The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-08-14

wood; Miles City and Glendive; Butte
and Anaconda; Missoula and Hamil-
ton; Bozeman, Dillon and Livingston,
and many others. Baseball rivalries
these days of the sos. Time was when
an up-and-coming town was compelled
to have a good baseball team if its
sister cities were so equipped.
In 1910, Billings and Laurel had semi
pro teams. Fred Strip was the over
the catcher. Fred had a voice that
could be heard beyond the fence. he
was belligerent; smart, too. He would
not only bait the opposing pitcher, but
also the umpires, and the Billings fans.
Near Fatality Saved Riot
One day it seemed that Strip had
overstretched the bounds in Causing
trouble. Billings and Laurel were play
ing in a tight game on the Billings lot.
Fred. III had the CUTS of a mule. was
injecting his fiery personality in almost
every play. He was warned by Billings
fans that he would be given the buns
rush after the game. That and other
threats only caused Strip to step on
the gas with his protests and belliger-
ent tactics. There was no question
about it, Strip would need police pro-
lection.
Along came the ninth inning, with
the score tied. Turk" Deshler, Laurel
shortstop, beat out a scratch hit. Strip
was up. He had three bats on his Shoul-
der. Just before he advanced to the
plate, two of the maces were tossed
aside. With the one remaining bat, Fred
faced the gfandStand and swung at
an imaginary ball, shouting Here goes
followed.
On the first ball pitched by Jack
keenan,, Billings hurler, Strip was
hit m fhA bad III srpc< fall 10 Tho
ground.
Served the big stiff right" shouted
some pro-Billings booster. A few agreed
with him. When Strip was carried
from the field and rushed to a hos
pital, there wasn't much shouting
while the last inning was being played,
though Billings won
Strip Butte Player Later
For several days Strip remained un-
conscious. The hospital was besieged
with inquiries as to Strips condition.
Billings interest in Strip was sincere.
A few weeks later, Strip again ap-
peared at the helm of the Laurel team
in a game at Billings. At this, and liter
games, Strip was just as %belligerent as
before. Billings fans were kindlier:
Fred's aggresSiveness was admired, even
if his taunts and goat getting" were
not. The accident to Strip In that
particular game might have prevented
a riot.
Strip caught for Butte when Hon
est John McCloskey' managed the team
in 1912.
A few years later, Billings and Laurel
teams were playing at Laurel. The Bill
lings team walked off the field as a
result of a decision given by a Laurel
umpire in a close play. For a week or
more some Laurel business men boy
cotted the Billings wholesale houses.
With a boycott on, the fans were miss
ing their fun, so relations n fights
were resumed again.
JUNEY MINES LEAGUE CARD
Butte and Anaconda baseball parks
would be jammed when Frank Juney
was slated to pitch for the Anodes in
Mines league days. Particularly was
of Butte faced Juney.
It was charged by rabid Butte fans
that Juney was doctoring the ball, re-
sorting to illegal methods. Be that as
it may, Juney certainly a something
on the ball. Few were the hits made off
his delivery; fewer were the runs he
permitted to be scored.
Those were the grand days OF the
Mines league, when m man, Frank
Juney, had the two cities baseball mad.
Juney in a baseball uniform, raGlated
confidence. He was always the boss
when he pitched, and paraded that
fact. Off the field, Frank Juney was
a mild-mannered chap, who tended to
certainly respected. Try and recall the
many pitching "hotshots" of the old
Mines league. AnyOne'S list may over
look a few of the star hurlers, but
everyone's will carry Juney's name.
BLACK SOX IN MONTANA
White or Black sox baseball scandal,
Plentywood and Scobey put on a two
year baseball war. "Swede" Rissberg,
who shortstopped for the White Sox
was invited to manage n OF the
teams. He brought along a collection
Of ball players who knew their stuff.
Happy" Felch was with Rissberg.
What was true in this regard Of n
town, also held for the other bailiwick.
Donaldson, the great colored hurler,
was on the Plentywood payroll.
There wasn't a game played between
these clubs that weren't heavy betting
affairs. The clubs were being strength
ened every week. until the financial
of Montana's colorful baseball rivalries
was backed out of the picture.
Art Sickler at Forsyth, was the
angel as well as manager of base
ball teams. At Roundup various
managers-"Red" Sanders, Hap
py" Kibble, Bassett and a few
others-matched lineups and bank
rolls with Sickler for many years.
All week the fans would talk base
ball. Sundays and holidays everyone
and his brother would be at the base
ball park, when Roundup and Forsyth
played. Bets, arguments, insults, these
were the spices used to fan the base
ball fires that Forsyth and Roundup
loved sc well.
LIVINGSTON VS.. BOHEMIAN
Bozeman and Livingston. rs miles
LEGISLATORS REFUSED JOBS
The state board Of examiners has announced
that 1t win disapprove Of payment Of salaries