Archive for November, 2011

 

Frank Wickware no-hitter 6/4/1910

Indianapolis Freedman 6/11/1910

 

Note Wickware’s impressive teammates, some of the best in history:

• Bruce Petway
• Pete Hill
• Home Run Johnson
• Pop Lloyd

 

George Harlan Cummings

Cummings was born in March 1872 in Hennepin in Putnam County, Illinois to William C. and Emma Cummings. William, an Ireland native, was a Minister. Emma was born in Illinois.

Siblings: Frank, Adelbert, Lula

George was either born deaf and mute or became so at a young age. He is listed as such in the 1880 US Census. The family moved to the villiage of National in Farmersburg in Clayton County, Iowa in 1878 or ‘79. He attended the Deaf and Dumb Institute at Council Bluffs, Iowa through high school. The school had 153 students in 1879 when George entered.

Cummings later attended Gallaudet College in Washington, D.C. for two years. While there he played football and baseball. The following depict the 1893 Gallaudet football team and the 1894 baseball squad: (notice coach Reuban Stephenson in the back row of the baseball pix)

Cummings on far right in uniform, Stephenson second from right on top row

Cummings married another Council Bluffs’ alum, Mary Mikish. They had two sons, Cyril and Adolph.

Baseball

Cummings, a pitcher, was playing semi-pro ball by 1890 at the latest, at age 18. The Atlantic Daily Telegram dated 19 June 1890 shows him playing for a club known as the Iowas, pitching a 15-6 win over the Atlantic club. He played for various clubs in Iowa through 1892. The latter season he pitched for Council Bluffs.

After heading east to D.C. he played a couple of years for Pennsylvania clubs:

• 1893 Royersford
• 1893 Reading, Pennsylvania State League
• 1894 Royersford
• 1894 Easton, PA State League, 6/15 to 6/29
• 1894 Reading, 7/3 to 7/27
• 1894 Philadelphia, PA State League, 8/1 to 8/7

Baseball-reference.com pages:

• http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=cummin002geo
• http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=cummin002— (not loading properly, Unknown Morris 1893-1894)

He joined Waterloo of the Eastern Iowa League for spring training in 1895 and played with the club through June 5. On July 4 he pitched one game for Clinton of the same league.

Other Possibilities

The are two other possible Cummings that may be George in the baseball-reference.com files:

• 1893 Savannah, Southern Association
• 1897 Reading, Atlantic League

Added later: It appears the southern Cummings was named William (Sporting Life, 3/26/1892, page 3)

SOURCE LIST

• Atlantic Daily Telegram, Iowa, 19 June 1890
• Baseball-reference.com
• Chicago Daily Inter Ocean, 29 May 1895
• Gallaudet alumni cards
• Genealogytrails.com: Putnam County, Illinois Marriages, 1870s
• HeritageQuest.com
• Omaha World Herald, 10 April 1892
• Philadelphia Inquirer, 23 July 1893, 6 August 1893, 26 May 1894
• The Silent Worker, November 1893, May 1911
• Waterloo Daily Courier, Iowa, 1895
• Wilkes-Barre Times, Pennsylvania, 29 December 1893

 

I originally surmised that early black Sheppard Trusty was righthanded simply because I found no references to the contrary. I was especially convinced when reading contemporary articles that included both Trusty and George Stovey. The latter, a well-known lefty, drew numerous comments about his pitching hand but no mention was made of Trusty’s. This was suspect to me and in truth still is.

Tony Kissel, who has been on the case of the Cuban Giants for some time, however presents evidence to the contrary. First, in two CG team pictures Trusty is holding the ball in his left hand. Not definite proof but perhaps leading. Second and more compelling, Tony found a New York Sun reference from 13 September 1882 that states (concerning Philadelphia Orions pitcher  Trusty):

The pitcher gazed upon him for a moment, and then ceased to smile and looked thoughtfully as he held up the ball to the batter on two fingers of the left hand.

To me, this is pretty strong evidence of lefthandedness. However, it’s not conclusive as it doesn’t actually describe a throwing motion. Thus the case is still open. Hopefully, someone will find a definitive statement soon.

Hold On (Added later)

I just found the whole article from the New York Sun:

First, this is a nice description of Trusty’s pitching motion and his taunting of batters.

But notice the motion: Trusty held the ball in his left hand but raised both arms to the sky (remembering that he was gloveless), leaned backwards while raising his left leg. The left leg came down and the ball followed. That’s a description of a righthanded pitcher.

However

Tony Kissel is convinced otherwise. His assertion:

Would love for others to weigh in here.

More

Tony’s argument is compelling but to me a raised left foot means righthanded pitcher. In 1882, Trusty was almost definitely pitching underhand/sidearm. Overhand didn’t become an issue until 1883 and legal in ‘84. The 1880s of course are a different era than today but fundamentally things were well defined by then. Pitchers were leading with their opposite foot.

Forget all the contorting in the early portion of the article and focus on the release. In essence:

• -his left foot came down
• -in the same moment his arms and body whirled around, and
• -his head tucked (as it would for a submariner) and the ball was released

Cliff Blau weighs in:

Tony could be right. Anyway, it is hard to tell; you’ve got to keep in mind that in 1882 pitchers could do almost anything they wanted in the way of a motion, as long as they stayed in the box. Where did his left foot come down, and did he move his feet further when he whirled around? I wouldn’t want to make a wager on his throwing hand either way.

 

Kid Morris, Pitcher

Wellington B. Morris

Morris’ baseball-reference.com pages:

• http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=morris010wil
• http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=morris035— (link not posting correctly, can be found with 1899 Dayton team http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=9a92a888)
• http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=morris057— (link not posting correctly, can be found with 1901 Chattanooga team http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=5cbbe36f)
• http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=morris001wel
• Listed as Morrisson, http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=eca81dd4

Wellington B. Morris was born on August 31, 1876 in Pennsylvania, most likely Philadelphia, the only child of Wellington (born in PA, September 1856) and Katie Morris (born in PA, July 1858). Wellington Sr. was a blacksmith.

Baseball

The ‘Kid Morris’ nickname was probably derived from a popular boxer of the era, Kid Morris. There was also a famed criminal at the time known by the same moniker.

Professional career:

• 1897 Pottsville, Central Pennsylvania League, May
• 1898 Allentown, Atlantic League, May
• 1898 Danbury, Connecticut State League, all season
• 1899 Dayton, Interstate League, 5/2 to 5/6
• 1900 Bridgeport, Connecticut State League, 5/30 to 6/2
• 1900 Waterbury, Connecticut State League
• 1901 Chattanooga, Southern Association
• 1901 Waterbury
• 1902 Lawrence, New England League
• 1903 Dayton, Central League
• 1906 Waterbury
• 1908 Portsmouth, Virginia League

Morris, age 22, had a stellar year in 1898 with Danbury, posting a 19-5 record. The Sporting Life noted, “Kid Morris…was the star of the Connecticut League last year. He won 19 out of 24 games.” (Sporting Life, 25 March 1899)

Dayton picked him up by February 1899 and looked forward to a productive year from the young pitcher. In his first start on May 2 he defeated Grand Rapids 10-4 and even added a home run. However, he fell ill after only a few starts and landed in a Grand Rapids hosptial with spinal meningitis. His season was over and worse he lost his hearing.

New Haven Register 6/21/1899

Morris never regained his hearing. Oddly, his parents in Philadelphia listed him in the 1900 U.S. Census as unable to read, write or speak, as if his hearing loss was from birth. (Morris was also located in the 1900 Census in Bridgeport with teammates) His World War I registration card lists him as “deaf in both ears.”

Come 1900, Morris was ready to play ball again.

Sporting Life 2/3/1900

 

 He was still looking for a job in May. He found one with Bridgeport and made his first start on May 30. After pitching for the club on June 2, he suffered an accident – as he was apparently unused to his new circumstance:

New Haven Register 6/4/1900

Bridgeport immediately released him but he was soon picked up by Waterbury of the same league, pitching for them by the 14th. Waterbury was managed by Hall of Famer Roger Connor, a native of the city.

Morris only pitched one game for Waterbury, a loss, and was released. The New Orleans Times-Picayune of 13 January 1901 shows Morris as being claimed by Chattanooga. Baseball-reference.com shows that he played for the club, but statistics are not available. He was again picked up by Waterbury but was released soon after shutting out New London, 7-0, on June 12.

Kid Morris reappeared with Dayton in the spring of 1903 but was released on April 8 before the season opened.

Open info:

Howard Reed lists the possibility that Kid Morris might be the Unknown Morris from:

• 1898 Birmingham
• 1900 Richmond
• 1900 Newport News
• 1901 Schenectady

 SOURCE LIST

Thanks for reponses to my original post by Cliff Blau and Reed Howard which added quite a bit to refining Morris’ professional movements. I’ve incorporated their findings.

• Ancestry.com
• Baseball-reference.com
• Cleveland Leader, 3 May 1899
• Fort Wayne News, Indiana, 9 April 1903
• New Haven Register, Connecticut, 1898-1901
• New Orleans Times-Picayune, 13 January 1901
• Sporting Life, 1899-1901, 28 March 1903, 26 May 1906 

 

William H. Hatton

Hatton was the main pitcher for the Washington (DC) Manhattans, a prominent black club in the early to mid 1880s. Like another top black pitcher of his day, Sheppard Trusty, Hatton died at a young age due to consumption.

Hatton was born to Charles and Delia Hatton on May 3, 1859 in Woodbury in Fairfax County, Virginia. William became a painter and pitched for the Manhattans.

Washington D.C. Critic-Record 3/30/1883

Note the other pitcher on the squad who I contend is actually Shep Trusty. The article makes it appear that the Manhattan club had just been formed but they actually had been operating in previous seasons.

Hatton fell ill to consumption and died at age 26 on June 17, 1885 in D.C.

Washington D.C. Bee 6/27/1885

SOURCE LIST

• Familysearch.com
• HeritageQuest.com
• Washington D.C. Bee, 27 June 1885
• Washington D.C. Critic-Record, 30 March 1883

 

Connie Day

Wilson Connie Day

Black ballplayer Connie Day was nicknamed Dummy. Why? It’s unclear. His World War I registration card makes no mention of a hearing/speech problem so that can be ruled out.

 

Dummy Rosson 

Lester Grant Rosson was born on June 28, 1877 in Holmansville in Robertson County, Tennessee to Anthony Foster Rosson and the former M. Elizabeth “Lizzie” Grant. He was the fifth of 6 children, 3 girls and 2 boys. The Rossons owned a local farm. 

Lester was deaf and mute since birth, as was at least one of his siblings – Walter Boling Rosson born on July 2, 1876. Both Walter and Lester attended the Tennessee School for the Deaf and then enrolled at Gallaudet College, also known as the Columbia Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb, in Washington, D.C. Opening in the late 1850s, Gallaudet was the first school of advanced education for the deaf in the world. 

Like other colleges, Gallaudet fielded sports teams which competed in their area against other squads – amateur, semi-professional and professional. In this manner Gallaudet, the Ohio Institution of the Deaf and Dumb and the New Jersey School for the Deaf trained quite a few ballplayers that eventually made it into the professional ranks, including the majors. For example: 

http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=2867&pid=3867

http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=2871&pid=19681

http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=2868&pid=19680

http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=2886&pid=13607

and many others. 

Walter, 4 years older, naturally entered the college first, around 1893. He became a valued member of both Gallaudet’s baseball and football teams. Lester, a quarterback, pops up with the football squad in 1896 at age 19. 

The Silent Worker, 1/1897

Similarly, Lester, mainly a pitcher and a part-time outfielder, appeared with the school’s baseball nine from 1897 through 1902. As seen above, he was six feet tall, though slim. (He returned to coach the Gallaudet football team in 1903.) The Gallaudet Hall of Fame site says that Rosson did not graduate from the school. He did however play sports there during six different school years.

Professional Baseball 

Still in school and pitching for Gallaudet, Rosson was invited to spring training with Boston of the National League. He was recommended to manager Frank Selee by Lee DeMontreville whose brother Gene played for Boston. The DeMontrevilles grew up in D.C. which is presumably how they knew the Gallaudet pitcher. 

Boston Herald 4/5/1901

Rosson joined the Beaneaters in early April at their spring training site in Norfolk, Virginia. Selee, interested, spoke well of his new recruit but never actually used him in a game, as the contest against Yale was cancelled. Lester was released within a few days. 

Boston Herald 4/8/1901

He returned to Gallaudet for the college baseball season. In mid-May he signed with New London of the Connecticut State League. Shortly thereafter, he was traded to Bridgeport of the same league for Jack Ahaessey. In total, Rosson appeared in 15 games in the league. 

He played in at least one game for Providence of the Eastern League, a 4-1 loss to Hartford on July 29. In August, he joined Albany of the New York State League. 

Auburn Bulletin 8/2/1901

1902 

Rosson played his final baseball season with Gallaudet in 1902. Then in late June he rejoined Albany, appearing in four games. He displayed the wildness which would plaque his professional career, allowing 29 hits, 19 base on balls and striking out 21 batters. His final game with the club occurred on July 14. Four days later, he signed with Ilion of the same league, appearing in several games. 

Syracuse Daily Journal 7/19/1902

In mid-August, Rosson was pitching for Potsdam, a semi-pro club in Vermont. 

1903 

He spent the entire 1903 season with Wheeling of the Class-B Central League, appearing in 49 games. 

1904 

In the spring of 1904, Rosson coached baseball at Galladet. In March, Wheeling sold him to Nashville in the Southern Association. On April 9, he finally showed the Beaneaters what he could do, defeating them 7-4. 

Atlanta Constitution 4/10/1904

Regardless, he was released by Nashville on June 4 and then joined Charleston of the South Atlantic (SALLY) League within a week. He finished the season with the club, posting a 9-4 record in 13 games. 

1905 

Rosson returned to Charleston in April 1905, until being traded on June 6 to Columbia of the same league. 

The State, Columbia, South Carolina 6/7/1905

This appears to be the end of his professional career, as he soon married and started a family. He did however continue to play semi-pro and amateur ball as this team picture of Rocky Ford, a Denver-based nine, from 1907 shows. 

Family 

On October 9, 1906 in Knoxville, Lester married 19-year old Nora O’Neal Turner (born October 12, 1887, died May 27, 1972), a recent high school graduate of the Tennessee School for the Deaf. They had 12 children. 

The Silent Worker, 11/1906

The Rossons moved around a bit: 

• 1907, living in Denver, Colorado
• 1910, living in Arlington, Colorado
• 1917, living in Colorado Springs
• 1920, living in Lusk, Wyoming
• 1930, living in Denver (working as a shoe repairer)

In late 1930, the family finally settled in Oakland, California. 

Rosson’s son Lester was a gang member and heavy into narcotics. He was known as “Mr. Big” by narcotic agents in the San Francisco area and spent years in San Quentin Prison, beginning in 1940 for narcotics distribution. In June 1946, Rosson’s daughter Luanna was shot (in an apparent love’s spat) through her kitchen window while she was dining with her father, sister and friends.

An apparent gang and drug related murder investigation in 1957 landed Lester in jail again for possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia. Another of Rosson’s sons, Henry, was also jailed for a parole violation. 

Lester Grant Rosson passed away on May 18, 1955 in Oakland at age 77. He was interred at Mountain View Cemetery. 

SOURCE LIST 

• Albany Evening Journal, 1901-1902
• Amsterdam Daily Democrat and Recorder, New York, 24 July 1902
• Amsterdam Evening Recorder, New York, 14 June 1904
• Ancestry.com
• Atlanta Constitution, 1904
• Auburn Bulletin, New York, 1 August 1901, 2 August 1901
• Baseball-reference.com
• Boston Globe, 4 May 1905
• Boston Herald, 1901
• Brooklyn Eagle, 7 April 1905
• Cleveland Plain Dealer, 1903
• Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph, 10 January 1917
• Decatur Daily Review, Illinois, 17 March 1904
• Familysearch.com
• Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, 1903
• Galveston Daily News, 28 May 1904
• Mansfield News, Ohio, 17 February 1904, 2 June 1904
• New Orleans Times-Picayune, 6 June 1904
• Oakland Tribune, 11 June 1946, 20 May 1955, 18 May 1956, 1957, 28 May 1972
• Pawtucket Times, 30 July 1901
• Rochester Democrat Chronicle, 26 June 1902
• San Mateo Times, California, 29 August 1957
• The Silent Worker
• Sporting Life, 9 August 1902, 1904
• St. Albans Daily Messenger, Vermont, 18 August 1902
• The State, Columbia, South Carolina, 7 June 1905
• Syracuse Daily Journal, 19 July 1902
• Syracuse Post-Standard, 15 July 1902
• Utica Herald-Dispatch, New York, 17 July 1902
• Washington Post, 17 March 1907, 29 February 1904, 16 September 1906
• Worcester Spy, Massachusetts, 24 August 1901