1880-7-01 Account of CA baseball from beginning
http://minorleagueresearcher.blogspot.com/2005/12/baseball-in-early-calirornia-1.html 1878-83
http://minorleagueresearcher.blogspot.com/2005/12/baseball-in-early-calirornia-1.html 1878-83
Calls Billy Incell first great California-bred pitcher - Fred McKenzie first African-American CA pro
http://minorleagueresearcher.blogspot.com/2005/12/baseball-in-early-california-3.html 1886-87
schedule expanded to 70 games in 1888
schedule expanded to 70 games in 1888
1881-11-05 pic + profile of L.N. David
batting averages
1879 California League
1879 California League
5-25 California 3, Mutual 2.
6-01 Oakland 10, Mutual 6.
1880 California League
Carlos Bauer-compiled stats
1880-3-16 uniforms
1880-4-07 Bay Cities are costliest team in league - McVey relegated to first base - Preble & Stewart replaced by eastern pros
7-01 "League formed with agreement that Saturday afternoon games should be played at the Oakland grounds, corner of Center and 14th Streets, and Sunday games at the San Francisco Recreation Grounds." Bay Cities have left league for Pacific League because agreement broken - clubs were trying to get all games played in San Francisco.
7-03 down to two clubs
1880-4-06 double play made.
1880 California League
Carlos Bauer-compiled stats
1880-3-16 uniforms
1880-4-07 Bay Cities are costliest team in league - McVey relegated to first base - Preble & Stewart replaced by eastern pros
7-01 "League formed with agreement that Saturday afternoon games should be played at the Oakland grounds, corner of Center and 14th Streets, and Sunday games at the San Francisco Recreation Grounds." Bay Cities have left league for Pacific League because agreement broken - clubs were trying to get all games played in San Francisco.
7-03 down to two clubs
1880-4-06 double play made.
1880-4-07 battery arrives from east
6-20 Clubs are bad - public opinion agrees
7-01 Pacific League plays at Oakland grounds
1881 New California League
on BR guy spelled Rowan in news actually Rowen
6-20 Clubs are bad - public opinion agrees
7-01 Pacific League plays at Oakland grounds
1881 New California League
on BR guy spelled Rowan in news actually Rowen
all games played at Oakland Baseball Grounds on Sundays location of park
4-12 field being greatly improved
note: California League - w/ Athletics, Renos, Knickerbockers - diff league
note: California League - w/ Athletics, Renos, Knickerbockers - diff league
3-20 field sustained damage over winter due to unauthorized gypsy usage
3-24 to use Spaulding balls and Wallace scorebooks - before each game, $10 to be put into championship fund
I have boxes for 25 games
MG California Wallace
I have boxes for 25 games
MG California Wallace
4-3 Mystics 9, Californias 1 - Californias make 20 errors - bad game
Wallace is a Sunday school scholar - played last year as Russell
Wallace is a Sunday school scholar - played last year as Russell
"Of the Mystics, Megan, the pitcher, appeared to be the most promising player, and, though not at all brilliant in delivery, even appearing awkward at times, he possesses a knack of puzzling the batter that will make him a valuable acquisition to any nine should he improve with practice.
4-10 no game - only CASL
A no game
4-24 large crowd - fans in trees etc. - as game progressed began to leave bc of badness - wanted $ back
Wallace, "the young gentleman who fears maternal chastisement for Sabbath-breaking so much that he players under an assumed name." played well today - has good club - listed w/ 3 doubles but only 1 hit
paragraph heading: "Absolute Irredeemable Badness" : on the fielding of Lamb (see 6-05)
Californias slay Mystics, 15-9
Wallace, "the young gentleman who fears maternal chastisement for Sabbath-breaking so much that he players under an assumed name." played well today - has good club - listed w/ 3 doubles but only 1 hit
paragraph heading: "Absolute Irredeemable Badness" : on the fielding of Lamb (see 6-05)
Californias slay Mystics, 15-9
"Cullen played an excellent game behind the bat, though from lack of practice his hands swelled AS LARGE AS A LEG OF MUTTON.
5-1 not more than 350 in crowd - even outside watchers small in #
"the sinewy arms of Moore" Rowan, c, may be one of top players on coast
Moore good til he gets tired; then he can fall apart. Box score correctly kept by new scorer of California club; the newspaper could not vouch for the previous box scores.
"the sinewy arms of Moore" Rowan, c, may be one of top players on coast
Moore good til he gets tired; then he can fall apart. Box score correctly kept by new scorer of California club; the newspaper could not vouch for the previous box scores.
5-8 Oaklands beats Mystics 12-4
Rowan made some fine catches but foul tips are beyond his ken
Incell, p, flustered by some umpiring decisions and did worse for it
Rowan made some fine catches but foul tips are beyond his ken
Incell, p, flustered by some umpiring decisions and did worse for it
5-15 Mystics, 7; Californias, 6
good attendance & crowd was engaged
scorer listed for 1st time: W.S. O'Brien
scorer listed for 1st time: W.S. O'Brien
5-22 Oaklands 13; Californias 3
failure of Californias due to ever-changing roster - Moore taken to outfield in 6th inning - but it doesn't say who replaced him - box has no extras
failure of Californias due to ever-changing roster - Moore taken to outfield in 6th inning - but it doesn't say who replaced him - box has no extras
Oaklands win 8-7 v. Mystics. Willey makes wonderful play in 7th - game goes to 12 innings - some confusion in box - Gagus listed as playing for Mystics in box, but for Oaklands in comments at one point. Tuttle listed in comments - not in box - it's clear from the batting tho that Tuttle was "Turner"
6-05 Californias win, 14-8, v. Mystics.
"Incell has a bad habit of getting nervous, and he allows the, perhaps, too-frequent comments of the small boys among the spectators to irritate him."
"Lamb, shortstop, was simply impotent, letting balls pass without even stooping to attempt to stop them."
"Incell has a bad habit of getting nervous, and he allows the, perhaps, too-frequent comments of the small boys among the spectators to irritate him."
"Lamb, shortstop, was simply impotent, letting balls pass without even stooping to attempt to stop them."
6-12 CALL played at Recreation Grounds - diff park
Oaklands beat Californias 5-4; no extra score; Rowen makes homer
Oaklands beat Californias 5-4; no extra score; Rowen makes homer
6-19 Oaklands beat Mystics, 6-5
high wind makes game less enjoyable - Mystics listed as having only 15 PO and 2 A - & the score adds up to even less - again - uses Tuttle & Turner interchangeably for same pitcher - BR lists BOTH
high wind makes game less enjoyable - Mystics listed as having only 15 PO and 2 A - & the score adds up to even less - again - uses Tuttle & Turner interchangeably for same pitcher - BR lists BOTH
6-26 Mystics beat Californias, 23-11
small attendance - general inattention of players to game. Murray hits two triples and a HR
small attendance - general inattention of players to game. Murray hits two triples and a HR
7-10 Mystics beat Oaklands, 9-1
"The change of pitchers from Incell to Meegan is not very much of a gain, if at all." Uh - Meegan allowed one run, the best pitching performance of anyone in the league since the first game of the season, when MEEGAN won 9-1. This was his first start since - wth.
"The change of pitchers from Incell to Meegan is not very much of a gain, if at all." Uh - Meegan allowed one run, the best pitching performance of anyone in the league since the first game of the season, when MEEGAN won 9-1. This was his first start since - wth.
Also - incredibly - Mystics did not make a single error.
7-17 Mystics 10, Californias 4.
+added game+ Lamb made good play (!) - only two errors per team
7-24 Oaklands 10, Californias 5. above average defense
7-31 Mystics 6, Oaklands 2. Incell pitches effective game. Sandy Nava makes debut.
8-07 Californias 11, Mystics 9. Says bc Mystics lost, championship given to Oaklands.
8-14 Oaklands 5, Californias 1. Redmond pitches good game.
8-21 Mystics 13, Oaklands 11. Meegan wins - but allows a bit more runs than prev. attempts.
the Mystics went to bat with the "best wishes of the fair sex present." Mystics were down 8-1 after two innings - stormed back. Oakland's championship chances jeopardized by loss.
the Mystics went to bat with the "best wishes of the fair sex present." Mystics were down 8-1 after two innings - stormed back. Oakland's championship chances jeopardized by loss.
8-28 Mystics 7, Californias 5. Carroll best player in the game. "Meegan, pitcher of the Mystics, is developing good method in his works, his specialty being curves and deceptive soft snaps." Creegan has little experience behind plate but is reliable, though he can never be trusted on for long throws to 2nd. Umpire makes terrible call on big convoluted rundown play.
standings listed
9-4 Oaklands 8, Californias 1. Redmond allows but one run v. Californias - for 2nd time
paltry attendance - Oaklands only make one error - w/ pitch count
paltry attendance - Oaklands only make one error - w/ pitch count
I think "strikes called" doesn't include outs. Some Chinese students watched part of game, attracting interest - they even applauded a double play.
9-11 no game
9-18 Mystics 10, Californias 8.
little interest in game by spectators or players until 6th inning when things livened up.
little interest in game by spectators or players until 6th inning when things livened up.
9-25 good ATT "Redmond pitched fine but his habit of asking judgement on every ball pitched is annoying both to spectators and to players."
10-02 Mystics 10, Oaklands 6.
"Incell's deceptive curves were very puzzling to the Oaklands" Scorer is Wally Wallace - I think that's why BR identifies Wallace as Wally Wallace, but I doubt they were the same.
1881 California League
3-27 Knickerbockers 7, Athletics 6.
500 or 600 ATT - Athletics are nearly all new players. On C. Sweeney : " His delivery is remarkably rapid, and comprises curves of all descriptions, from a plain half-circle to the letter S." T. Sweeney, at 3rd base, is "one of the finest throwers on the coast." J. Fitzhenry is a "delegate from the New York City Hall." On Athletic players: "one or two, unless considerable improvement is made, would do well to conclude that they are not predestined ball-tossers and pursue some other avocation for which they are better fitted."
"The Athletics appeared in whites, with green belts and blue clocked stockings, while the Knicks loomed up in bluish gray flannel suits with cardinal hose and canvas shoes."
"On the toss, the Athletics elected to go to bat"
Sweeney threw 263 pitches?
"When the Athletics went to the willow the mighty Reardon, speaking weightily, pitched in rather a wild, careless fashion, and seemed more occupied in keeping his immense stomach from bursting the confines of his blue shirt than watching the game."
1881-1882 Winter
11-27 Mystics 9, California 4. w/ Jerry Denny
Californias described as Wallace's pets - he must have still been managing even after he stopped playing
1882-1-08 Reno 10, California 8. w/ John Ward & Jerry Denny
1882
1882 CALL on BR
1882-3-24 Delegates present at first meeting & schedule for first quarter
1882-4-16 National 7, California 4.
1882-6-18 California 13, Niantic 6.
1882-9-17 Niantic 6, Reno 5.
1882-8-27 "John Cullen, an old ball-tosser and catcher of prominence, arrived from Marysville yesterday to take part in the benefit to be given to the veteran L.N. David at the Recreation Grounds this afternoon."
1882-8-27 box Haverlys 10, Athletics of '78 6.
1883 California League
1883-3-17 League rules. Three umpires hired.
1883-7-17 Pete Meegan went east on Friday to Actives of Philadelphia "at a liberal salary". Charley Gagus. Morris, recently of Haverlys, in east. California League down to three teams.
1883-8-19 Series for championship of league between Redingtons and Eureka begun.
1883 California State League
1883-7-17 Has formed - will first play on the 22nd at Recreation Park.
1884 California League
1884 CALL on Stats Crew
1884-10-07 interest in pro ball steadily increasing in SF, partly as a result of the closeness of the games.
Martin A. Mooney, player for Occidentals, killed in work-mishap. Has standings.
1884-7-27 first game Haverly 9, San Francisco 8
Not able to agree with $ demands of park owner, so playing on a vacant lot at the corner of Sutter and Pierce. 4
1884-9-21 Haverly 1, Occidental 0.
Incell throws no-hitter. About 500 in attendance.
1885 California League
1885 CALL on Stats Crew
1885-1-20 Schedule drawn up: runs from Jan 25. to Dec. 27
1885-2-10 Fine young catcher of Haverlys, Lewis Hardie, has moved to the country. Movement to reinstate black-listed Lawton.
1885-2-17 league is playing poorly so far - next week the eastern players in this city will play three games v. the California League prior to departure to east
1885-3-10 Occidental have two nines - Reds and Blues - Incell has wide reputation
1885-5-12 Last Sunday at picnic the Stars played the Enterprise club of the Central Park League for the prize of a "valuable rosewood baseball bat, silver mounted and appropriately inscribed." Enterprise won 6-2.
1885-6-04 Oakland club is made of CALL players
1885-8-10 next Sunday the Haverlys will play the Pioneers under auspices of CALL for $100/side
1883 California League
1883-3-17 League rules. Three umpires hired.
1883-7-17 Pete Meegan went east on Friday to Actives of Philadelphia "at a liberal salary". Charley Gagus. Morris, recently of Haverlys, in east. California League down to three teams.
1883-8-19 Series for championship of league between Redingtons and Eureka begun.
1883 California State League
1883-7-17 Has formed - will first play on the 22nd at Recreation Park.
1884 California League
1884 CALL on Stats Crew
1884-10-07 interest in pro ball steadily increasing in SF, partly as a result of the closeness of the games.
Martin A. Mooney, player for Occidentals, killed in work-mishap. Has standings.
1884-7-27 first game Haverly 9, San Francisco 8
Not able to agree with $ demands of park owner, so playing on a vacant lot at the corner of Sutter and Pierce. 4
1884-9-21 Haverly 1, Occidental 0.
Incell throws no-hitter. About 500 in attendance.
1885 California League
1885 CALL on Stats Crew
1885-1-20 Schedule drawn up: runs from Jan 25. to Dec. 27
1885-2-10 Fine young catcher of Haverlys, Lewis Hardie, has moved to the country. Movement to reinstate black-listed Lawton.
1885-2-17 league is playing poorly so far - next week the eastern players in this city will play three games v. the California League prior to departure to east
1885-3-10 Occidental have two nines - Reds and Blues - Incell has wide reputation
1885-5-12 Last Sunday at picnic the Stars played the Enterprise club of the Central Park League for the prize of a "valuable rosewood baseball bat, silver mounted and appropriately inscribed." Enterprise won 6-2.
1885-6-04 Oakland club is made of CALL players
1885-8-10 next Sunday the Haverlys will play the Pioneers under auspices of CALL for $100/side
8-11 will count in CALL
1885-11-13 line-up for winter schedule determined
1885-3-01 Stars 9, San Francisco 3. Triple play.
1885-3-16 Haverlys 6, Stars 4. A total of 36 k's - Incell throws no-hitter.
1886 California League
1886 CALL on Stats Crew
1885-11-13 line-up for winter schedule determined
1885-3-01 Stars 9, San Francisco 3. Triple play.
1885-3-16 Haverlys 6, Stars 4. A total of 36 k's - Incell throws no-hitter.
1886 California League
1886 CALL on Stats Crew
1886-4-11 Pioneers 4, Stars 1.
DOUBLE NO-HITTER, won by Finn by J. Mullee
1886-7-05 Pioneers 6, Greenhood & Morans 2.
Van Haltren loses no-hitter.
1886-7-18 Haverlys 4, Pioneers 0. Greenhood & Morans 2, Altas 1.
Incell throws no-hitter.
DOUBLE NO-HITTER, won by Finn by J. Mullee
1886-7-05 Pioneers 6, Greenhood & Morans 2.
Van Haltren loses no-hitter.
1886-7-18 Haverlys 4, Pioneers 0. Greenhood & Morans 2, Altas 1.
Incell throws no-hitter.
1886-8-08 Haverlys 7, Altas 3. Greenhood & Morans 4, Pioneers 2.
Incell K's 20 v. Altas. Huge attendance. Van Haltren wins DOUBLE NO-HITTER against McMullen in (?exhibition game?) inaugural Ladies
Incell K's 20 v. Altas. Huge attendance. Van Haltren wins DOUBLE NO-HITTER against McMullen in (?exhibition game?) inaugural Ladies
Day at Alameda baseball grounds. PLAY BY PLAY. Standings given.
Oakland Tribune has lovely coverage.
Borchers throws 6-inning no-hitter.
1887 Pacific Coast League
4
1887-4-04 league founded Umpires etc. listed
1887 California League
1887 CALL on Stats Crew
1887-6-25/6-26
1887 Pacific Coast League
4
1887-4-04 league founded Umpires etc. listed
1887 California League
1887 CALL on Stats Crew
1887-6-25/6-26
Triple play.
1887-7-03 Haverlys 11, G&M 10. 15 innings.
PLAY BY PLAY. "Opening of new baseball grounds at 28th and R streets last Sunday was a great success. Three special trains made the circuit of the city between 12 and 2 o'clock and conveyed thousands to the grounds.
(Sacramento Bee)
1887-7-03 Haverlys 11, G&M 10. 15 innings.
PLAY BY PLAY. "Opening of new baseball grounds at 28th and R streets last Sunday was a great success. Three special trains made the circuit of the city between 12 and 2 o'clock and conveyed thousands to the grounds.
(Sacramento Bee)
1891 California League
1891-3-02 Chronicle. Schedule, talk.
Box and play by play for game between the professional stars of the coast - Van Haltren, Rube Levy, etc.
1898-1-16 Chronicle. Santa Cruz 11, Bushnell Alerts 0. Joe Lange, Abe Arrelanes, Cannonball Balsz, Ham Iberg, Doc Moskiman, etc.
1898-1-23 Chronicle. Busnhell Alerts 5, California Markets 4.
1898-2-13 California Markets 4, Old-Timers 3.
1898-2-20 Reliance 15, Heesemans 5.
From John E Spalding
p. 14 - says it was common for the early 1880s players to be playing under false names
"Most of the players in the 1880s were young men of Irish or western European extraction who made up the majority of the Bay Area's working class. Many were employed in unskilled jobs, such as teamsters and stevedores, or in semi-skilled and entry level white collar jobs. They couldn't get off work to perform on weekdays and Saturdays and most fans could only attend games on Sundays."
"in some seasons, a Sunday morning game was played in Oakland along with the traditional afternoon contest in San Francisco. Many fans rode ferry boats across the bay to attend both games.
1900 Southern California League (Independent)
1900 Southern California League (Independent)
BR ramshackle rosters only
1900-8-19 Pacifics 4, Santa Ana (w/ Cravath) 4. Umpire Jones called the game after nine innings because the visitors (Santa Ana) had to catch their train.
Ventura 4, Maier & Zobelein 3. 500 ATT.
1900-8-26 LA Pacifics (league team) 0, Ventura 0. 1500 ATT at Agricultural Park, Ventura. "The game was called off to allow the Pacifics to catch their train, which left an hour later."
Briseno, Albert if .159 career listed average - with Pacifics - not listed on BR
1901 California League
1901-5-25 Times. All boxes. "Home-run Eddie Householder." Hutchinson is LA captain.
It is said of Washington Gardens, Looloos' home: "The grounds can be reached by the Main-street cars or the the Grand-avenue line - or you can walk."
1901-5-26 Times. Box.
1901-6-01 LA Times. All boxes. Not much commentary.
1901-6-02 LA Times. All boxes. Good commentary on LA team.
1901-6-09 Times. Boxes. "Baby" Briseno filled in at 2b for LA. (Briseno, Albert ) 2K ATT.
1901-6-23 Times. 5-6K ATT - one of largest crowds of season.
1902 California League
1902-4-11 Times. Boxes. Oakland team called Mud Hens. Tapioca Hodson is Oakland pitcher.
"Rube Waddell, the idol of the Wabash, came to the front again yesterday with a great home-run drive over the center-field fence in the fourth inning. This netted him a suit of clothes, offered by Hamburger & Sons; a pair of shoes, given by Widney & Shrader; a box of cigars by Eddie Hookstratton, and $10 worth of eatables offered by Al Levy. In addition to this he received the glad acclaim from the big audience and hundreds of sweet smiles from the straight-front corset brigade, and altogether quit a big winner."
"It is more than possible that Slagle is a find, for his work yesterday first class. He had but five minutes of warming up and went into the game to pitch against a hard combination of ball players, and with the score 7 to 3 against him. He is a slow man like McPartlin and does not get rattled. When he begins to pitch he wraps himself up into some sort of a knot and unwinds like a snake, handing out a ball that is very deceiving. The batsmen are generally so astonished at watching him uncurl himself that they cannot see the ball. Three of them did, however, for two doubles and a triple, and in addition he gave two passes away. His work was excellent for a first time out."
1902-6-01 SF Chronicle. Billy Cristall threw no-hitter for Oakland - "Brother-in-law" Rube Levy come out of retirement to play one game for Sacramento. (Game not listed on Levy's BR or 1902 Sacramento page.) Levy, Rube
1902-6-01 SF Chronicle. Billy Cristall threw no-hitter for Oakland - "Brother-in-law" Rube Levy come out of retirement to play one game for Sacramento. (Game not listed on Levy's BR or 1902 Sacramento page.) Levy, Rube
All boxes.
1902-6-01 LA Times. All boxes. Hank Harris, San Francisco manager, made fool of himself by making lots of wild accusations in print. Lots of talk.
"Hard Luck Fisher is still losing games with his collection of Never Wases, but is bravely endeavoring to make a showing, and is still trying to get some new ones as good as he now has.
Manager Morley has wired Dougherty a proposition to come here and play with the Looloos, and it is possible that he may do so. There is no question, but that he would strengthen the team.
Harris, the famous letter writer, has a rotten team as compared with that of last year, and the fans in his own town are just beginning to roast him for letting a lot of his former players go.
The two Arrellanes boys form the battery for the Santa Cruz team, and old Balz is playing left field.
Elmer Gibbs will be given a chance to make good in the Looloos. He catches fly balls awkwardly, but he holds them just the same, and when batting he would probably get more hits if he was not afraid. He should go to every pitcher and kill every good ball that comes over. It seems to be his weakness to wait, like Micawber, for something to turn up. He has been out of the game for several days on account of sickness."
Gibbs, Elmer with 1899-1900 San Diego SCAL
1902-6-08 LA Times. All boxes.
1902-6-15 LA Times. All boxes. 4K ATT.
1902-7-19 LA Times.
1905 CASL
1901-10-15 Chronicle. Will marry Rebecca Fisher, sister of Mike Fisher, tomorrow. They will take their honeymoon in southern California.
1906-7-18 Bulletin. Is a member of Laborers' Union No. 1007. Champion brick-cleaner. Doing it for his health, not money.
1907-2-09 Chronicle. NVG pic, good obit - began amateur career in 1879.
1907-2-11 Bulletin. Brief obit. Good pic. Buried in Salem Cemetery. Pallbearers listed. His funeral was well-attended.
Sandy Nava SABR bio played as Sandy Irwin
Memories
Sandy Nava SABR bio played as Sandy Irwin
Memories
1907-8-22 Alameda Times-Star. "The first California baseball league upon modern lines was formed in 1886, when the Alameda grounds were thrown open. There were at the outset four teams-the Haverlys, Stars and Pioneers of San Francisco, and the Altas of Sacramento.
The Stars were not long in the league. A rowdy pitcher made rough house one Sunday, by baiting the umpire and defying the officials of the league, with the patent purpose of precipitating a riot. It was understood that a lot of San Francisco toughs were on hand to take part. The club was dropped after the day's game, and the Greenhood and Morans of Oakland, which had attracted wide attention through their phenomenal pitcher and general team work, were installed in its place.
Games were played at that time only on Sundays. Steady baseball through the week, or even Saturday baseball was considered beyond the possibilities.
The umpires were the Van Court brothers-Eugene and DeWitt. Eugene is still a familiar figure in the mercantile life of Oakland and is prominent in connection with the management of athletics, but long ago disappeared from any official position in connection with baseball.
Some of the "famous" players that day stand out in the writer's memory. The Haverly battery of Incell and Hardie, and later Meegan and Hardie, is very well remembered. Incell was not an athlete in appear- ance, being stooped shouldered, and having the appearance of possessing weak kidneys. He was never very popular, but was always effective. Hardie was one of the most painstaking backstops that has ever appeared in the game on this coast. He was a great sticker, also, and ever a popular player. The present day visitor to Freeman's Park, in Oakland, will have his ticket taken up at the turnstile by "Lou", if he goes through one gate instead of another.
Late in the season of 1886 the famous Pittsburg battery, Morris and Carroll, which won the pennant for the smoky city team, came out and was drafted upon the Pioneers. Fred Carroll was a big stocky man and one of the hardest working catchers that ever wore a mask.
Morris was a grand-stand pitcher, and up to all the tricks of the position. At that time the pitcher was not confined within a box, nor hampered by rules, beyond that he must keep behind a given line, designated by a board sunken edgewise in the ground, and that he must not "balk." Morris could deliver the bail from the most unique attitudes and at most unexpected times, and could change his pace in a way to keep the batter ridiculously on the qui vive, and to greatly edify the spectator.
Other players of that time. were "Live" Taylor, who died so long ago that not many are likely to remember him. Taylor had a great eye for a fly. When one was knocked into his territory he would instantly start on a run, and always turned up in just the right place, often retrieving what would appear at first to be a very safe hit. Of course, that is what a fielder. does nowadays, but Taylor seemed to have the ability, greater than any other, of divining just where a ball would drop the instant it started on its flight.
The Chronicle writer states that "Mike" Fisher was one of the stars of those days. I cannot recall him as one of the big league players at any time; but there was a Fisher with the Greenhood and Morans- George Fisher, I think was his name. After leaving the game he became a boniface at Niles, and for all I know to the contrary, is there yet.
"Rube" Levy was the most popular fielder, perhaps, of the time. He made more "circus" catches than any other. There were very few games in which "Rube" failed to pull off some stunt that evoked the wildest enthusiasm. "Blockers" Hanley was another notable of the diamond in those days. Westerberg of the Oakland State League is a "ringer" for Blockers.
The three Smiths-Jack, Hughy and "Nick"-are well remembered. "McGinty" Carroll was a regular catcher for the Pioneers, and always popular with the fans. He was short in stature and very stacky, but always at work. He could never come within a foot of the ball when at the bat, but failure to hit did not seem so much of a handicap in a player then as it does now.
In those days the catcher stood back against the fence without his mask, until two balls or two strikes had been called, or unless there was a runner on the bases. It was before the elaborate mittens had been invented. The undersigned remembers seeing Hardie pull a tuft of grass and wad it into the ordinary buckskin glove that he wore on his left hand, to create something of a cushion. The catcher was unprotected as compared with the elaborate rig he dons now and the pillow that he fastens on his left hand. Three strikes and three balls, instead of four balls, were the rule. The first two [fouls?] did not count as strikes as they do now.
The Chronicle writer has a story of the return of "Jim" Fogarty to San Francisco in 1886. I am unable to remember this, but remember Charlie -Sweeney coming back, with a "busted" arm, though with a greater reputation as a pitcher, made with the Providence team, than any Californian had returned with up to that time. Sweeney was never a popular player. however, being of bad temper, as his unfortunate trouble demonstrated finally.
Another famous player was Jerry Denny. Nobody ever played third base just like Jerry, and it will be impossible to make the old timers believe that he has a successor.
Phil Knell, who umpires the State league games in Alameda and does not look an old man, came up about five years after the famous season of 1886. He went East and acquitted himself creditably. But of the players of 21 years ago, Van Haltren is the solitary one still in a big league game, and who has played every season and is playing just as good ball now as in the initial year of his professional career.
In 1887 the Haight street grounds were opened, and the interest of fandom was transferred to the other side of the bay. But an attempt was made by Charles S. Neal, then private secretary to and manager for Senator Fair, owner of the grounds, to retain the popularity of the Webster street grounds. He imported two batteries, and organized clubs into an opposition league. Then as now the base- ball public was peculiar, and the enterprise was not very successful. In one of the nines-that accredited to San Francisco-James J. Corbett played second base. The grounds remained deserted by big professional ball teams thereafter, and a few years later the fence was taken down, and cricket grounds laid out over the diamond. These have been maintained. up to the present time.
T. G. DANIELLS."
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