when he was not right. AS a rule it did not require an experienced eye to detect his condition, for he gen orally went through a game in the manner in which he started. If he was going to be good. the first ter batters knew it by the way his stuff whizzed up at them, but il he was going to have bad day, the opposing players thought more o1 their ability to duck out of the way than anything else.
 Favorite In This City
 On August 8. 1905. Pete was 1T the box for Hartford in state league game in Meriden and a good ly number of New Britain fans were in the stands to see him. Only { kid. he seemed out of place in tht center of the diamond with experi enced players surrounding him, ant on that particular day he was hi hard, so hard, in fact, that the take , him out cry went up before the game was an inning old. His bat , tery mate was a smart fellow nameC , Doran, and he did all he could tt hold him down but it was no use Not even Paddy O'Mara, who knev him better than anyone who haC caught him up to that time, coulC have kept him right, and the Hart
 ford manager, for some reason bes : known to himself, left him on tht mound to take his drubbing. Owe
 20 hits were garnered off him, th' 9 Meridenites whaling his drop anC : his fast one to all corners of the lot | Promising Pitchers
 Undoubtedly, Pete recalls the day T of q quarter century ago as do hun . dreds of New Britainites who pro
 fess never to have seen his equal iy