The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-10-16

Only a fence could stop the flight Of
the ball, but there was no fence
around the park. Storey always q
ried a ball in his shirt. In going after
the ball, Storey turned his back to
and pretended that he had touched
the hit ball. He an after the substi-
tutde sphere, picked it up, and threw
to second, the ball arriving at the key
stone sack before Murphy, who In the
role of hero, leisurely wended his way
along the paths. The umpire called
Murphy out. Storey ea h;sa 70 me Ans.
q hasty exit from the grounds. before
the umpire would have a chance to
change his mind. Murphy was as mad
as a March hare. He protested Violent
ly, as did his mates. They argued for
minutes, while the Anaconda team
was on the way back to town. Butte
lost to Storey and Anaconda hat day.
Cleared Dual Record
In 1902, Tom Bird Joined the Boze-
man club. He had played on the Mich
igan team in the spring season. He
had another year to 60 at Ann Arbor.
Bird was named captain Of the Sweet
Pea gang. Livingston and Bozeman had
a baseball rivalry that was second to
none at the time. Both teams were
loaded with imported talent. The diff
He had baseball at" He knew what
to do. He was tricky-clever with his
thickness.
In 1902, Golfers was interested in
urging college athletics Of professional
ism. An article dealt with Bird, point
ing out that he was taking money for
playing at Bozeman; that he had been
paid by and played for Anaconda, un-
der the name of Bert Storey; that he
played at Michigan as an amateur;
and that he was ineligible, though elect
ed at captain of the wolverine varsity.
The magazine indicted Bird on several
| counts. Bird cleared himself Of the
charges. An apology, was received. Bird
admitted that he played at Anaconda
under an alias, but proved that he did
so because his parents were opposed
to his playing baseball Mt the time. He
received no money for his ball-playing,
but held down a job at the smelter.
When he played at Michigan, and sub
sequently at Bozeman, where he worked,
he used his right name.
Recall 'O2 Baseball Wars
Visiting Bozeman recently, I famed
with r.. Emmett Brown, a prominent
citizen of that city. We talked about
! Bird and the Bozeman teams of 'O2-03.
Brown played on the Bozeman team,
and. as far as I know. is the only n
of the playing crowd who has continued
to make Bozeman his home. Brown
couldn't say enough about the ability
located at Tolt, Wash, and has his
single out as a lawyer.
Bird, while catchin, aided pitchers
in accumulating s~trikeoutS. He had
a knack Of permitting his glove to
defect the bat as it left the shoulder
of the batSman. He was a chatterboX
and conducted a constant CONVERSE
ton with opposing batSmen.
Anaconda and Bozeman fans Of old
days will tell you that Bird was some
pumpkins as a ball player. The fans
of Livingston and Butte will tell you
the same story, but they will be less
enthusiastic, because Bird caused them
to lose many bets.
Butte Men At Big Fight
Four of us were sitting in a drawing
room of a train going to Chicago, play
second Dempsey Tunney fight. The
foursome was the late Joe Mudro, Jim
Mcguire Of Anaconda, Jack Dover and
the writer. The two best players had
no trouble taking money away from
Mcguire and Dover. accomplished pitch
players, though playing out of their
class. As this isn't a pitch story, I'll
owe on with my work.
-Four more Butte fellows and the
pitch-playing quartet were part Of the
biggest fight crowd in history. We aided
in making it the biggest gate Of all time.
It was q show OF shows, for the crowd
made it so, plus that seventh round
Touchdown, and the strong rallies of
Tunney in the closing rounds. The
Larry Duggan, Drs. Carl Horst and
Jim Mccarthy, DUR foursome, and a
number of other M%ontanans was in
vited to two potential parties that
would follow the fight; one for Demp-
Sey, If he won, and one for Tunney,
should he successfully defend the title.
The parties were booked at different
hotels.
Guests of Al Capone
There was only one party, but it was
a party from all accounts. I passed it
up, as a previous engagement claimed
my time. All others Of the Butte gang
went to the Tunney midnight celebra-
ton dinner. I'm only sorry that I
didn't.
Not until the party was we'll under
way was it known who the host was.
There were senators, governors, con:
gressmen,, business and professional
men, sports writers, fighters, promoters,
admirals, generals and gangsters at
the party-and, of course-the host,
whose lame is Al Capone, now a resi-
dent of California-Alcatraz, to be ex-
act.
It was a bacchanalian feast. Wine
was pouring like water; d~elicacies made
up the bill of fare; radio, screen and
stage stars were the entertainers. At
least 400 INDUCED in the festivities,
with many men of prominence trying
to crash the gate. It was a party that
started at midnight and didn't break
up until most Chicago people had eaten
their breakfasts.
An Historic Party
It vas Joe Mudro who dug up the
invitations. Joe and Dempsey were
great pals. Dempsey told Joe to bring
along his gang to the Sherman hotel,