A Ball Player's Career: Being the Personal Experiences and Reminiscensces of Adrian C. AnsonAnson, Adrian C. (Adrian Constantine)
History
A Ball Player's Career: Being the Personal Experiences and Reminiscensces of Adrian C. Anson
Anson, Adrian C. (Adrian Constantine)
Baseball
Harry Wright, the captain of the Boston Reds, was even then the oldest
ball player among the Argonauts, he having played the game for twenty
years, being a member of the old Knickerbockers when many of his
companions had not as yet attained the dignity of their first pair of
pants. He was noted, too, as a cricketer of no mean ability, having
succeeded his father as the professional of the famous St. George Club
long before he was ever heard of in connection with the National Game.
As an exponent of the National Game he first became noted as the captain
of the celebrated Red Stocking Club of Cincinnati, a nine that went
through the season of 1869, playing games from Maine to California
without a single defeat. As captain and manager of a ball team Mr.
Wright had few equals, and no superiors, as his subsequent history in
connection with the Boston and Philadelphia Clubs will prove. He was a
believer in kind words and governed his players more by precept and
example than by any set of rules that he laid down for their guidance.
As a player at the time of this trip he was still in his prime and could
hold his own with any of the younger men in the outfit, while his
knowledge of the English game proved almost invaluable to us. Harry
Wright died in 1895, and when he passed away I lost a steadfast friend,
and the base-ball world a man that was an honor in every way to the
profession.
A.G. Spalding was at that time justly regarded as being one of the very
best pitchers in the profession, and from the time that he first
appeared in a Boston uniform until the time that he left the club and
cast his fortunes with the Chicagos he was a great favorite with both
press and public. As Harry Chadwick once wrote of him, "In judgment,
command of the ball, pluck, endurance, and nerve in his position he had
no superior." He could disguise a change of pace in such a manner as to
deceive the most expert batsman, while as a scientific hitter himself he
had few superiors. He had brains and used them, and this made him a
success not only as a ball player but as a business man. As a
manufacturer and dealer, Mr. Spalding has acquired a world-wide
reputation, and it is safe to say that none glory in his success more
than do his old associates on the ball field.
James O'Rourke, or "Jim," as we all called him, was a splendid ball
player and especially excelled in playing behind the bat and in the
outfield, which position he played for many years. A sure catch, an
active fielder, a good thrower, and a fine batsman, O'Rourke was always
to be relied upon. Born of Irish parentage, he hailed from the Nutmeg
State and was when I last heard of him in business at Bridgeport, Conn.,
and reported as doing well. He was a quiet, gentlemanly young fellow,
blessed with a goodly share of Irish wit, and a rich vocabulary of
jawbreaking words.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account