1894 by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview
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Page 73
was the high priced outfield recruit signed by the club’s eastern agent, Boston sportswriter Tim Murnane, and walked away shaking his head. When the 1888 season got started, Anson ignored Duffy and left him on the bench for more than two months. But the departure of flycatcher Billy Sunday and the anemic bat of replacement Marty Sullivan finally prompted Anson to afford Duffy an audition for the right field spot, and Hugh did not miss his chance.
On June 23, 1888, Hugh Duffy made his field leader take notice, going 2 for 6 at the plate and playing flawless defense in his major league debut, a 12-1 thrashing of Pittsburgh. Pleased with the game’s outcome, Anson left Duffy in the lineup, and the rookie continued to produce. By season’s end, he was the club’s everyday right fielder. In 71 games, Duffy batted .282, with 21
extra base hits and 13 stolen bases. He had also played sound defense, recording 19 assists from his post in the pasture. And against the odds, Anson had taken a liking to him.
Cap Anson was a man firmly imbued with nineteenth century wisdoms, and Duffy’s size, religion, and ethnic background were all to be counted against him in Anson’s book. But Anson prized Duffy’s talent, intelligence, sobriety, and seriousness, and, innate biases notwithstanding, invested time and interest in his young charge’s development. Hugh responded with a standout