Deacon White Portrait and Biography June 14, 1897 New York Clipper
Description
A photocopy of the June 14, 1879 New York Clippers newspaper woodcut of Deacon White. The woodcut shows White from the chest up as he wears a suit and a tie. He looks to his right with a straight face. The oval frame around his has flowers running around the outer edge. The caption underneath reads, "JAMES L . WHITE. We take pleasure in presenting to our readers this week the portrait of a prominent professional player, James L . White, the catcher and captain of the Cincinnati Club. He was born In Corning, New York, about thirty-two years ago, and while working at his trade ln Cleveland, 0., in 1868 and 1869, devoted his spare time to catching for the Forest City Club of that city, playing for the first time professionally with that organization In 1870. He remained with the Forest Citys during the seasons of 1871 and 1872, refusing many flattering offers of engagements from other clubs, to his pecuniary loss. To his wonderful catching and free, hard hitting the Forest Cltys owe much of the success attained In the above-mentioned years. He also occasionally pitched with remarkable effectiveness, being about the first one to Introduce the underhanded throwing now in vogue. On the disbandment of the Forest City Club he was induced to join his fortunes with the Bostons, with whom he played as catcher during the seasons of 1873, 1874 and 1875, and his uniformly fine play in that position, supporting the strategic pitching of Spalding, helped Harry Wright's team in no small degree to the championship in each of those years, and first earned any extended reputation for himself. In company with Spalding, Barnes and McVey, the subject of our sketch completed the quartet that, seceding from Boston, enabled Chicago to gain the championship ln 1876. He made his reappearance with Boston in 1877, and for the flfth successive year had the honor of catching for the champion team of the country. In 1878 Jim White joined the Cincinnatis, wlth which organization he has remained ever since, doing good service both in catching and batting. As a batsman, White unquestionably ranks as one of the best, being—like all lefthanded men—a very hard hitter, and for a couple of seasons leading the country in batting. As a player he is widely and favorably known to the fraternity throughout the country as a quiet worker, energetic, quick and prompt in action, full of pluck and endurance, and always striving his best to win."