1909 French Lick Plutos
Stories are placed in order of the date they appeared.
April 3, 1909
French Lick, IN
"The Plutos, a colored baseball team, played the Indianapolis team at French Lick, Indiana, last week. The latter is in training there."
May 1, 1909
French Lick, IN
"Sol Pittman, of French Lick, Indiana, has organized a baseball team which will be known as the Plutos. He has a fast aggregation, and intends to build one of the finest baseball parks in the State controlled by colored people. Headed by Rube Washington, the team expects to carry off honors when the season ends. John Chenault, former captain of the Indianapolis A.B.C.s, with Johnny behind the willow stick, home plate will be well taken care of. Manager Pittman has put much faith in Washington and Chenault to give French Lick a deserved place in baseball circles. Thomas Taggart, ex-mayor of Indianapolis, and a well-known politician, is assisting the team. The Plutos are open to engagements with fast teams. Address John Chenault, Box 92, French Lick, Indiana."
May 15, 1909
French Lick, IN
"Harris, of the Plutos, so far, is the star of the season. He pitched a no-hit game against the Louisville Giants."
"Plutos Ready for Games. - French Lick Team Composed of a Fast Aggregation of Ball Players. - French Lick, Indiana, Special. - The Plutos are ready for the talent. Their new park in French Lick is nearing completion. Everything will be new - park fence, grand stand and all. Among the lineup are to be found the following experienced athletes: Harry Washington (the Rube), late of the A.B.C.s, manager and star pitcher; Harris (the pride of the valley), pitcher; John Chenault (secretary of the club and once with the A.B.C.s), catcher; Skemp (old-timer), first base; Alex. Smith (late of Pittsburg Giants), second base; Sneed (the throwing wonder from Indianapolis), right field; Opee (the wonderful third baseman), third base; Scarbough (of Wace, Texas), first base; Joe boyle (of Waco, Texas), left field; Jack Dempsey (of Chicago), center field, and the only Negro umpire who has ever called a game in organized baseball, Jack Hogan, of Detroit, Michigan."
May 29, 1909
French Lick, IN
"No, we haven't heard from your team yet, says Rube Washington, of the Plutos, of French Lick, Indiana."
French Lick, IN
"Plutos Snatched Two From Red Sox - French Lick Team Blank Rivals in Saturday's Game by a Score of 11 to 0 - Sunday's Game 6 to 5. - French Lick, Indiana. - The Plutos are putting up a fine article of ball. Their latest opponents were the Red Sox, who were beaten in two games last Saturday and Sunday. - Saturday's game was featured by the hitting of Sneed, who hit for four singles and all round work of the Plutos."
May 30, 1909
French Lick, IN
"Plutos vs Red Sox 6 to 5."
May 31, 1909
French Lick, IN
"Monday's game was called off on account of rain. Plutos would like to hear from all first-class teams desiring games. Addess John Chevault, Box 92."
August 6, 1909
West Baden, IN
"West Baden Sprudels Win. - West Baden, Indiana. - The West Baden Sprudels defeated the French Lick Plutos in a hard-fought thirteen-inning game August 6. The features of the game were the batting of Williams, who broke up the game with a homer in the thirteenth with two men on bases. Score: Sprudels 6, Plutos 3. Batteries - Sprudels, Brown and Coleman; Plutos, Watkins and Watts. Umpire - Jackson."
August 25?, 1909
French Lick, IN
"Plutos Defeat Walkovers. - Special to the Freeman. - French Lick, Indiana. - The Plutos defeated a team here Wednesday of last week called the Okland City Walkovers, 8 to 1, making five hits and seven runs in the first inning. The Plutos played an errorless game. Batteries - Plutos, Alexander and Watts: Oakland City, Prior, Low and Wallace. Umpire Jackson, the Plutos have won ten games out of the last eleven, taking five out of six from West Baden."
August 29, 1909
West Baden, IN
"Sprudels Defeat Plutos. - Special to the Freeman. - West Baden, Indiana. - The West Baden Sprudels defeated the French Lick Plutos here Sunday in a game full of sensational plays. Batteries - Plutos, Watkins and Watts; Sprudels, Denny and Coleman."
September 3, 1909
French Lick, IN
"Four in a Row to Plutos. - Harris Wins Last Game, Allowing Sprudels Two Bumps. - Special to the Freeman: French Lick, Indiana. - The Plutos made it four straight from the Sprudels by defeating them in the last games of a series, September 3. Score was 7 to 3. The Plutos knocked two pitchers out of the box - Brown and Safford - while little Harris was invincible, letting the Sprudels down with two hits, the Plutos getting nine off of Brown and Safford. The Sprudels were credited with five errors and the Plutos with one. The Plutos left for Linton, where they were to play Saturday and Sunday, playing a double header Sunday."
September 11, 1909
Linton, IN
"The Plutos left for Linton, where they were to play Saturday and Sunday, playing a double header Sunday."
September 12, 1909
Linton, IN
"The Plutos left for Linton, where they were to play Saturday and Sunday, playing a double header Sunday."
June 12, 1909
French Lick, IN
"A Week With Plutos. - French Lick, Indiana. - Owensboro, Kentucky, could only find the Plutos for the bull's eye. Owensboro 0, Plutos 8; Owensboro 1, Plutos 9."
"Nashville lost two games to Plutos. - Nashville 6, Plutos 4; Nashville 2, Plutos 6; Nashville 2, Plutos 11."
June 18, 1909
West Baden, IN
"Sprudels Best Plutos. - West Baden, Indiana. - For the sixth straight time the West Baden Sprudels defeated the French Lick Plutos last Friday by a score of 11 to 8. Batteries - Sprudels, Brown and Pierce."
July 3, 1909
West Baden, IN
"John Chenault, of the Plutos, sends regards to the boys."
July 10, 1909
Indianapolis, IN
"Why don't the West Baden and the French Lick teams give us a game in the Hoosier metropolis?"