Hoople's Estate

New York, 1895

The News of Queens.

The late William H. Hoople left an estate valued at $442,500.

Miss Phebe Hendrickson gave a sociable to her friends on Wednesday evening.

The Queens bicycle club had their initial run of the season on Sunday to Rockaway Beach.

Highway Commissioner Frank J. Lott gave a supper to The Penochle club at Barb's hotel on Wednesday evening.

The Queens field club and the Crystals of Mott Haven will play a game of base ball on the Athletic grounds on Saturday afternoon.

Miss Mary Graff, daughter of Anthony Graff, and John Stumpler were married at the residence of the bride's parents at Creedmoor on Wednesday evening.

The public school closed for the summer months last Friday. It is rumored that Miss Tallman and Mr. Hallock, teachers at the school will not return.

The Rev. J. S. N. Demarest, of the Reformed church, and the Rev. Charles P. Tinker of the Floral Park Methodist church, exchanged pulpits Sunday morning.

The Kaffe Klatsch club, composed of the lady residents of Queens, Mrs. George Haubitzer, president, held a meeting at the residence of Mrs. Richard Duryea in Brooklyn on Wednesday.

The field sports at the Athletic grounds on July 4th for the benefit of Thomas Lloyd, owner of the grounds, will consist of throwing the ball, and running bases by members of the Field Club, bicycle races, potato race and a game of base ball between the Field Club and the Floral Park nine. There will be a display of fireworks in the evening.

The statement in THE FARMER last week, that the Reformed church had contributed $258.99 to benevolence during the year, did not do the church justice. The sum stated was all that the church treasurer put in his annual report, but the total of the gifts to benevolence, Mr. Demarest says, was $573.08.

The game of baseball on Saturday between the Coronas and the Field club was a splendid exhibition of scientific playing by amateurs. The Queens boys won the game in the fifth inning by bunching their hits, bringing home four runs. The features of the game were a difficult one hand stop by Nichols, and the pitching of Darman and Richardson. The score was 9 to 8.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, June 28, 1895, p. 8.

He Discovered the Curve

1895

An Old Brooklyn Player Brought About a Revolution In Baseball.

It is said that a Brooklyn man, Arthur Cummings, a member of the Amateur Stars in 1867, was the discoverer of the curve that has revolutionized baseball and made it so largely a pitcher's game. Murnane, member of the famous old Boston team of 1877, says that Cummings became a professional about 1872, and played in the Hartford, Cincinnati and other clubs until 1878, when he retired from pitching.

He was of light build, and bore the nickname Candy. He stood 5 feet 8, and had a remarkably long arm and long fingers.

"Cummings," said Murnane, "was one of the few men to this day who could make a ball curve with a pendulum or underhand swing, and his curve was the widest I ever saw.

"For the last seven years after this discovery, Mr. Cummings had the field to himself, and was looked upon as the phenomenon of the times.

"Having faced all the great pitchers from 1871 to 1879, I was well posted on the progress of the pitcher's art. In the spring of 1879 I was in Albany, connected with the club of that city, where Mr. Cummings was acting as manager, now and then playing a game.

"During a reminiscent chat one evening Mr. Cummings told of his triumphs with the curve on the fields around Brooklyn. I was interested, and asked how he learned to get the ball to curve.

"'Purely accidental,' said he. 'I never heard of such a thing, and couldn't believe my own eyes at first.

"'I was pitching to some boys in the open lots outside of Brooklyn, where I lived, one afternoon, and noticed the ball would work away from their bats. I was pitching easy, for in those days you were obliged to keep your arm straight.

"'The idea came to me that by snapping the ball with the wrist I could get it to sail away from the batter. When I went home that night, I commenced to think about what effect the twisting of a pitched ball would have, and went out the next day to show some friends what I had discovered, and, to my astonishment, the ball would go perfectly straight, and I went home that night disgusted.

"'In two or three days I went out again and found I could get the same curve as the first day, and after experimenting for awhile I learned that the wind was blowing slightly against the ball as on the first day, and that a fast ball would not curve as well as one thrown in at a medium pace.

"'I worked on the secret the rest of that season, and the next spring had all the amateur clubs after me.'

"Mr. Cummings was at that time working hard, trying to invent a coupling for steam cars, and had about given up the idea of following baseball as a profession. I have never heard of this player making any statement before or since of how he discovered the way to curve a baseball, and being thoroughly interested in the subject I can remember the description as if it were made but yesterday." — New York Press.

Can Ty Cobb Hold His Crown As Baseball's Greatest Star?

(Click the graphic for a better view.)

1920

Hugh Jennings Admits That His Best Player Is Slowing Up a Trifle at Running Bases and Declares That Georgia Wonder Is Fully Aware of Fact.

Is Ty Cobb slipping? Will the old master of baseball, the king of swat and run, be able to maintain the terrific pace he has set for years as the greatest star the game has ever known?

For years the downfall of the Georgia Peach has been predicted. Each winter some gloomy gentleman rose to announce that Ty Cobb was done, that his baseball days were numbered, that American League crowds would have to find another hero on whom to shower their praises — and money. And just as surely as spring came each year Ty has laughed to scorn the mournful prophets by his glittering work at the bat, on the bases and in the outfield for the Detroit Tigers. During the past twelve years he has led the organization no less than eleven times in swatting honors, once being nosed out by a narrow margin by Tris Speaker. And even that "losing" year Cobb batted well above .350.

At the same time he was the leading base runner of his league, beside being one of the greatest outfielders of the game.

So to repeat the ancient prophecy anent the imminent downfall of Tyrus Raymond again this winter might seem a risky prediction, if it wasn't for the fact that Ty's own manager, Hugh Jennings, has admitted in Cobb's home town, Detroit, that the Georgia wonder is slipping a trifle. What's more, Jennings declares that Cobb himself is fully aware of the sad fact.

"I noticed it on the bases," said Hugh, at a banquet given in Detroit for Bill Coughlin, one of the old Tigers, but now a minor league manager. "In other years when Cobb tried to steal a base, it was a toss-up whether he was out or safe if the play was perfect. He made work tough for all the umpires, for, with all things equal, it was ever the closest of decisions and the hardest one that American League umpires had to make.

"But last summer Ty was being thrown out quite regularly. Where the play looked like a tie in other years, it was now a matter on which only one conclusion could come. I am talking about perfect throws from the catcher, the kind that he always beat or tied. He was not beating them this year.

"Ty looked as fast as ever in the field, but, of course, it is impossible to tell whether or not a man is slowing up by his fielding. That is the last place where it shows. You can tell, tho, on the bases, for that is one place where the least slowing up will register accurately.

"Of course, you also realize that in spite of this perceptible slowing up Cobb is still the greatest player in the game today; he is that by long and far. The beauty about him is that he went so high that he can continue coming down for several years and still have the edge on other players. He can continue playing for years and years and still rank on top."

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 10.

Baseball Veteran Stands Grind Best

1920

HAVE EDGE ON THE YOUNGSTER IN LONG SERIES.

Reports From Major Leagues Show Old-timers Playing Steadily in Every Game.

Reports on continuous service by major league players in the past season bring out the interesting fact that the veterans best stood the daily grind. In the National League four players took part in every game with their clubs. They were Jake Daubert, whose legs were supposed to be so bad a couple of years ago that he would have to quit; George Cutshaw, Pittsburgh's seasoned second sacker; Fred Luderus, who is anything but a youth, and Rogers Hornsby, who has outgrown his kid days. It is a coincidence that all four are infielders.

The American League has just twice as many players who were in every game their clubs engaged in. The league champion White Sox, the Cleveland Indians and the Yankees had two apiece, and the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox one each.

Eddie Collins and Buck Weaver are the Sox who took part in the club's 140 games; Larry Gardner and Bill Wambsganss are the Indians, and Frank Baker and Duffy Lewis are the Yankees. Heilman and Scott are the other two.

It is noteworthy that seven of the eight players are infielders, making eleven out of the twelve in the two leagues.

Several of them have been in the big leagues from ten to fifteen years. Eddie Collins broke in in 1906. He was a shortstop and third baseman then. In 1909 he became Connie Mack's regular second baseman.

Since then he has run up a great record for steady play. Seven out of the nine seasons in which 154 games have been played he has been in 150 or more contests.

In 1915 he was in 155 games, and in 1917 156. In 1909-10-11-12 Collins had the greatest number of put-outs among second basemen, and in 1909 and 1910 the greatest number of assists. In 1909-10-11 he accepted the greatest number of chances.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 10.

Harry Potter, 55, Former Resident, Called by Death

Zanesville, Ohio, 1932

Former Agent for Union News Co. Local B. & O. Passenger Station

Friends here have been notified of the death of Harry Potter, 55, former well known resident of Zanesville, which occurred Friday morning at his home in Cincinnati. The funeral will be conducted there Monday afternoon and burial will be made in Cincinnati.

The deceased for a number of years was in charge of the Union News company's stand at the local Baltimore & Ohio passenger station, and left this city about six years ago. Shortly after leaving Zanesville he was badly injured in an automobile accident and since that time he had been in failing health.

Mr. Potter was an ardent sportsman and was a great baseball fan. He was also a race horse enthusiast and was well acquainted with prominent known sportsmen throughout the country. Surviving are his widow and one daughter, Miss Harriet Potter, all of the home.

—The Times Recorder, Zanesville, Ohio, April 23, 1932, p. 2.

Plan to Play Ice Baseball

1915

Big Leaguers Get a New Idea — Scheme In the Making

Winter baseball played on the ice by major leaguers will be offered to New York fans who can't get enough of the old ball game in the summer, if plans of the promoters pan out.

"Wild Bill" Donovan, Heine Zimmerman, Rube Oldring and Harry McCormick are the promoters, and they reason it this way:

The winter rent on the Polo grounds could be paid from the proceeds of the skating ball game; the games would be played on skates with an indoor baseball; the ice would benefit the sod of the field, and the tariff on pleasure skaters when games are not in progress would leave a nifty profit.

The plans are only in the making, however.


Athletics Sign Boy of Seven?

The claim has often been made that Connie Mack, manager of the Philadelphia American League team, signs his ballplayers when they are infants, and Jack Doyle, Chicago White Sox scout, claims to have the dope in one case.

"I got a tip on Davies, an outfielder," says Doyle, "watched him in several games and decided to sign him.

"I found he had been signed by Connie Mack when he was only 7 years old. He is only 17 now and was with Mack's team last season."

Device Will Interest Children Fond of Playing Marbles

1905

Science in the Nursery

This is a country of inventors and an age of machinery. Labor-saving devices enter not only into our work, but also our play, and in our nurseries as well as our shops.

The great American game of baseball has now a special piece of apparatus for nearly every player, and the mechanical ball tosser threatens to supplant the human pitcher. Elaborate devices are used in automobile speed contests, for accurate timing and mechanical starters are to be found on every race track.

The craze for mechanics has reached the nursery. One of the latest contrivances is a device for shooting marbles more accurately and with greater force than can be done by the bare knuckles of even the most expert youngster. The device consists of an arrangement of spring wire of a shape adapted to fit the hand and to engage the marble. By means of a thumb trigger the sphere is ejected as desired.

Display of Dead Wife's Ashes Angers Former Ballplayer

1915

Mike Donlin Demands Revenge in Court

Mike Donlin, who forsook the New York National League baseball club for the stage, asked Magistrate Simms in a New York court to punish Ray E. Frye for alleged desecration of the ashes of Mabel Hite, Donlin's deceased wife, an actress, who died in 1912.

The former baseball star charged that the employees of Campbell's undertaking establishment were guilty of disorderly conduct by utilizing the urn containing the actress' ashes as a "prop" in a "press agent frame-up" staged one night recently at Murray's restaurant in New York.

According to the testimony of Jack Best, coat room boy at the cafe, Frye came in for supper on the night in question, and left the carefully wrapped urn in his care with the admonition that he "Be careful of it because it may explode." Visions of concealed bombs prompted the boy to tell Patrick Kyne, manager of the restaurant, what Frye had told him. The urn containing the ashes was placed in a bucket of water and the police notified. Detective Egan got it and found it harmless and returned it. In the meantime Frye had left the restaurant without Mabel Hite's ashes.

Magistrate Simms dismissed the defendant after hearing the full testimony. Frye said that he was taking the urn to a new repository where it was to be left until Donlin gave orders for its disposal and that he had forgotten it when he left after his supper. He admitted having told the coat boy that it might explode, but said that he had done so to insure better care of it. Donlin and Kyne nearly came to blows in the corridor of the courthouse after the case had been tried.

Baseball Season Opens

1900

The opening of the baseball season" is a phrase which implies that the season opens everywhere at once. In reality, the season opens in our big country very much as the honey season for the bees, or the season of birds' singing, or the strawberry season, opens — that is to say, not long after New Year's day in Florida, and from that date on to a period several months later in northern Maine. Now that American soldiers have introduced the American game in Havana, San Juan, Manila and Iloilo, baseball has all seasons for its own.

Although general terms upon anything dependent on climate do not fit a country which extends from the arctic zone to the tropics, the statement may be regarded as approximately accurate that "the baseball season has opened." Baseball is an excellent and manly game, not especially dangerous, interesting, strategic, and well-adapted to the development of the body and the sharpening of the wits.

No game meets, with less harm, the natural demand for an out-of-door sport to act as a means of healthy athletic competition between schools and communities. But its very popularity and adaptability have led to grave abuses. If baseball had not been so interesting, so universal, it would not have gained the discredit which has come from a system of professionalism, a traffic in players, and a frequent display of rowdyism in the field.

Yet with all the discredit, which, after all, affects but a small proportion of the baseball-playing, the game is losing none of its popularity or its real value as an athletic sport, and the reopening of the baseball season is still a matter for rejoicing. — Youth's Companion.

"Strangler" Lewis Under Ban in Ohio

1920

Youngstown Promoters Want Wrestler Barred From the State

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — The Youngstown Boxing and Wrestling Commission took action which bars "Strangler" Lewis, the Chicago wrestler, from appearing in contests here, following presentations of a formal protest by Alex Thomas, wrestling promoter, charging Lewis with failure to appear for a scheduled bout here.

The commission also drafted a letter to all Municipal Boxing Commissions in Ohio asking their cooperation in barring Lewis from appearing in the State.

Lewis' non-appearance was his second offense here. He had signed articles to appear twenty-four hours in advance of the hour for the proposed exhibition. The match was called off when he sent a substitute.


Ball Star Grows Walnuts

"Wahoo Sam" Crawford Has Farm in California

DETROIT, Michigan — Wahoo Sam Crawford, former Tiger slugger, is no longer a barber shaving nuts in Wahoo, Nebraska. The veteran outfielder and slugger is raising 'em.

Sam is no longer a resident of Wahoo, where he entertained stove league fans between the strokes of the razor, but has moved to California, and is a neighbor of Red Killifer of the Cubs, at Hollywood.

He has eleven acres of walnuts and is making money off the ranch. Sam played with the Los Angeles club last season and battled .360.

English Slang A Riddle

1914

Language of Cricket Game as Confusing as American Report of Baseball Game

Why so much slang should accompany the report of a baseball game is a mystery of America that no Englishman has ever solved. Really, you know, it's quite absurd; and a jolly bit confusing, old chap.

Of course, baseball slang is confusing to the stranger to the game, but an Englishman should never criticize our baseball slang, as Arnold Bennett, W. L. George and many others have done. Cricket slang is just as confusing, just as foolish to stranger ears — and, no doubt, just as essential to the game.

In describing the recent Eton and Harrow match at Lord's, a big event in the cricket season, the London Sphere uses a few phrases that sound like an American sporting page:

"The bat must have come forward crooked and it is not surprising to see the leg stump turning cartwheels.

"The best ball sent down in the match. It started well outside the off stump, swerved inward late in its flight, and fairly fizzled off the pitch in its new direction.

"Amory got most of his runs by beating the ball to the boundary in front of square leg, and he was not a bit particular about the line on which the ball was pitched. Several went from outside off stump, but this one pitched on his pads. Oates, behind the wicket, jumped to the leg side to save the possible bye. Eventually Amory tried one cow shot too many and the middle stump went for a walk."

Note About Some of Our Town Folk

Stevens Point, Wisconsin, May 22, 1907

Concert size cylinder records, six inches in length, containing the latest songs and most popular music, just received by Reton Bros. & Co.

Pupils of Miss Helen Marie Hein will give a piano and violin recital at her home at 8 o'clock this evening. Fifteen members of her advanced class will participate in the program.

Mrs. John Hawn, who has been a patient at St. Mary's hospital in Milwaukee during the past few weeks, is steadily improving and it is expected that she can return home within another week.

Marty Lee returned Sunday morning from Crystal Falls, Mich., after an absence of several months. Marty will remain here during the summer, being employed at his trade as a plumber, and will catch for the local base ball club.

A spark from a passing locomotive or from the foundry furnace ignited a moulding cast in the yards adjoining the John Rice foundry at about 4 o'clock Saturday afternoon. The department was summoned, but no damage resulted.

A richly furnished, rubber tired and leather upholstered opera coach has been added to the livery equipment of John W. Archibald, the enterprising Strongs avenue hustler.

Henry Coll, a Chicago architect, is engaged in preparing the plans for the proposed Polish brewery, and it is expected they will be ready for the contractors in a short time.

Jas. A. Bremmer, the one armed veteran of the civil war who has been in poor health all winter, suffering with stomach trouble, left here last Monday for Minneapolis to take treatment in a hospital. It is hoped that Mr. Bremmer will return fully recovered.

An enormous log drive, the largest of many years, in charge of forty men, was started at Tomahawk on Monday, May 13th, the logs being destined for Merrill, Wausau and other points along the Wisconsin river.

E. O. Westerfield, of Hatley, visited here Friday and Saturday with his brother-in-law, Dr. W. H. Wilson. The latter spent Sunday at Hatley and secured a nice string of brook trout during a few hours fishing.

—The Gazette, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, May 22, 1907.

Baseball's Early Days – Different Rules and Pitching

1916

THE PITCHER'S BOX

In Baseball's Early Days It Was Just a Line Twelve Feet Long

Up to 1857, or for eighteen years after the first game of baseball was played, there was no limit to the number of innings, the first side scoring twenty-one runs, or "aces," as they were then called, being the winner. In 1857, however, the game was divided into nine innings. The pitcher had a line twelve feet long, kept behind it and could take a short run before his delivery, just the same as is permitted in cricket today.

In 1863 the old "line" for the pitcher to stand behind was done away with and the twirler limited to a "box" twelve feet long and four feet wide, but in this area he could roam at will and throw from whatever spot he pleased. A few years later the "box" was made six feet square, and in 1876 it was again reduced to four feet wide and six feet long. Ten years later it was made a foot longer and a foot wider and in 1887 cut down in length to five and one-half feet.

These "boxes" being always a source of much change and discussion, they were finally abolished altogether and a rubber slab 12 by 4 inches took their place, the pitcher being required to keep his back foot against the slab. This slab was enlarged to two feet by six inches in 1895 and has remained the same since. — Philadelphia Bulletin.

Editorial Briefs and Wit

1921

A boy begins to feel the limitations of the female sex, when he comes home and his mother fails to appreciate the greatness of the fact that he caught an outfield fly.

On these hot days the men rush for relief to the soft drink places, while perspiring women look around anxiously for a beauty parlor.

In view of the fact that the debts of Europe are now computed at the very considerable sum of $956,543,784,528,639,073,729.46, it would not be advisable for Congress to spend the money they owe us until we get it.

Not many candidates for public office are studying government problems, but a lot of 'em are out shaking hands.

Many people think the school children should have free lunch which they already get now out of the cookie jar when they get home.

The glass business should be good now, with all these baseballs coming through the kitchen windows of Dolton and Riverdale during school vacation time.

One of the longest distances known to exist in this country is from home plate to left field fence.

Formerly the college students burned midnight oil preparing for their college exams; now they burn it writing to their flapper friends.

The public tendency to sympathize with the under dog is not manifested in the case of the baseball umpire.

Some people seem to think they can solve the problems that confront the nation by hollering at campaign rallies.

The generous and warm hearted sentiment is expressed that somebody else should contribute to the Near East famine sufferers.

—The Pointer, Riverdale/Dolton, Illinois, July 21, 1922, page 4.

Babe Ruth Sold to the Yankees for $100,000

1920

"BABE" RUTH SOLD TO THE YANKEES FOR $100,000

By United Press Leased Wire

New York.—-George "Babe" Ruth, king home run hitter of all times, will play right field next season for the Yankees. The services of the star slugger were surrendered by the Boston Red Sox for a sum said to exceed $100,000.

Harry Frazee, former owner of baseball's biggest drawing card, was forced to the sale, he said, because the Red Sox were fast becoming a one man team and he could not meet the demands of the pitcher-fielder for $20,000 a year.

Miller Huggins, manager of the Yankees, is now in California with a contract for his new player. The manager has not made known what salary will be offered Ruth.

--The Appleton Daily Post, Appleton, Wisconsin, January 6, 1920, page 7.

Comment: And so the famous curse of the Bambino began!

The Death of the World's Largest Human

1912--

DEATH OF WORLD'S LARGEST HUMAN

"Baby" Bliss Is Found Dead in His Home -- Accidentally Asphyxiated.

BLOOMINGTON, Ill., Jan. 4 -- Leonard (Baby) Bliss, reputed the largest man in the world, was found dead in his home today. Neighbors found his frozen body seated in a chair with gas escaping from a gas stove. He had been dead several days.

It is believed he arose several nights ago to get warm and in some way accidentally opened the jet.

He was born here in 1865. His dimensions were:

Height, 6 feet, 4 inches; waist, 72 inches; hips, 88 inches; chest, 66 inches; thigh, 42 inches; calf, 27 Inches; collar, 21 inches; hat, 7 5-8; sox, 12½; shoes 13; weight, 540.

Bliss was well known in America and Europe, having toured both continents as a salesman for a bicycle factory.

He also was at various times with circuses. Last summer he spent several weeks on the road with a "fat man's baseball team."

--The Billings Gazette, Billings, Montana, January 5, 1912, page 5.