Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1907 — The SPORTING WORLD [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The SPORTING WORLD

Soden’s Retirement. The American world of baseball deeply regrets the retirement of A. H. Soden of Boston from the game. For more than thirty years he was one of the standbys of the National league. He was chief owner of the Boston club. His history is the history of the grand old National league, as he first

became connected with the Boston club in 1876, the first year of the National league, the oldest baseball organization in the country. From that time to 1906 Mr. Soden had always kept his club in good financial shape, had participated in all the great baseball movements of a quarter of a century and had always been a forceful and respected figure in the sport and a strong pillar In the National league. Harry C. Pulliam, president of the National league, recently referred to President Arthur H. Soden of the Boston National league club us the best sportsman in the business. He said—and truthfully—that the owners of the Boston club, at the suggestion of Mr. Soden, had come forward on more than one occasion with tens of thousands of dollars to aid the National league in a crisis and that in large financial matters they were most liberal.

John L. to Retire From Stage. John L. Sullivan, like Patti, has a habit of announcing every public performance as a farewell one. The “Old Roman” of the prize ring always was full of resolutions, and his latest is the announcement that his present successful theatrical tour, in which he boxes, is his last one. He is so pleased with his reception in the middle west, where he is now appearing, that he declares he is content to rest on the reputation he has gained and held as no other fighter-ever was able to do. Reports say that John L. has laid by a little nest egg at last and that he plans to cultivate a domestic habit to last him the rest of his days. “The receptions I am getting are the pleasantest things that could come to me,” he said in Indianapolis. “As nearly as I can make out, the public thinks just as much of me now as it ever did, and it pleases me greatly. On such a reputation I am willing to retire." In many respects John L. is covering the same route taken by Battling Nelson and other fighters when they were at the top of the ladder, and the old timer is drawing much larger audiences than they ever attracted. Hope to Raise Cup. Lawn tennis players in this country believe that with the retirement of the Doherty brothers of England a team could be sent abroad that would be sure to recover the Davis cup. Frederick G. Anderson has been seeking opinions as to the advisability of challenging this year. With the Dohertys out, it is believed that the strongest team England could muster would be A. W. Gore, Frank L. Riseley and possibly F. Wilding and that there are a number of players of unquestioned amateur status in this country who should be able to succesfully compete with them for the trophy.

This Horse Not a "Lemon." Dan Fenelon certainly Is unique in his training methods. He bought a pacer named Mark Hanna at a sale for $450, and everybody said he had bought a lemon. Then he won six races. On Sept. 19 he won at West Bend, Wls. The next day he was roaded thirty miles to Cedarburg. On Sept. 20 he won a race there and the next day another race. On Sept. 21 at Beaver Dam he won a seven heat race. These four races were all in seven days. Ha also won at Fond du Lac and Wautoma.

Catcher Bsrgen Holds Odd Record. Catcher Bergen of Brooklyn is the only backstop who ever caught three men napping off bases while one man was waiting at the bat. It was at Fort Wayne several seasons ago, and the bases were filled. The man on second took a comfortable lead, and Bregen caught him by a quick throw. Then the man on first started to steal, and Bergen nabbed him. As the ball came back Bergpn whipped it to third and caught the man there.

Robson Wants to Fight Attall. -Spike Robson, the featherweight champion of England, is anxious for a match with Abe Attell for the championship of the world. He is willing to take on Attell for six or twenty rounds or a finish fight. Although Robson is only a featherweight, he says he will meet Murphy. Corbett, Herman, Nelson or Britt in a six round contest.

A. H. SODEN.