Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 April 1911 — BALL GAME HASN’T IMPROVED [ARTICLE]

BALL GAME HASN’T IMPROVED

At Any Rate, Roper Connor and Dan Brouthers, Former League Stare, f i Don’t Think %>. Among the spectators at the Polo grounds the other day was Roger Connor, for many years first baseman Ht the Giants. Connor is silver haired now, but still is a powerful fellow physically. He is a property owner up in Waterbury. Conn. Connor and the veteran, Dan Brouthers, once the National league’s biggest hitter, had In argument tl«t~Tevlved memories. "I can’t see where the game has improved, Dan.” said Connor. “In fact, 1 <ton’t believe there’s anybody in baseball today, not excepting Dajoie, Cobb, Wagner and others who can hit the ball any harder than we did.” • "That's been my argument ail along,” replied Brouthers. "And furthermore, the pitchers and fielders aren’t a bit better. You don’t see any greater stars than Ewing, Keefe, Clarkson, Ward, Anson, Hardie Richardson, Radbourne, Kelly and Williamson, do you?" “You can bet your life on that!” said Connor with a grim smile. Connor first became famous as first base man of. the Troys, He began playing with the Giants in 1886 and remained with them until the season of 1894, when John M. Ward, then manager, replaced him at the initial sack with Jack Doyle. It was a hard blow to Roger, who shortly after had decided to go into retirement. But he’s followed the fortunes of the New Yorks ever since and is a thirty-third degree bug. >