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."
April 25, 1909
French Lick, IN
"The Louisville Giants left Tuesday morning for French Lick Springs, Indiana to play a series of games. Manager Ed Lencaster is much pleased with his men, and says that he has one of the best teams in the country. Captain Williams, of the New York Cuban Giants, states that the local boys are excellent players, and before the summer is over, he expects to hear of them standing high with other semi-professional teams. - Cary B. Lewis."
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 14, 1909
West Baden, IN
"Sprudels Take Series. - Beat the Memphis, Tennessee Giants for Three Straight Games. - Special to the Freeman. - West Baden, Indiana. - The West Baden Sprudels and Memphis Giants finished a series of three games, Saturday the 14th. All three games went in Baden's favor. The second game was somewhat exciting, going thirteen innings. Memphis scored in the twelfth and seemed to be a sure winner, but Baden evened matters in their half by Burnett going to third on a bunt and scoring on Williams' and Washington's tie-up at first. In the thirteenth Webb put one to third that was difficult for the little fellow on that sack, and he threw wild. Webb then stole second and advanced to third on Coleman's sacrifice, and then scored on slow fielding of Memphis' shortstop. Webb is considered the best first baseman in the West. Skinny Williams is playing find ball; Skinny is known as the only real utility man ever seen on the West Baden ball grounds. Coleman and Ralph Jones, of the Louiville Giants, are also making good. Cola has caught the past thirty games. First game - Memphis Giants 3, West Baden Sprudels 4. Second game Memphis Giants 4, West Baden Sprudels 5. Third game Memphis Giants 5, West Baden Sprudels 8."
West Baden, IN
"Even Break in Series. - West Baden Sprudels and French Lick Plutos Win Three Each. - Special to the Freeman. - West Baden, Indiana. - The West Baden Sprudels and French Lick Plutos broke even in their six-game series, the first going to French Lick, 5 to 1. The next three went to West Baden, 4 to 1, 6 to 3, and 2 to 0. The next two were in French Lick's favor, 4 to 2 and 5 to 0. Two out of the six were thirteen-inning games. One went in Baden's favor after the third batter had struck out with two men on bases and two out, but the Pluto catcher failed to hold a foul tip, which resulted in a two-base hit, ending the score at 6 to 3 in the first half of the thirteenth. West Baden failed to score in their half. The last game went thirteen innings in French Lick's favor. Twelve innings were played without either side making a score. In the thirteenth, Harris, French Lick's star third baseman, popped out a single in the time of need, and Baden went in the air, and the result was five runs. West Baden failed to score in their half, and the end was a whitewash, 5 to 0. Cool Brown and Wild Dan Watkins pitched both the thirteen-inning games. Brown is West Baden's best pitcher and seldom loses a game. He was formerly of the Philadelphia Giants. Watkins is also a good pitcher, and is widely known for his speed. He has lost only two games since he has been with French Lick. Edmond Pace, the crack fielder of the Anderson team, is making good with the Sprudels. Pace is putting the wood against the leather. George Brown, formerly of the Louisville Giants, is also making good with the Sprudels. Manager Burnett says Brown is his most steady man. Little Beach and Ironsides Burnett, the only two home boys that are still making good, are putting up a good game. Little Beach is known as the smallest shortstop ever seen on a diamond with semi-professionals. Burnett made one of the best catches ever seen on the West Baden ground, in the fifth game, by running at least a hundred feet back in right field and catching a fly ball that looked to be a sure home run. Burnett caught the ball with his back to it, running at full speed."
August 15?, 1909
French Lick, IN
"Plutos Win Two Games. - French Lick, Indiana. - The French Lick Plutos won two games from Jasonville last week. Scores: First Game, Jasonville 4, Plutos 5. Second Game, Jasonville 2, Plutos 4."
August 22, 1909
French Lick, IN
"Nationals Slaughtered. - French Lick, Indiana. - To the tune of 16 to 0, the Bedford Nationals went down in defeat before the hard-hitting Plutos, Sunday. The feature of the game was a triple play with three men on bases. Batteries (Plutos) Alexander and Watts; (Bedford) Williams and Thomas."
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."
French Lick, IN
"The French Lick Plutos defeated the Sprudels Friday 7 to 3."
September 4, 1909
French Lick, IN
"The French Lick Plutos defeated the Sprudels Saturday 3 to 1."
September 5, 1909
West Baden, IN
"Sprudels Down Athletics. - Special to the Freeman. - West Baden, Indiana. - The West Baden Sprudels defeated the Evansville Athletics Sunday, in a well-played game, 8 to 3. This is the third victory for the Sprudels this season over the Athletics. They played four games in the spring. The Athletics were very much disappointed in their defeat, as they had picked some of the best that they could find in Evansville to win out in the series."
September 6, 1909
West Baden, IN
"The Sprudels redeemed themselves Monday by shutting the Plutos out, 13 to 0, without a hit. Little Stanford of Louisville pitched the phenomenal game, and also struck out eight men."
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."
September 17, 1909
West Baden, IN
"Sprudels Close Season. - French Lick Plutos Last Victims - Lose by Scores of 8 to 3 and 4 to 3. - Special to the Freeman. - West Baden, Indiana. - The West Baden Sprudels beat the French Lick Plutos Friday and Saturday of last week in two well-played games. Brown, West Baden's old reliable, only allowed the Plutos four hits in the first game, and Sanford, who is always a puzzle to the Taggarts, only allowed them five in the second game. The Sprudels have a good team at present, and Manager Burnett regrets that the season is near an end. Webb, who has played star ball for West Baden all summer, will go back to his old home at Anderson, Indiana, the first of the month. He is considered the best first baseman West Baden ever had. He is desirous of getting on with some good team next season. Skinny Williams, who has been starring for West Baden as utility man, will go to his home in Cairo, Illinois. Sanford will go to Minneapolis, where he is to play with the Keystones next season. George Brown, the Sprudels' timely and reliable bunter, will go to Louisville, as he was only borrowed from the Giants. Jones also will go to Louisbille to play with the Cubs next season. Coleman, Louisville's favorite ball player and former captain of the Giants, will retain his old position as 'Captain Cola behind the bat.' Manager Burnett is contemplating having the best team in the West next season, and hopes to turn out a few more, as he did this season to the Lelands. First game (Friday) West Baden 8, French Lick Plutos 3."
September 18, 1909
West Baden, IN
"Second game (Saturday) West Baden 4, French Lick Plutos 3."
September 24, 1909
French Lick, IN
"Plutos Beat Giants. - Special to the Freeman. - French Lick, Indiana. - The hard-hitting Plutos defeated the Leland Giants, the champion colored team Friday, September 24, 2 to 1, in the most exciting game played here this season. Little Harris of the Plutos was invincible all along, allowing three scattered hits, while the Plutos got five off of Lawson."
October 8, 1909
West Baden, IN
"French Lick Plutos Down the Cubs - Visitors Claimed to Have Played Dirty Ball. - By Ed. H. Rogers. - West Baden, Indiana, October 8. - The French Lick Plutos beat the Louisville Cubs two out of a three-game series, ending Friday, October 8. The first game was well played, ending in the Cubs' favor, having been in the Plutos' favor up until the tenth inning, when a little error at second allowed the Cubs their winning run. West pitched for the Cubs and Alexander for the Plutos. The Plutos hit West hard, but were unable to get safe ones at the proper time. The score: Cubs 6, Plutos 5."
"The second game was fast and snappy and would have been one of the best games French Lick has seen for some time if it hadn't have been for the arguing of the Cubs. The Cubs argued on every close decision, and also on balls and strikes; the Cubs also made a bad showing in playing what is commonly called dirty ball. Pugh made a very bad game in blocking at second, when he was playing short. A couple of times he forgot and thought he was playing left tackle on a football team, and held his man outright. In the ninth inning Briscoe attempted a fould play that probably cost them the game. Griffin came up in the ninth, with the score 6 to 4, and got to first on an error by Jackson at short. Briscoe hit across third, which left two on base. Robinson hit a line drive to Harris in the box, which seemed sure to pass, but the little twirler made a quick grab and drawed it in, and, all with the same motion, slammed it to first, which caught Briscoe going for second. Warmack, who was on first, sent it on to second in order to make a triple, but failed to get Griffin. Briscoe, through foul or dumb playing, continued to run after being out at first, and was caught at third, making him out twice, and tried to claim they got the wrong man, but it was out the minute he crossed Griffin at second. A play like that comes under the rules of interference, Briscoe old boy. The Plutos completed a triple play in that inning which was the first ever made on the French Lick diamond. The score Cubs 4, Plutos 6."
October 9, 1909
French Lick, IN
"Harris is the sensation of the Plutos this season. He scored a no-hit game against the Sprudels some time ago."
French Lick, IN
"The third game was all in the Plutos' favor, they holding the Cubs without a score until the ninth inning. there was a considerable lot of arguing by the Cubs, the same as the day before. The Plutos changed umpires, at their request, before the game started, but that didn't keep them from playing that baby game of quitting, going home, umpire's a robber. West was in for the Cubs, and was hammered for fifteen safe ones. while they only got seven off of Alexander, and three of these being in the ninth, Manager Black, of the Cubs, was short of men, and filled in by playing right field. He played fine ball throughout the contest, having batted a thousand on the second day by getting three singles and a double. The score: Cubs 2, Plutos 7."
October 30, 1909
French Lick, IN
"Although the A.B.C.s are champions of the Hoosier metropolis, the Plutos of French Lick, Indiana seem to have a firm grip on the State Championship, and we might say also on the championship of Kentucky. The A.B.C.s and the Plutos did not cross bats this season, but we pose the latter as the State champions by a comparison of their respective records. The Indianapolis team has met some pretty strong teams, a majority of which were white. But they can not be compared with such teams - with the exception of the Louisville Cubs, against which both teams played - as the Leland Giants, the Nebraska Indians, and the West Baden Sprudels, all of which have met defeat at the hands of the politicians of French Lick. Five teams of the Trolley League know the strength of the Plutos. Their record for this season places them as the champions of Indiana semi-professionals - champions over white and colored. Their recent triple defeat of the Louisville Cubs classifies the Plutos as the stronger of the two."
French Lick, IN
"French Lick Plutos Make Great Season's Record - Win 126 Games, Lose 20 - Beat some of the Country's Fastest Semi-Professional Teams. - French Lick, Indiana. - French Lick's Pluto baseball club, catering to a rapidly increasing patronage of both guests and townspeople, enjoyed marked prosperity during the season on 1909, with the standard of play higher on the average than in previous years, and with the government of the sport on a more substantial basis than ever before. Too much credit can not be given Captain Warmack for gathering together such a bunch of youngsters as he laid hands on this summer. The Pluto team justly deserves the name of the hard hitting Plutos, because every man on the team has a batting average of over .300, and I don't think any team in the country can say as much, and the oldest man on the team is twenty-five. Then again, the Plutos have beaten every semi-pro team of any note in this section of the country this summer, including the Lintons, Jasonville, Boonville, Odon, Sheldon, all of the Trolley Leauge, and the Mt. Vernon Stars, Portland Giants, Sprudels, Jeffersonville, English, Louisvillle Cubs, Leland Gaints, Mitchell Nationals, Salem Stars, Oxford Indians, Nebraska Indians, and other teams of lesser note too numberous to mention. The Plutos have played all told 126 games and lost 20. How is that? Much credit is also due Messrs. Pitman, Martin and Laws, the manager and owners of the team, because they were continually going down in their jeans to pay off the players and meet the other expenses of the team the first three months of the season, but they stood it like brave men; and thanks to their never-say-die spirit, they told Captain Warmack to keep on getting players until he found a bunch to suit him, regardless of expense, and if you don't think they've got a team now, write Manager Stringer or Black of the Louisville Cubs, or Rube Foster of the Leland Giants, who said that they were the hardest-hitting fellows that ever they had seen, and they had seen some, too. All teams will have to sit up and take notice of the Plutos next year. Every member of the team has gone to his respective home. Every man got every cent that was due him, and every one of them has signed a contract for the next year."
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."
June 19, 1909
French Lick, IN
"They (French Lick Plutos) played West Baden last Saturday and Sunday, and gave a good exhibition. Saturday's game resulted in twelve innings, score 4 to 3 in favor of the West Baden boys. Both teams played star ball. Miller, the new twirler, graced the mound for the Plutos, handled the pill with much satisfaction; and struck out nine men."
June 20, 1909
French Lick, IN
"The old Ex-A.B.C. battery, Washington and Chenault, were there in Sunday's game, while Woods did some good stick work, getting three taps in four times at bat. West Baden 1, Plutos 6.
June 26, 1909
French Lick, IN
"Plutos Reorganized. - New Lineup - Played West Baden Two Games - Miller Does Good Work. - Special to the Freeman. - Franch Lick, Indiana. - The Plutos have reorganized for the season. The following is the new lineup: Catchers, Watts and Chenault; pitchers, Washington, Miller and Harris; first base, Womack; second base, Lee; third base, Golich; shortstop, Lindsey; left field, Woods; center field, Harris; and right field, White. The Plutos would like to book games with any first-class teams: The A.B.C.s and Dayton Marcos preferred. Address John Chenault, Box 92, French Lick, Indiana."
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?"
July 19, 1909
West Baden, IN
"Plutos Take Lion's Share. - West Baden Loses Three Games of a Four-Game Series. - Special to the Freeman. - West Baden, Indiana - French Lick and West Baden ended a series of games last Monday. French Lick took three, while Baden barely got away with one. Wild Dan, French Lick's pitcher, took the first game by a score of 5 to 2. The second game was taken by a score of 4 to 3 by Sloan, French Lick's southpaw, who is soon to sign with the Cuban Stars. He not only showed that he was a pitcher, but proved that he was there with the stick, by putting the ball over the fence in the fourth. The third game was more interesting than all, as it lasted eleven innings. Miller, one of French Lick's new pitchers, finally won it by a score of 6 to 5. Sanford, formerly of the Louisville Giants, pitched the fourth for Baden and won by the score of 7 to 5. Slim, also of the Louisville Giants, is with Baden now, and is playing fine ball. He has made better with the team than any of the Louisville players. He has played outfield, infield and pitched, and is yet without an error. Cola, one of Louisville's old favorites, is also catching a good game for Baden. Manager Burnett is anxious to get just one more of Louisville's players, whom he says is one of the best fielders in the Southwest, Jesse Briscoe. I'll agree with Burnett that there is none better."