AN AMALGAM OF ABBREVIATED ACCOUNTS
OLD MACK’S IN TOWN - From time to time, any city in America has a famous visitor in their midst. That was the case on April 2, 1917, when Cornelious McGillicuddy spoke to members of the sports writing press, most likely in conjunction with a scheduled, but rained out, game here between the Boston Braves and the New York Yankees. Who is Cornelious McGillicuddy? Well, Mr. Millicuddy was somewhat of an expert at baseball. His team was in Dublin for a short period of time practicing against the Boston Braves while they made their way north from Jacksonville, Florida after the spring training season. McGillicuddy predicted that his team would be a force to reckon with in the 1917 season especially with his favorite to win the American League, the Chicago White Sox. Only years before they had been at the top of their league. Turns out he was right and wrong. The White Sox won the American league, but finished 45 games ahead of McGillicuddy’s last place Athletics.
The Mr. Cornelius McGillicuddy I speak of is known by most baseball fans by his shortened name, Connie Mack. Mack was an owner, player, and manager. As the longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, Mack holds records for wins (3,731), losses (3,948), and games managed (7,755), with his victory total being almost 1,000 more than any other manager.
Mack managed the Philadelphia Athletics for the club's first 50 seasons of play, starting in 1901, before retiring at age 87 following the 1950 season, and was at least part-owner from 1901 to 1954. He was the first manager to win the World Series three times, and is the only manager to win consecutive Series on separate occasions (1910–11, 1929–30); his five Series titles remain the third most by any manager, and his nine American League pennants rank second in league history. However, constant financial struggles forced repeated rebuilding of the roster, and Mack's teams also finished in last place 17 times. Mack was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937. The Lincoln Nebraska Star - April 3, 1917, Wikipedia
SHORTCUT TO THE COAST - Dreamers dream. And in the spring of 1907, Col. C.P. Goodyear, of Brunswick, Georgia, proposed building a canal from to just north of Dublin where it would flow into the Oconee River down to its junction with the Ocmulgee to form the Altamaha River to the coast at Darien. Obviously the project never came to completion. The American Star, Tuscambia, Alabama, May 1, 1907.
TOMORROW WILL BE ANOTHER DAY - Although former West Laurens Raider, Dustin Fowler, played centerfield for the New York Yankees in only one game before injuring his leg and then being traded to the Oakland Athletics, Fowler, who played the same position as such Yankee stars as Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Bernie Williams, Earle Combs and Bobby Murcer, wore the same uniform No. 34 as such Yankee stars, Clete Boyer, Mel Stottlemyre, Tony Kubek, Phil Linz, and former Braves turned Yankees, Brian McCann and Pascual Perez. It shall be remembered that one rookie Yankee center fielder tore his leg up at the end of the 1951 season. He came back to a have a great career. His name was Mickey Mantle.
A new day dawns in Oakland.
NO PITY FOR ME - It was way back on the Ides of March in the year 1902 when Miss Lucy Scarborough went to Heaven to see her Lord. For 90 of her 102 years, she had been held prisoner in a wheel chair, a result of a terrible fall in 1818. For nearly 57 years, she had been confined to the Laurens County Alms House, located in the southern part of present day Dublin on the grounds of Southern Pines and other county related offices. Miss Scarborough was regarded as always cheerful with no regret for the lot in life which she drew. Because her body was left torn and twisted because of the accident and could not be straightened out for a proper burial in a linear coffin, a custom made coffin was made to accommodate her poor, pitiful, broken body. It is most likely that she is buried in the Alms House Cemetery on the grounds of Southern Pines. Ocala Florida Evening Star, March 16, 1908.
TURN ABOUT IS FAIR PLAY - Once upon a time in the late 19th Century, a devilish young man in Laurens County decided to play the game of “ghost,” by playing a trick on a friend. The mischievous prankster slipped on his sheet and sneaked inside. With the family all asleep, the stage was set for a ruse to remember. It was remembered, not by slumbering victims, but by the trickster for himself. Before he could yell “boo,” the friendly intruder was interrupted in his tomfoolery by a burglar climbing in a side window of the house. Although frightened by the ghost, the quick-witted thief was able to relieve the joker of twenty dollars and his gold watch before vanishing into thin air. No names were published to protect the stupid. Honolulu Star Advertiser - July 20, 1895.
ONE PROLIFIC PEPPER PLANT - Mrs. Fisher, who lived some three crow-fly miles from Dublin, Georgia was right proud of her pepper bush. For twenty three winters, Mrs. Fisher had gathered pepper pods from her 12-foot tall plant. In some years, 7,000 or more pepper pods were gathered from the prolific plant. GRAND FORKS NORTH DAKOTA DAILY HERALD, February 4, 1882.
DO I HEAR 26? - R. W. Josey, of Brewton, Georgia, was considered one of Laurens County’s most prosperous farmers. He needed to be. Josey, married twice, was the father of 11 sons and 13 daughters for an even two dozen children, when grown would make excellent farm hands. With the publication of his prolific fatherhood, it was announced that the second Mrs. Josey was pregnant with her 14th child and Josey’s quarter of a hundred. Charlotte, North Carolina News, July 14, 1911.
BAM! BAM! OMG! - The students in the drama class of Millville High School, northwest of Dudley, Georgia, were busy rehearsing their spring play. The story line called for one actor to use a shotgun. Dispensing with an obviously discernable fake shotgun, a real one was brought in. A young actor rushed in from the side of the stage and fired just as the script called for. Luckily, he kept the barrel of the gun downward for much to the amazement and sheer horror of the director and the entire cast, the gun was loaded with real, live, deadly ammunition. Thankfully, the shotgun pellets struck the floor first before a few ricocheted into the feet of two 16-year-old actresses, who were sent to the hospital and released, scared but unharmed. Rochester, New York, Democrat and Chronicle, March 15, 1964.
The Mr. Cornelius McGillicuddy I speak of is known by most baseball fans by his shortened name, Connie Mack. Mack was an owner, player, and manager. As the longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, Mack holds records for wins (3,731), losses (3,948), and games managed (7,755), with his victory total being almost 1,000 more than any other manager.
Mack managed the Philadelphia Athletics for the club's first 50 seasons of play, starting in 1901, before retiring at age 87 following the 1950 season, and was at least part-owner from 1901 to 1954. He was the first manager to win the World Series three times, and is the only manager to win consecutive Series on separate occasions (1910–11, 1929–30); his five Series titles remain the third most by any manager, and his nine American League pennants rank second in league history. However, constant financial struggles forced repeated rebuilding of the roster, and Mack's teams also finished in last place 17 times. Mack was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937. The Lincoln Nebraska Star - April 3, 1917, Wikipedia
SHORTCUT TO THE COAST - Dreamers dream. And in the spring of 1907, Col. C.P. Goodyear, of Brunswick, Georgia, proposed building a canal from to just north of Dublin where it would flow into the Oconee River down to its junction with the Ocmulgee to form the Altamaha River to the coast at Darien. Obviously the project never came to completion. The American Star, Tuscambia, Alabama, May 1, 1907.
A new day dawns in Oakland.
NO PITY FOR ME - It was way back on the Ides of March in the year 1902 when Miss Lucy Scarborough went to Heaven to see her Lord. For 90 of her 102 years, she had been held prisoner in a wheel chair, a result of a terrible fall in 1818. For nearly 57 years, she had been confined to the Laurens County Alms House, located in the southern part of present day Dublin on the grounds of Southern Pines and other county related offices. Miss Scarborough was regarded as always cheerful with no regret for the lot in life which she drew. Because her body was left torn and twisted because of the accident and could not be straightened out for a proper burial in a linear coffin, a custom made coffin was made to accommodate her poor, pitiful, broken body. It is most likely that she is buried in the Alms House Cemetery on the grounds of Southern Pines. Ocala Florida Evening Star, March 16, 1908.
DO I HEAR 26? - R. W. Josey, of Brewton, Georgia, was considered one of Laurens County’s most prosperous farmers. He needed to be. Josey, married twice, was the father of 11 sons and 13 daughters for an even two dozen children, when grown would make excellent farm hands. With the publication of his prolific fatherhood, it was announced that the second Mrs. Josey was pregnant with her 14th child and Josey’s quarter of a hundred. Charlotte, North Carolina News, July 14, 1911.
BAM! BAM! OMG! - The students in the drama class of Millville High School, northwest of Dudley, Georgia, were busy rehearsing their spring play. The story line called for one actor to use a shotgun. Dispensing with an obviously discernable fake shotgun, a real one was brought in. A young actor rushed in from the side of the stage and fired just as the script called for. Luckily, he kept the barrel of the gun downward for much to the amazement and sheer horror of the director and the entire cast, the gun was loaded with real, live, deadly ammunition. Thankfully, the shotgun pellets struck the floor first before a few ricocheted into the feet of two 16-year-old actresses, who were sent to the hospital and released, scared but unharmed. Rochester, New York, Democrat and Chronicle, March 15, 1964.
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