Giants On The Ball Field, Part Five

John W. O'Connell, who served long enough in the School Board to entitle him to a pension, was one of the original founders of the Empire Club and was a good, all-around player.  He was president of the club several terms and still retains all his youthful love of the game.

E.C. Simmons, president of the largest hardware company in the world, was a player in the Commercial Club in antebellum days.

Joe P. Carr, the Merchants Exchange caller, was one of the Union Club's most enthusiastic, if not one of its crack players.  He could play any position equally well, but that of spectator was more to his own liking as it afforded opportunities to display his manly form as well as to take in or drop a few shekels.  

Harry Carr was, par excellence, a ball player in every respect.  He was one of the best of fielders and a safe batter.  With him, it was just as much a matter of business to win as it now is to keep straight the books of the Simmons Hardware Company.

William Medart of the Medart Pulley Company was prominent in ball affairs and did as much to promote the game as anyone.  He was the organizer of several clubs and was always in great demand as umpire, in which capacity he witnessed many matches and proved a most correct and satisfactory arbiter.

P.J. Cooney, the Cass avenue carriage and wagon manufacturer, was an Empire player from "way back."

William C. Dyer, principal of the Madison Public School, belonged to the Union Club and kept a neat score.

Robert Franklin, resident manager of the William Barr Dry Goods Company, played in the Morning Star Club, as also did George M. Wright, the cashier.

Chas. F. Gauas, wholesale hat and cap dealer, was one of the Commercial's players.

Louis Schrader, the Franklin avenue cigar manufacturer, was a reliable fielder in the Rowena club and a fine umpire.

C. Orrick Bishop of the Circuit Attorney's office was an active member of the Union club and was managing director at the original organization of the Brown Stocking Club.

Thomas C. Doan, the tenor singer, was secretary of the Union club for a time.

Archie Easton achieved great distinction as a baseman and safe batter in the same club, and Rufus J. Lackland, Jr., played well in right field.  Matt F. Prouty had charge of first base for one or two seasons, and Wm. Freeman, son of W.P. Freeman, a leading commission merchant, was at home in the field or batting, but catcher was his strong position.

Wm. Gorman, whose father was one of the best-known river captains, was a splendid catcher.

-St. Louis Daily Republic, February 9, 1896