[ginter]

While doing research on T212 players in old newspapers, I came across this article - John Titus, the Philadelphia right fielder, is using a bat that has some history connected with it. In 1894 Captain Anson discovered a piece of timber that he considered ideal wood for a base ball bat and he proceeded to have it turned into a cudgel. Anson in his day merely had to swing it and the ball would go to the fence. It is so heavy, however, that many an ordinary player would hardly care to handle it. When Pop Anson retired from the game he retained this great stick as a treasure. At last when the former star’s belongings went under the hammer Pat Moran, purchased this bat, and when Pat was bought from the Cubs he brought it to Philadelphia. Titus coaxed and finally Moran consented to let him have the bat. His first hit was a home run over the fence off Bob Harmon, of St. Louis. Titus has been batting consistently ever since he came into possession of Pop’s old smasher.