The Base Ball Life of Patrick O'Farrell

[O-Man]

I must say, there are many great threads, but this one is different. John is right on the mark, you capture the time period very well; the letters are amazing.

Keep up the good work!
(and Good Luck to Pat O'Farrell! )

[Big Six]

Thanks, O-Man. I'm glad you're enjoying it! I've had a lot of fun with it so far. I find myself rooting for Pat quite a bit myself, because I'd like to keep this going. I'd be disappointed if he ends up playing 50 games in the majors, or something like that.

But, if he does, I'll just begin another story, I guess.

[Big Six]

242 Angell Street
Providence, Rhode Island

Mr. Charles Prentice
442 Park Street
Stockbridge, Massachusetts

August 4, 1907


Dear Charlie,

Again, you have no idea how much I enjoyed the visit you and Johnny made to Providence yesterday! It was a complete surprise, needless to say. I enjoyed your story about your stop at New Bedford first, and the way you learned from the old man outside the ball park that I'd been moved up. Fortunately the train trip from there to Providence wasn't a long one, and I got to see you anyway.

I'm beginning to think I am some sort of good luck charm. It seems that when I make a friend, he ends up being summoned to Boston. It happened to Tris Speaker today. It seems that Sullivan, the Red Sox centerfielder, is injured and will miss the rest of the season, so Tris went up to take his place. I would be very surprised if Providence ever sees Speaker again, unless it is in an exhibition.

I did some figuring, and for the season I am hitting .324, between New Bedford and Providence. My percentage is down some since I joined the Grays; I had it as high as .339 with the Whalers. I've already stolen more bases this season than last, too. I'd like to get four more to make it an even 50.

I suppose you'll be going back to Amherst soon. When do classes begin? I do plan on keeping my promise to my father, and hope to enroll there for the second term. If Sarah happens to be at Mount Holyoke then, I will have an even greater incentive, will I not? Speaking of Sarah, please send my greetings to her when you see her next. We are writing about once a week now, but every opportunity I have to be remembered to her, I plan to avail myself of.

If I continue ending sentences with prepositions, Amherst will never accept me, so I think I will close now. I hope the next time you visit me, I will be wearing a Boston uniform.

Your pal,
Pat

[dsvitak]

This is a terrific thread!

Be prepared to spend A LOT of time on this!

Bubba and I will be reading each post carefully.

[Big Six]

It's good to hear from you, dsvitak. Bubba's story was the inspiration for Pat's, in fact, and I must confess that the medium in which I'm telling it owes a lot to your example. Thanks for not accusing me of imitating your method.

I'm on spring break right now, and most of my free time this week will be spent on two things: refinishing a dining room table and Patrick's story. My wife has read much of this over my shoulder, and as long as I make sufficient progress on the table (which isn't going to be a problem, because I enjoy it), she has no problem with me spending time in front of the computer. We have a "playroom" where I play sports simulations and she cross stitches, both to our hearts' content.

I'm glad Bubba is following along as well. I hope both of you enjoy it.

[Big Six]

Boston Globe , Tuesday, September 9, 1907


SOX TO GO WITH YOUTH IN SEASON'S FINAL WEEKS
O'Farrell Summoned From Providence

BOSTON- Languishing in seventh place with barely more than two dozen contests remaining, Manager Jimmy Collins of the Boston Americans has decided that there is no better time than now to audition some of the youngsters who he hopes will don Red Sox in the springs and summers to come.

With that in mind, yesterday the Sox obtained the contract of Providence second sacker Patrick O'Farrell. O'Farrell, eager to begin his major league career, arrived in Boston on last night's train.

A week shy of his twentieth birthday, "Pat," as he is known, batted .331 in 139 games, divided between the New Bedford club of the New England League and the Grays. He added 7 home runs and 60 RBI. O'Farrell is a shifty, speedy base runner, swiping 53 bags while being nabbed in the act on only five occasions. He brings with him a reputation as a nifty man with the glove as well.

O'Farrell will make his debut today, Manager Collins planning to give him the majority of the remaining games at second base. He will also bat in the initial position in Collins' order. "I figure I'll let him see what he can do there, as he's always been a leadoff man," the veteran third sacker and pilot explained.

Pat joins fellow youngster Tris Speaker, seven months younger than he, in the Boston lineup. The two phenoms crossed paths briefly in Providence earlier this season. "Pat's a fine ball player," Texas Tristram said. "I expect he'll do fine."

The Red Sox' opponents to-day will be their White counterparts from Chicago. Ralph Glaze pitches for the home team, with 20-game winning ace Doc White, the left-handed dentist, on the hill for the Chicagos.

[Big Six]

Boston Post, Wednesday, September 10, 1907

RED SOX WIN CLOSE GAME
Glaze Defeats White, 2-1
Rookie O'Farrell Shines in Debut

BOSTON- Before a fine week-day turnout at the Huntington Avenue Grounds yesterday, Boston hurler Ralph Glaze bested a man who is arguably the league's finest moundsman this season, "Doc" White of Chicago. Glaze held the visitors to a mere three hits and one run, while his teammates pushed two runners plateward in the eighth frame to give him the victory.

Second baseman "Pat" O'Farrell made his first appearance in a big league game, and acquitted himself well. He wasted no time either, ranging behind the bag to snare a grounder by Chicago leadoff batter Patsy Dougherty and snapping a throw to first that barely nabbed the speedy Dougherty.

The young Irishman also played a key role in the Bostons' late rally. Catcher Al Shaw ripped a base hit to left field, and was sacrificed to second by "Moose" Grimshaw. Pitcher Glaze scratched out an infield hit, moving Shaw to third, and O'Farrell followed with a neat single to center, scoring Shaw. Bob Unglaub then brought Glaze across the dish with another hit.

"It's a thrill to even make it to the major leagues, not to mention getting my first hit and driving in a run," the soft-spoken O'Farrell commented after the game. "To get the hit off a fine pitcher like White makes it even more special."

Chicago and Boston play again today at 1:05, with Frank Smith and Jesse Tannehill pitching for their respective squads.

[Big Six]

Here's the batting line for Pat in his September callup:

G: 14
AB: 53
H: 10
2B: 3
3B: 0
HR: 0
RBI: 2
R: 3
BB: 3
K: 12
SB: 0
CS: 0
BA: .189
OBP: .232
SLG: 245
OPS: .477

He also handled 70 chances in the field without an error, which surely pleased Jimmy Collins.

He struck out a ton, which doesn't surprise me. He is only 19, after all, and has had trouble making contact whenever he's moved up a level. When he actually put the ball in play, he hit .322.

Sorry about the strange format for the stats. I don't know how to import a nice-looking table into my posts the way a few of you do.

[Big Six]

Amherst College
Amherst, Massachusetts

November 11, 1907


Dear Mom and Dad,

I needed a break from studying, and writing a letter home seemed like a good way to take care of something I've been meaning to do at the same time. It will not be a long letter, as I still have a good amount of reading to do before I go to sleep, and I don't want to inconvenience Charlie. He likes to retire early, after all.

I suppose classes are going well. It was not easy to find professors who were willing to allow me to begin their classes two weeks late, and only one of them was kind enough to provide a list of material I could read in advance in order to keep up. Even then, it was difficult to find time to retrieve the books from the Boston Public Library and then, to do any reading at all. I find the professors to be demanding, but fair. And, in all honesty, I believe that the time I have spent living on my own while playing ball has helped me considerably. Some of the other fellows can hardly take care of themselves.

I have seen Sarah once since I arrived. it amuses us to think that although she's two years younger, as far as Mount Holyoke and Amherst are concerned, we are now classmates. And, considering the fact that I can only attend half a year at a time, she will be graduating twice as fast. The literary society of which she has recently become a member attended a social at Amherst three weeks ago, and we spent most of the evening together. We continue to write to each other, and I believe I might try to call her on the telephone, if I can learn from her where one might be available for her use.

Well, my history reading isn't getting any shorter, so I must close now. Give Emily a hug for me, and write to me soon.

Your loving son,
Patrick

[Big Six]

Putnam Hotel
447 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts

April 8, 1908


Dear Mom and Dad,

I will begin for apologizing for not writing more often from Little Rock. I have never been as tired as I was during our training there. I felt like I was running constantly...running from the hotel to the ball field, running back to the hotel, running in general. I still don't see how some of the older fellows did it. I did notice, however, that old Cy Young didn't run as much as most of us did. I suppose he's earned the right to choose his spots, however.

Before you consider me disrespectful for referring to Mr. Young as Old Cy, I should point out that he calls himself that from time to time. When I met him this spring--remember, he was injured last September and was not with the team when I arrived--I addressed him as "Mr. Young." He replied with a laugh, and told me that I was to call him Cy. "I won't have a man who's playing second base behind me call me Mr. Anything," he informed me. I must confess I am still in awe of him, as he began his major league career the year I turned two, and I don't refer to completing a double play in this case.

The hotel where I am living is home to almost all the single men on the club. It is an easy walk from the grounds, and it is far nicer than any of the hotels I could have availed myself of in Richmond, New Bedford, or Providence. Bill Carrigan, now a married man, has moved on to quarters more suited to a domestic fellow like he has become. Tris lives here, however, and I've come to know a few of the other fellows who are new to the team as well.

A young pitcher named Joe Wood, with whom I became acquainted at Little Rock, did not make the team out of camp, however, and he is now down at Providence. I gave Joe the name of the lady who owns the house on Angell Street where I boarded last spring, and I heard from him yesterday that he has settled in there nicely. As hard as Wood throws, I suspect he will be on his way to Boston directly, if he can master the task of throwing the ball over the plate a bit more consistently.

I promise I will write to everyone more regularly once I become more accustomed to life as a major league ball player. Forgive me if I sound a bit arrogant, but I'm still not completely convinced that I'm playing in the American League.

Nothing would please me more than to receive a visit from you at some point during the season. I know how long it has been since you've been to Boston, Mom. Hug Emily for me.

It's off to the park for me now, as we entertain the Philadelphia Athletics today. Eddie Plank, a Gettysburg College man, will be pitching against us. See, Dad, not all base ball players are uneducated rubes!

Your loving son,
Patrick

[Big Six]

As the 1908 season begins, Pat has added a fifth star to his prospect line!!

He is now rated a 4 for Getting Hits, a 0 for Hitting Home Runs, and a 4 for Drawing Walks.

He's also learned a new position...apparently he was taking some fly balls out in left field down in Little Rock. He's retained his good glove at second, with an A for range, and can play a decent game at short as well (range B).

The Auto Depth feature has him slated to start at 2B for the Sox this spring, although a good prospect is right behind him at AAA. Amby McConnell is four years older than Pat, and is almost exactly as fully developed as a player. One could hardly blame O'Farrell if he looks over his shoulder a little bit this spring.

Auto Lineup has him leading off the order against both righties and lefties, however, with a dude named Speaker batting in the 8 hole. Something tells me Tris might be moving up before his career progresses too far, however. He's also a five-star prospect, as you might expect.

Smokey Joe Wood is currently ranked #2 among minor league prospects, behind another pitcher, Long Tom Hughes of the Highlanders. Speaker and O'Farrell, as major leaguers now, apparently aren't considered prospects, even though their stars are still blue.

Other notable prospects and their rankings:
Rube Marquard, #12
Joe Jackson, #13
Eddie Collins, #19
Hippo Vaughn, #51
Fred Merkle, #64
Heinie Zimmermann, #78

[Big Six]

Putnam Hotel
447 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts


Miss Sarah Malloy
Safford Hall
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, Massachusetts

May 30, 1908

Dear Sarah,

I hope this letter reaches you before you leave for home; I suppose they would be kind enough to forward it to you, but I would much rather you not have to wait that long.

I am truly sorry that you were not able to come to Boston with Miss Taylor to visit her family. It would have been wonderful to see you, even to know that you were among the rooters in the grandstand watching the game. I understand how plans may fall apart, however, and I suppose I will be able to wait until you persuade your father to bring you to Boston this summer.

I saw in the last published averages that I'm currently batting .287, which represents the highest percentage I've reached all season. I've scored 21 runs and have driven in 27, which is second on the team to Myron Grimshaw.

The most exciting thing that has occurred, however, took place on the 18th, when we played the Browns here in Boston. I hit my first major league home run! I wish I could tell you that it occurred in the ninth inning of a tied game, giving the Bostons a victory, but I told you I would never lie to you. It came in a game we were already winning, 5-2. The pitcher was a former team mate of mine, Ralph Glaze, and if the score had been just a bit more lopsided, I'd swear he tossed me a fat one that I could hit hard. The pitch was just where I like it; waist high and on the outside portion of the plate. I hit it over the center fielder's head, and while it rolled to the fence, I circled the bases. Again, I wish I could inform you that I hit the ball into the bleachers, but such was not the case.

I have to admit that it's much easier to write to you concerning my progress now that you've learned so much about the game! I promise, however, that my next letter will not be so entirely devoted to base ball. There are, after all, many things I would like to discuss with you, and if I cannot see you now, I shall have to write to you about them instead.

Congratulations on what I am sure is the successful completion of your first year at Mount Holyoke. You are now twice as educated as I am, as colleges count such things! Have a safe and enjoyable trip back to Stockbridge, and say hello to your family for me as well.

Yours,
Pat

[Big Six]

Boston Globe , Friday, June 6, 1908

RED SOX THE SURPRISE OF THE SEASON
Collins' Speed Boys Playing Winning Ball, Close to First Division
Young Players Making Difference

BOSTON- As the first warm breezes of April blew softly across the Huntington Avenue Grounds, few base ball writers, myself included, gave the local American League outfit much chance to make a good showing this season. There were too few hitters with punch, too few pitchers with stout enough arms to carry the team very far.

As spring prepares to give way to summer, however, most of us are now admitting we were wrong. The standings show the Bostons in fifth place, but only a scant game out of the second spot, with a record that shows 30 wins against 28 defeats.

The outfit Manager Collins has decked out in red stockings has exceeded all expectations, and best of all, the team is fully stocked with young players who should only get better.

Yes, the roster still contains the venerable names of Freeman, Ferris, Parent and Young. But these veterans have largely stepped aside in favor of names that should one day ring as proudly...Speaker and Pruiett, Cravath and O'Farrell and Carrigan and Lord.

These younger players, all 27 tender years of age or younger, form the core of the squad that should entertain Beantown rooters well into the next decade. The youngest among them, outfielder Speaker and second baseman O'Farrell, only left their teenaged years behind them months ago.

"Spoke," as the Texan is often called, is the finest flychaser to grace the Huntington grounds since their opening. Playing so shallow he appears to be an additional infielder, he nevertheless pursues the ball like a hawk, snaring it before it touches the ground behind him. His arm has already taken care of several base runners who dared to challenge him.

"Paddy" O'Farrell is equally impressive with his glove work around the keystone sack, and has hit the ball with even more authority. Seventeen of Pat's hits have gone for extra bases, and Collins recently announced that he would experiment with a move to the fifth spot in the order for the youngster, who has hit as many as ten home runs in the minor circuits. Only Grimshaw has driven home as many runners as O'Farrell at this point in the season....

(rest of article lost)

[messenjah]

I love the story. I especially like Pat's interactions with his teamates and the prospects in AAA. I think this story is great.

[Big Six]

I'm glad you like it, messenjah. That's been a big part of the fun for me as well.

I had him become buddies with Bill Carrigan because when I created Pat, Carrigan was the recognizable name on the A roster, the guy I figured would someday appear in Boston. Then, when Speaker arrived in '07, he became O'Farrell's teammate as well. It's easier to have Pat hang out with guys like Carrigan and Speaker and Wood, because I know more about them and can make their stories more realistic.

I hope you keep reading! There's more news to come soon...

[Big Six]

Boston Herald , Sunday, June 22, 1908

ROSTERS ANNOUNCED FOR ALL-STAR GAME
Pruiett, O'Farrell Selected to Squad; Will Entertain Home Rooters


If you hear cheering, the likely source is the Red Sox dugout, and more precisely, the locker stalls of Messrs. Pruiett and O'Farrell.

The rosters for next Sunday's All-Star Game were announced, and on the list were the abovementioned names. The fact that the game will be played on the Red Sox home grounds makes their selection even more exciting for both men.

Said Pruiett, "I wouldn't care where the game was played, it would be a thrill...but knowing it's here at Boston, it will be the highlight of my career." Thus speaks a man in his second major league season.

O'Farrell, even younger, could barely contain his excitement. "I never believed this could happen. I made the All-Star team at New Bedford last summer, but this is completely different. I am going to wire everybody I know and try to persuade them to come to Boston next weekend."

Pruiett, with a record of 12 wins against 3 losses, and a sparkling earned run average of 1.31 that tops the American League, was the more expected selection. The addition of O'Farrell, who's swinging the bat at a .285 pace with nine triples, two homers and 34 RBI, was a surprise to many. Perhaps his defensive skills made the difference. "Pat" has made only six errors this season, fewest among regular keystoners in either league.

Neither Bostonian will be in the starting lineup for the game, as Heinie Berger of the Cleveland Naps will be the AL's starting hurler, with his teammate Nap Lajoie starting at second base. Expect to hear even louder cheers, however, when the two local men take the field for the first time next Sunday.

[messenjah]

When's the next one coming out?

[Big Six]

Probably later this evening, or tomorrow at the latest. I've had a very busy week at work and haven't had a lot of time for the O'Farrell story, unfortunately.

I have played the All-Star game, and that's what the next "chapter"of the story will cover. Thanks for following along! I should be able to find time to post more regularly soon.

[messenjah]

bump

[StorminZ]

This has the makings of a great screenplay!

What a wonderful read! Thanks for putting the effort into the write-up, Big Six! More so, thanks for taking the time to share this story with us.

My wife thinks I'm crazy at times. I really get into this ... even though Paddy's a fictional player, it reads so real. I'm no history major, but the line you've taken seems to fit the era. And gosh, what will become of Mr. Farrell and Ms. Malloy? Stay tuned!

Great job, Big Six! A 5 star dynasty report!

StorminZ