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m%By HAROLD WILSON COATESOME old-timers there are In Cincinnati who will remember that the Emmey Greens and the Mohawk Browns were not a designation of colors, but about the different things that there were in the way ofbaseball clubs in their day and date In the Middle West.This has to do with two^of the members of these famous ’bttb-iime weilders of the willow—“Long John’* Reilly and Frank Glrardin. Both now are the autumn of their lives and both have gained fame as painters and artists ot repute.Mr. Girardin has been in town for the past few weeks arranging and exhibiting his paintings done in the West and elsewhere at Traxels on West Fourth street and related the incident through which “Long John” became the Idol of the baseball fans of three or four decadesago.Both of them were on these long-remembered teams, Girardin playing right field and jjong John” first base, and both of them found that they were akin in their hobbies— painting and sketching. In those days it was considered to be a far greater attainment to be a poor artist than a great ball player and in consequence they, many times, passed up team practice for a sketching trip to the woods.On one of these occasions Girardin and “Long John’’ were sketching along the banks of the Little Miami River when Reilly showed his friend a telegram from Cal Mc-Vey, Captain of the old Cincinnati Reds, asking him to join the team in California as its tenth man.“I don’t know what to do about it—whether to go there or not,” said “Long John.” “It’s a long way off and 1 wouldn’t give up my. painting for anything.”never will have an opportunity to see here.”Thus It was that a ball player who endured for nearly twenty years was made. Girardin played on the local teams for several years after that, but it was in Richmond, Ind., that he left an enduring mark-With the two Conners and J. E. Bundy he sowed the seed that resulted in the Richmond Art Asso-, elation—a project that has resulted in the acquisition of more real paintings—for that Indiana city than can I be found in any city of like size in | the world.These four, through a sketch club I which they formed, created more enthusiasm for good paintings there chan any other known factor and] t is also worthy of note that thisswag1FRANK GIRARDIN.“SNOW IN THE WASA'“But man.” Girardin answered, I association has ' purchased severallook what It means to you—this of the studies which Mr. Girardinopportunity to go to the West. You 1 has placed upon canvas,can sketch things there that you I In his long residence in the
Newspaper Details
Cincinnati Commercial Tribune
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Sun, Oct 07, 1923
Page 29
Full Page
Clipped by
Cincinnati A.
OH, USA 05 May 2024
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