Among those who joined A.G. Spalding’s world tour between the 1888 and 1889 seasons, was Simon “Si” Goodfriend, a sports writer for The New York World who later became a theatrical agent. In 1935 The New York Times said of Goodfriend “has watched baseball as a fan and a sportswriter since the days of the Civil War.”
Simon “Si” Goodfriend
Throughout the trip Goodfriend wrote brief profiles of some of the players:
On Hall of Famer John Montgomery “Monte” Ward:
“Ward is a credit to the professional brotherhood of ballplayers. He is not only ambitious to elevate the standing of the profession but he is equally ambitious personally. He is exceedingly studious and never visits a strange city (without visiting) the art galleries, museums and libraries and takes copious notes of what he sees. He presents the same disposition on the sea voyage. He is a busy person both with his pencil and at his ball practice.”
Ward, who had spearheaded the effort to create the first player’s union in 1885 and the creation of the Players League in 1890.
John Montgomery Ward
Of John Kinley Tener, White Stockings pitcher and future United States Congressman and Pennsylvania Governor:
“I was going to allude to John K. Tener as a typical handsome American gentleman, but unfortunately I learned, but a day or two ago, that he was born in Ireland and came to America with his parents when he was 9-years-old…His features are clear cut, regular and refined. His manners are gentle and cultured. Baseball players secured a worthy brother professional when he joined their forces, and there is a to be regretted possibility that he may retire again next season…Anson can be relied on to make a great effort to hold him back. On the trip Mr. Tener acts as a secretary and treasurer to Mr. Spalding.”
John Tener
Tener jumped the Cubs to join the Pittsburgh Burghers in Players League in 1890; after posted a 3-11 record with an ERA of 7.31 Tener left baseball for the banking business, and ultimately politics.
Jimmy Manning, who would quite possibly save an umpire’s life in Kansas City in 1890, was also on the tour:
“(He) is another modest young man with a blond mustache, of which he is proud. He recently graduated from the Boston college of Pharmacy.”
Jimmy Manning
Philadelphia Quakers outfielder Jim Fogarty:
“(Monte Ward) mentions in his book on baseball (that Fogarty was) probably the best right fielder in the country, is a bright looking young fellow with an exuberance of spirits, unquestionably inherited from the land of Erin, and that apparently has no limit. It is said that he is writing for a Philadelphia paper. If his letters are half as bubbling and genial as he is at sea they will make interesting reading. With the exception of (Charlie) Bennett of the Detroits, Fogarty probably has as bad a pair of hands from hard knocks in baseball games as any player in the country.”
Fogarty also jumped to the Players League, joining the brotherhood team in Philadelphia; however he became ill during the season would die of tuberculosis in May of 1891.
Jim Fogarty
Of Billy Earle, “The Little Globetrotter,” McClure said:
“Little William Earle…has already proven himself a first-class backstop (and) is still quite a lad, being only 21 years old. He is heavy-set has a jolly round face, an habitual smile and tightly curled hair. He rarely smokes, doesn’t drink and would almost sooner play ball than eat.
Billy Earle
Goodfriend’s profiles of the White Stockings’ “stone wall infield” tomorrow.
Baseball History Daily 
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