[Big Six]

I have this habit of continuing to develop dynasty ideas in my head, even when I'm absorbed in one (or more) stories already. I'm guilty of doing the same thing again.

I've had fun with several different dynasty formats, all involving a fictional element...either a fictional player, like Pat O'Farrell, inserted into the "real" major leagues, or a completely fictional league like the Keystone League. This time I'm combining the two scenarios to tell the story of a fictional player in a fictional league.

I also like setting my stories in the past. I suppose I come by this honestly because I'm an American history teacher, and I've always loved the history of sports, especially baseball.

Hopefully I'll be able to make this player, and the league in which he plays, seem real to any of you who choose to read along. At the very least, I think I'll have a lot of fun with it. Hopefully you will, too.

Our story begins in Ohio, over a hundred years ago...

[Tyke]

Rubs hands in anticipation

[Big Six]

Tuscarawas County, Ohio
June 11, 1880

Ellen Williams shook her head. "Nancy, there is nothing that man can do right now except get in the way, and you know it."

"He can get off that ball field and get back home while his wife delivers his child. That's what he can do!"

Aunt Nancy wasn't backing down an inch. While Mary Callahan lay in bed, giving birth to her first child, her husband John was a mile or so away at the town ball diamond, standing in center field.

Aunt Nancy stuck her head out the door of the tidy frame farmhouse where the Callahans lived and called out to the twelve-year-old boy who was romping nearby with a frisky spotted dog. "Joshua, run down to that God-forsaken ball field and get your Uncle John," Aunt Nancy told him.

"And don't you stop until he is on his way back to this house as fast as he can run, you hear me?" she added.

John Callahan left the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, with the Bachelors leading the Married Men, 4-3. The husbands had placed the tying run on third base with two men out. By the time he reached home, his wife had given birth to a healthy, strong baby boy.

"He's a fine young fellow, he is," said Hiram Williams, whose wife Ellen had assisted Mary with her labors.

"You're right about that, Hiram," replied the new father. "I'm betting right now that he'll be a ball player one day."

[elfdog428]

That is as awesome as you can get, I lived in that part of Ohio up till about 5 years ago (Visited Cy Young's real life home a few times over the years, living only about 20 miles from it). Awesome to see my part of the world being included in what I have come to find will be a great story.

Eager to see where this goes.

[Big Six]

Sugar Creek School
Tuscarawas County, Ohio
May 4, 1892

"I think Will Price is the handsomest boy in school," declared Hettie Foreacre with a smug little smile.

"You think all the boys are handsome, Hettie," countered Elizabeth Cates with a soft laugh. The other two girls sharing the bench with them giggled, too.

"Kate doesn't think Will is handsome," teased Hettie. "She's sweet on..."

"Hush, Hettie!" Kate Black gasped, her blue eyes wide. "You wouldn't dare..."

Hettie smiled. "She's sweet on Charlie Callahan!" she announced.

Kate blushed deeply, but she smiled nonetheless. Composing herself, she sat up very straight. "And why not? Charlie's the tallest, strongest boy we know. And I bet he's the best base ball player our age in the whole county."

Elizabeth shook her head. "Kate, I swear you like base ball more than any boy I know."

"What's wrong with that?" Kate inquired.

Just then, Charlie strolled by with two other boys. Seeing them, the girls burst into another round of giggles. The boys paid them no mind, and kept walking past.

"What on earth is wrong with them?" asked Jimmy Moffat. Jimmy was husky, with a thick shock of dark brown hair. He was Charlie's best friend.

Charlie, tall and blond, shook his head. "They're girls. 'Nough said."

[Big Six]

Canal Dover, Ohio
May 29, 1896

Lafe Keefer winced as he swung his right arm back and forth. "It's no use," he said. "I can't lift it past my shoulder."

"Can't you still pitch underhand, Lafe?" asked Dan Mueller.

Lafe shook his head. "I haven't tried that in years, Dan. And I'm not about to try...not on Decoration Day, and not against New Philly."

Jacob App nodded gravely. The self-appointed captain of the Canal Dover town team, Jacob didn't want to put a lame-armed pitcher who could only whip the ball in underhanded in the box against their rivals from New Philadelphia.

"We'll need to find a pitcher, then," he concluded. "Any of you fellows have an idea?"

John Callahan spoke up quickly. "My boy Charlie can pitch."

App looked hard at Callahan for a moment. "I know he's a big, strong youngster, John...but he's what? Fourteen?"

"He'll be sixteen in two weeks," Callahan said. "And he can throw a ball through a barn door."

"I don't know, John," said Keefer. "Those New Philly boys are heavy hitters."

"But they've never seen Charlie's stuff," Callahan countered. "He's got a curve and a pretty little drop now. He can hit a piece, too. And if Charlie pitches, the rest of us can all play our usual positions.

"What do you say, Jake?"

Jacob App stroked his chin and finally nodded. "Tell your boy to get some rest. He's pitching tomorrow."

[Big Six]

The Ohio Democrat, New Philadelphia, Ohio
June 3, 1896

CANAL DOVER NINE WINS CLOSE GAME OVER NEW PHILADELPHIA
Only Three Runs Scored By Both Teams

Before a large crowd of spectators at the Canal Dover ball grounds, the local nine won their annual Decoration Day contest with New Philadelphia in fine style by the score of 2 to 1.

The game featured some of the finest pitching seen in this area for quite some time. Jim Kennedy, the New Philadelphia stalwart, met his match in the form of young Charles Callaway, a boy of sixteen with the liveliest pitching arm most Tuscarawas County rooters have seen in years.

Callaway, a strapping lad, used both speed and guile to confound the New Philadelphia batsmen. He struck out twelve men and walked only two, and allowed the visitors only six base hits.

A performance like this against a heavy-hitting nine like New Philadelphia marks Callaway as one to watch. He could possibly do just fine in faster company, even now...

[Big Six]

December 4, 1896
Canal Dover, Ohio

Dan Mueller stamped his feet on the sidewalk, removing as much snow from his boots as he could before he entered the general store. Once inside the door, he saw several men he knew gathered in front of the iron stove in the middle of the room, reading a newspaper.

"Dan, look at this," said Jacob App. He held the newspaper out, pointing to a small headline tucked into a corner of the front page.

"Buckeye Base Ball League To Begin In April '97," Dan read aloud. "I'll be darned."

"Buckeye League? I suppose that means all the teams will be in Ohio," concluded Lafe Keefer.

"I suppose you'll tell us next that the Union won the war," teased App as the other men laughed. They were used to Lafe's less-than-astute observations by now; they'd been hearing them for years.

Dan grinned. "Yep. Twelve teams from across the state. Canton's going to have a team."

"I wonder how fast a league it will be?" asked Joshua Spesinger. He was twenty-four, wiry and strong, a whip-armed third baseman for the Canal Dover town team.

"I'm thinking it will be pretty tough to get a spot on one of these teams," said Jacob. "The players are going to be paid. They'll be professionals."

"Look here." Dan pointed his finger at a line farther down the page. "It says that there will be a league of town teams that will feed into the Buckeye League.

"We're getting a team right here in Canal Dover!"

The minds of the eight men around the stove were suddenly filled with base ball dreams.

Could I possibly be good enough to play ball for a wage?

Might I be able to get off the farm for good, if I want?

Will men from all around the state be playing for Canal Dover, or will the local fellows get most of the spots?

Suddenly the winter didn't seem quite so long, cold, and dismal.

[Big Six]

The Buckeye League is made up of twelve teams, divided into two divisions.

Eastern Division
Canton Watchmakers
Chillicothe Infants
Newark Skeeters
Portsmouth Cobblers
Sandusky Sailors
Youngstown Steelmen

Western Division
Findlay Oilers
Fremont Green Stockings
Hamilton Maroons
Lima Terriers
Marion Diggers
Middletown Red Stockings


The team names are those of actual minor league clubs from the past. I changed the Fremont and Middletown nicknames just a bit to give them a little more 1890s flavor.

Each Buckeye League team has an affiliated team in the Township League, representing a nearby town or city:

Canton: Canal Dover
Chillicothe: Circleville
Newark: Zanesville
Portsmouth: Ironton
Sandusky: Norwalk
Youngstown: Niles
Findlay: Fostoria
Fremont: Tiffin
Hamilton: Oxford
Lima: Ada
Marion: Bucyrus
Middletown: Franklin

• 1901 strategies and settings are being used, at least until 1902. Expect to see lots of pitching, lots of steals, and very few home runs.
• Financials and free agency are off. Buckeye League rooters will be able to pull for many of their favorite home town players throughout their careers.
• Trading and injuries are both set to Low. They made 'em tough in those days.
• I'll play as Canton, but I'll start in Commissioner mode.
• The league will play a 132-game season, from mid-April to mid-September.
• Division winners will meet in a best-of-seven series for the Buckeye Cup.

[Big Six]

The Callahan Farm, Tuscarawas County, Ohio
February 22, 1897

Charlie Callahan positioned his foot on the wooden pitcher's plate he had carefully affixed to the ground, exactly sixty feet, six inches from the barn wall. He concentrated his gaze on the rectangle he had chalked on the wall, the width of home plate and approximately the size of a batter's strike zone.

Charlie wound up his right arm, drew it back, strode forward, and with a powerful push from his right leg, he fired the ball toward his target. It hit the lower right corner of the square with a loud CRACK. The boy smiled as he walked to retrieve the ball. That one felt good, he thought.

Now six feet tall and 180 pounds, sixteen-year-old Charlie possessed the size and strength to play ball on equal terms with adult men. He'd demonstrated that for the first time last May, when he beat the New Philadelphia nine on Decoration Day. His success earned him the opportunity to pitch for the Canal Dover team six more times; he'd won five of his starts, and lost the other 2-0 in fourteen innings.

There wasn't that much work to be done around the family farm in February, so Charlie had more freedom to work out his pitching arm than he had during the remainder of the year. He could tell he was throwing harder than he had last summer, simply from the sound his pitches made when they hit the barn wall. Now they cracked like a rifle shot when he hit his target.

"Are you trying to knock down that barn?" Charlie turned and smiled when he heard the voice of his friend. Jimmy Moffat waved his hand as he approached.

"I'm just trying to get my arm in shape for the spring."

"I bet you'll pitch as much for the town team as Lafe does this year," predicted Jimmy.

"Honestly, I'd like to try out for the Canton Watchmakers," replied Charlie.

Jimmy smiled and shook his head. "There's gonna be men from all over trying out for them, Charlie. Not just yokels from small towns like Canal Dover."

"I know. I figure I'm too young to make the Watchmakers this year. But maybe I'll be good enough to make the Township League. Then, in a few years, who knows?"

"I know your Pa won't mind you trying out," said Jimmy. "But how about your Ma? Won't she say you're just wasting your time when you should be working?"

Charlie paused for a moment. Jimmy was right. Mary Callahan was a no-nonsense woman who had a hard enough time with the fact that, even as he neared forty, her husband John spent so much time on the ball field. She'd be fit to be tied if she found out her son was starting down the very same path.

Charlie lowered his voice, even though there was nobody but his friend within earshot. "I don't intend to let Ma know until it's over."

[elfdog428]

Big Six, are you going to use real players or created or a mix. It would be real interesting to see the likes of the real Ohio players come up and play through this league. Cy Young and a lot of other great players have hailed from that region of Ohio and it would be great to see them showcased.

In your universe, are you running any other leagues like the ML or other like leagues, or only this

Also, just in case you missed it, you have listed the Findlay Oilers twice.

Looking very forward to this league

Rock on

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by elfdog428

Big Six, are you going to use real players or created or a mix. It would be real interesting to see the likes of the real Ohio players come up and play through this league. Cy Young and a lot of other great players have hailed from that region of Ohio and it would be great to see them showcased.

In your universe, are you running any other leagues like the ML or other like leagues, or only this

Also, just in case you missed it, you have listed the Findlay Oilers twice.

Looking very forward to this league

Rock on

Thanks for your comments, elfdog. I'm glad you're enjoying it so far, and I hope you'll keep reading.

I hadn't thought about including any real players, but the possibility is intriguing.

I'm only running the Buckeye League and the Township League in this universe.

Thanks for pointing out the double entry for the Oilers. I'll fix that in a second.

[elfdog428]

I grew up in the Ohio Valley in a little town called Cadiz. It is only about 30 miles east on St Rt 250 from New Philly/Dover area. From Dover, over St Rt 800, about an hour away, Cy Young was born and his family farm still stands. The Ohio Valley region has produced some exceptional ball players over the years. Cy Young, Phil and Joe Niekro, and who can forget Bill Mazeroski. There are plenty of stories of the early days of baseball that I was eager to hear as I grew up.

Where are you from? I will be following along as this is starting in my home area and it is cool to see what this universe will take off to be.

The Ohio Valley was big in two things in the early years, Coal and Sheep. At one time, the small County of Harrison County had the highest per capita people that were worth over a Million Dollars, all from said Coal mines and Sheep farm.

Today, it is a very poor area and over the last 40 years, I have seen a lot of things come and go and it is cool to sse my little area of the world being spotlighted by one of the best writers on these boards.

Rock on

[Big Six]

Thanks for the kind words, elfdog. I hope you continue to enjoy the thread.

I'm not from Ohio--my family's originally from Ontario and Michigan, and I grew up in Georgia, where my dad got a job teaching and coaching. My wife's family is from Dover, however, and that's why I know the area. I've visited that part of Ohio several times with her.

On one of our trips, we set off on a trip to find all things Cy Young. We visited his grave, found the site of his farm, that sort of thing. People had left several baseballs at the base of his gravestone.

P.S. The restaurant at the Buehler's supermarket in Dover serves one of the best hamburgers I've ever eaten. I also love their all-you-can-eat fish fry on Friday.

[Big Six]

St. Joseph's Catholic Church
Canal Dover, Ohio
March 14, 1897

Kate Black turned when she felt a hand gently touch her elbow, and blushed bright pink when she realized the hand was Charlie Callahan’s. The gesture was completely innocent, coming as it did in the doorway of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

A slender girl with light brown hair piled neatly on top of her head, bright blue eyes, and a ready, warm smile, Kate was as sweet as she was pretty. She played the piano and sang, and was among the three best students in the Class of ’98 at the Dover high school. She had also had a crush on Charlie Callahan since she was eleven years old.

Charlie spoke quietly, making sure nobody but Kate would hear him. “It’s going to happen on Saturday morning.”

“Are you sure you should be talking about a dishonest scheme here in the church?” Kate tried to sound like she was scolding him, but she couldn’t help smiling.

“I’m not going tell an outright lie, Kate. I’m going to tell my Ma that Jimmy Moffat asked me to ride into town with him because he needs my help loading some things into a wagon. Jimmy really did ask me to give him a hand with his bats.” Charlie’s eyes sparkled with a bit of mischief.

“I’ll be back in time to finish my chores,” Charlie said. “If I don’t make the team, then nobody will know.”

“And if you do make the team?”

“Then I’ll figure out a way to tell my Ma. I’ll have time to worry about that if I make the team.”

“Charlie, I can’t imagine you not making the Canal Dover team, at least. I watched you pitch all summer long, after all. You only lost one game, and you were pitching against grown men.”

“These fellows will be professionals, Kate, or at least they want to be. Some of them will have played for pay before.”

Kate shook her head. “You know as well as I do that some of the Canal Dover players get paid. I know for a fact Lafe Keefer does, and Joshua Spesinger, too.”

“Lafe isn’t trying out,” Charlie said. “And Joshua is a sure thing for the Canton team. Even if I’m somewhere in the middle, I can’t be sure of a spot on any team.”

“You have to believe in yourself,” Kate said, smiling softly. She blushed again, her cheeks coloring adorably.

I wish it were that easy, Charlie thought.

[Big Six]

Canal Dover, Ohio
March 20, 1897

John Garland had the robust build of a former catcher, which is exactly what he was before an arm injury ended his career in 1893. Despite the fact he was only thirty-two years old, he carried himself with an air of quiet authority that impressed the management of the Canton Watchmakers enough that he was hired to manage the team.

“All right, men,” he said, clapping his hands so the forty-some ballplayers surrounding him would give him their full attention. “I’m about to post the roster for the Canal Dover club. If your name is on this list, you are invited to report back here, tomorrow, to begin training for the Township League season. If you’re not listed, don’t go away thinking you aren’t any good. Every one of you is a ball player, and if they would let me, I’d keep every one of you on the team.”

Garland smiled as he looked around at the players. Turning, he took a tack hammer and nailed a sheet of paper onto the wooden framework of the backstop.

Charlie Callahan was almost afraid to look at the list. He had felt confident about his chances as he rode into town with Jimmy Moffat that morning. But as he began to warm up his arm, he realized how apprehensive he felt.

He tried to calm his nerves by reminding himself he’d played with, and against, grown men before. And Jimmy, his best buddy, would be catching him, which ought to make him feel more comfortable.

Once the pitching candidates were warmed up, they spread out in a line, eight abreast with their catchers making a similar line 60’6” away. As John Garland and David Laracque, who would coach the Canton pitchers, looked on, the pitchers began to show their stuff.

Charlie struggled with his control at first, but his arm felt loose and strong. Gradually, though, he gained more and more command over his pitches, and by the end of his first session, he was putting all three of his pitches right where he wanted them.

Charlie was mopping his face with a handkerchief when Manager Garland approached him.

“Callahan, isn’t it?”

“Yes, sir,” Charlie replied.

“Call me John,” Garland said. “How old are you, son?”

“I’ll be seventeen in June.”

“You’ve got a good, strong arm,” Garland said, patting Charlie’s pitching wing gently. “Take good care of it and you’ll make a living in this game.”

Garland and his staff then divided the candidates into halves for the next session. In one group were players whom Garland had identified as potential Canton Watchmakers; in the other were those who were fighting for spots on the Canal Dover team. Joshua Spesinger, who had impressed Garland by smacking blue darters all morning long and playing third base like he invented the position, was assigned to the “Canton” group. Charlie and Jimmy were among those sent to the “Canal Dover” squad.

Charlie now had a chance to face live hitters, and he more than held his own. His fastball had speed and movement; his curve broke sharply, diving away from hitters; his drop seemed to fall off a table as it reached the plate. I’ve never pitched better, he thought as he trotted off the field at the end of the tryout.

Nevertheless, he felt a knot in his stomach as he stepped toward the sheet of paper. He watched one man slap the other on the back and shake his hand; both of them had obviously made the team. Others tried to hide their disappointment as they walked away. One kicked the dirt and muttered to himself.

Charlie steeled his courage and looked at the list. On it were neatly written the following names:

Carl Backman
Charlie Callahan
Will Copeland
Carlos Duarte
Sean Day
Richard Dunham
Jack Holland
Ray Kershner
John Little
Joseph McClendon
Tony Morgan
Leon O’Brien
Jonathan Rakes
Richard Reed
Howard Richardson
Santiago Sanchez
Max Smith
Mike Stokes
Michael Tucker
Terry Villegas
Ken Wall

A smile began to form in the corners of Charlie’s mouth. I’m on the list! I made the team!

Then, as soon as it had come, his happiness faded.

Jimmy didn’t…

Charlie turned and looked at his crestfallen friend. “Jimmy, I’m sorry. I…”

“It’s fine, Charlie. I wasn’t good enough today. That’s all.”

“But if you’re not going to be on the team, I don’t…”

“Don’t say it. You’re playing. Simple as that.” Jimmy smiled and shook Charlie’s hand. “Come on. We need to get back. We both have a lot to do back home.”

The two boys talked comfortably on the ride back out to the Callahan farm. Still, one thing remained stuck in Charlie’s mind.

Now I have to find a way to tell Ma…

[Big Six]

To those of you who have been very patient while I write the "backstory" here, I assure you there's some baseball on the way, very soon.

142 W. 3rd Street
Dover, Ohio

Mr. Henry Callahan
Rural Route 8
Wooster, Ohio


April 5, 1897

Dear Cousin Henry,

I know you will not recognize the address I am writing you from. For now, I am living in town, at the home of my good friend Jimmy Moffat and his family. You see, my mother and I have had an argument about a decision I made last month.

I refuse to bore you with all the details, but here is a short summary. I tried out for a base ball team and made it. This team is not a town team, like the one I played for last year. It is a real professional club, and I am to be paid a small amount for my services.

When I told my mother, she informed me that I had a choice. If I wanted to accept even one dollar for playing base ball, I would have to find lodgings like any other working man would. My father saw how serious she was, and while I wish he would have told her to stop and think before she said something she might not really mean. But he has never been able to do that, once my mother gets an idea in her head.

Our season begins in just over a week. I would love it if you could find a way to come to one of our games sometime. I am a pitcher, so I will only be playing every third game or so, but I usually know when I will be working a few days in advance.

Say hello to your Ma and Pa for me. I will be writing again to you soon when I have more news.

Your cousin,
Charlie

P.S. The Moffats have a real fine house, with a big lawn, right in the nicest part of town. My room is at the top of the stairs, with a comfortable bed and a nice view of the street. I miss home, but this is not too bad a situation right now, at all.

[Big Six]

Note: There wasn't really a newspaper in Dover in 1897, at least not that I can find. I don't like having to make up details like that, but I'd hate for Charlie's early career to go unchronicled.

The town really was called "Canal Dover" until about 1912 or so, to distinguish it from several other Ohio towns called "Dover."

Canal Dover Argus, April 14, 1897

MILLERS BEGIN SEASON IN FINE STYLE
Young Pitcher Callahan Shines As Canal Dover Beats Zanesville
Final Score 1 to 0

CANAL DOVER--A crowd of several hundred rooters watched young Canal Dover pitcher Charlie Callahan get the better of the Zanesville nine yesterday in the opening game of the Township League club's season. Young Callahan, who has yet to turn seventeen years old, held the Plowmen to five base hits in nine innings, making the single run his teammates score prove to be just enough.

Callahan's combination of fast and crooked pitches kept the Zanesville batsmen, some of whom are twice his age, off balance. His control was fine, allowing him to strike out eight men while walking none.

While nobody expects young Callahan to work such magic every time he toes the pitcher's plate, his success in his first appearance in fast company does bode well for his future success, and his eventual promotion to the Canton nine...

[Big Six]

Canal Dover Argus, May 19, 1897


MILLERS DISAPPOINTING IN THEIR FIRST MONTH
Only Four Wins In First Twenty-Five Contests
Manager Pace In Search For Better Players

CANAL DOVER--Even the most dedicated rooters are having a tough time supporting the Canal Dover nine this spring, as their record--four wins and twenty-one losses so far--have landed them squarely at the bottom of the Township League standings.

"The base ball lovers of our city deserve better," said Millers manager Vincent Pace. "If the players we have on the roster now are not going to give Canal Dover a winner, then we shall have to find some who will."

One player with whom Pace is pleased is young pitcher Charlie Callahan. He owns exactly half the team's victories, against five losses. Callahan has suffered some "hard luck," as his earned run average of 2.64 should yield a better record than he has achieved so far...

[Big Six]

The Callahan Farm
Canal Dover, Ohio
June 8, 1897

John Callahan's eyes flashed with a fire his wife had never seen before. He slammed his hand down on the back of the wooden chair so hard that, at first, he thought he had broken it.

He was so angry he wouldn't have cared.

"Mary, you are a wonderful woman, a wonderful wife, and a wonderful mother. And for most of our married life, I haven't said a word when you've said 'I don't think you should do this, or that, or another thing,'" he said to her.

"But this time, Mary, I'm having the last word. For the first time in my life, I have a chance to make a little bit of real money playing ball. I've wished I could do that ever since I was a boy, and now I can. I can also do it without leaving home."

Mary Callahan set her feet and crossed her arms in front of her. "John, you are 39 years old..."

"And that is exactly why I'm doing this, because I will never have another chance."

John realized he was shouting, and lowered his voice. He even smiled a little bit. For twenty years, he had calmed his wife's flashing temper with his smile. Could he do it one more time, today?

"Mary, if you're worried about the work around this place, I assure you I'll be able to get done what needs to be done. The man we hired is a good one." John stopped before mentioning the fact that had his wife's stubbornness not caused their son to move into town so he could play ball, there would have been no need for the Callahans to hire Joe Ruettiger at all.

Mary sighed and shook her head. "I can't stop you, John. Don't go get your fool self hurt, though." She didn't want to smile, but she did anyway.

John wrapped his arms around his wife. "I'll be able to keep an eye on Charlie, too," he whispered.

"That's one reason why I'm not going to try to stop you," she whispered back.

A day later, John Callahan was in the lineup for the Canal Dover Millers, playing right field and batting fifth. Iin the bottom of the eighth inning, the Millers led the Oxford Scholars, 4-3, when John Callahan stepped to the plate with the bases loaded.

John had driven in one of the Millers' runs with a sharp single in the sixth inning, and this time, he timed a 2-2 pitch from Oxford pitcher Whiskey Jones and smacked it over the centerfielder's head. Two runs scored, and John pulled into second with a double. He doffed his cap as the rooters cheered.

The three runs John drove in sealed the victory for a Millers pitcher who had encountered trouble early, but had settled down and pitched better as the game went on.

"I had an extra reason for wanting to knock in those runs today," John told an Argus reporter after the game.

"I wanted to make a winner out of this lad." He threw his arm around the winning pitcher, who grinned ear to ear.

The pitcher was, of course, none other than Charlie Callahan.