The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-05

ball went away over the fence for a home run. That was July 10. 1889 and the first ball ever batted over the fence of the new Polo Grounds. Some clothing concerns gave me a suit of clothes for this feat and some old rich fellow said that he would buy me diamond ring. The ring is coming.
 "Those were great old days in the
 Metropolis and times that 1 shall never forget. Some company offered to give every man on the team gall lon of Ponds Extract every time ] they made 8 home run. My room was so full of the stuff that I could hardly turn around in it and every day or so someone would leave a gallon of the extract at the door. I had enough of it to go into the wholesale business. That reminds River. Some concern there offered to give every man new hat chat made home run. l stayed there only few weeks and carried away seven new hats when I left. 1 have lost many a good ball by putting it over the old 10th street fence.
 'I stayed with New York until 1892 and then went to Philadelphia for a time. Then 1 came back and they offered to trade Boyle, catcher, and Starott, a pitcher. for me. Then 1 signed with the Amer ican league and after that the two leagues came together and 1 was transferred to the National league. In 1894,I was leading the New York club in batting but on account of q per sonal matter with John M. Ward, a man named Doyle was put in my place. About this time St Louis wanted a first baseman and Treas urer Talcott told me that 1 could accept the offer or not, just as 1 wished, but my salary would cor- Finally I went to St Louis and re- mained there from 1895 to 1897.
 ''St Louis had poor club during the latter part of my stay with them and one day took notion that I was tired of playing there and quit. l can back home and went down to Madison for a little vacation by the salt water. I hadn't been there long when I received a telegram signed by every member of the Si Louis team, asking me to join them at Washington on their eastern trip and help them out. Well, I joined them at Washington and it was a tough game. The score was tied, two men were out and the bases full. I batted out a home run and won the game. l took the remainder of the trip with the boys and fin- ihsed the season there.
 In 1898 I bought the Waterbury team and won the state champion ship that year. In 1899 l took sec- ond place and in 1900 we were lead- two of my pitchers were injured and put me into a bad hole. We took second place that year and my plans for the next season hadn't been made"
 In the Older Days.
 As recalled by a friend of half a century, MT Connor played baseball when the old Rose Hills and Moni- tors were strong amateur clubs in Waterbury. These two clubs created much interest in baseball for many years. so much so that factories would close at an hour early enough to allow the help to attend the games at the West End grounds. As his friend expresses 1t, Those were the days w hen young men played base ball for the glory there was in it rather than any thoughts of finan- cial remuneration" Thomas F. Hal pin of Washington street, expressed heartfelt grief last night at news of the death of his old friend and team mate. He said: Roger Connor was man of excellent character. and l was proud to know him and to have played with him. He was a credit to the city of his birth nd an honor to the national sport m which he held a leading place whom baseball was in its infancy in tine United States"
 Besides his daughter Mrs Col well. the deceased is survived by two brothers Joseph of this city and Matthew of New Haven. and one sister, Mrs !. C. Slattery of New Fla. ven, in addition to several nephews | and nieces.