Jack Clements, Phillies catcher in 1896 to The Chicago Daily News about umpire Tim Hurst:
“The reason Tim Hurst is so successful as an umpire is not only because he will break the face of any man who insults him, but because he joins in the talk behind the rubber and jollies the basemen into believing that almost everything je says is all right and that they shouldn’t kick about it.”
Tim Hurst
Ed McKean, Cleveland shortstop from 1887-1898, to The Cleveland News, 1917
“’Walter Johnson smoke—Huh! Old Amos Rusie had just as much speed and a curve ball that Johnson or no other living pitcher ever had, why that curve came over the plate with just as much speed as did his fast one.’ Thus Ed McKean settled the much mooted question as to the speediest pitcher who ever wore a glove…’I know that many will take exception to my statement that Rusie had more speed than Johnson, but I am giving you my honest opinion. I’ll admit I have never batted against Johnson, but I’ve watched him closely ever since he broke in. I have batted against Rusie when Amos was at his best, and of the two, Rusie, to my way of thinking, had more speed.”’
Amos Rusie
Dan Brouthers, while telling The Detroit Free Press in September of 1894 that the Baltimore Orioles would hold on to win the pennant, declared that teammate Kid Gleason:
“’(I)s the best pitcher I ever saw. He can pitch every day in the week and be just as good at the end as at the beginning. He is a hitter and a base runner, and an all-around player. Why, if one of the players makes an error and lets in a run, Gleason says, ‘Never mind, old man, I’ll beat those ducks myself,’ and he is more than likely to do it…They talk about Rusie and (Jack) Stivetts. They were great pitchers under the old rules, and they are very good now, but they’re not in it with this man Gleason.”
Gleason was purchased from the St. Louis Browns in June and was 15-5 in 21 games and hit .349 in 97 at bats. The Orioles won the pennant by three games.
Gleason
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch said, in 1889, a reporter asked pitcher Toad Ramsey:
“’What would you suggest would be the best way to increase batting, Mr. Ramsey?’ was asked the ‘phenom’ the other day in Louisville. The great left-hander winked his left eye in an off-hand way, but jovially declined to answer the question. ‘It ain’t my business to give points on batting.’”
Ramsey was then asked who the best hitter in baseball was:
“’Tip O’Neill,’ he replied unhesitatingly. ‘He’s the best hitter I ever saw, and he’s got the most judgement. He can’t hit harder than Browning, if Pete would take care of himself, but nobody ever saw Pete doing that,’ concluded Mr. Ramsey, as a feeling of regret for Pete’s weakness displayed itself on his face. Then he walked away with an acquaintance.”
Ramsey
George Gore told The Chicago Daily News about one of his former teammates:
“Ed Williamson of the Chicago champions was the greatest shortstop of them all. He was a wonderful thrower, probably the hardest in the business. Anson used to play first base without gloves in those days, and Ed took delight in lacing over hot ones to the old man. When anybody hit a grounder to Williamson, he would pick it up, wait until the runner was a few yards from the bag, and then line the ball to Anson like a cannon shot. The old man was nearly knocked down on several occasions.”
Williamson with mascot Willie Hahn
Baseball History Daily 