my batting and fielding record for the past
twenty-three years, and I feel that it is one that I may well be proud
of:

Years Games %Base hits %Fielding

1875 69 .318 .820
1876 66 .342 .826
1877 67 .335 .868
1878 59 .336 .818
1879 49 .407 .974
1880 84 .338 .977
1881 84 .399 .975
1882 82 .367 .948
1883 98 .307 .964
1884 111 .337 .954
1885 112 .322 .971
1886 125 .371 .949
1887 122 .421 .947
1888 134 .343 .985
1889 134 .341 .982
1890 139 .311 .978
1891 136 .294 .981
1892 147 .274 .971
1893 101 .322 .981
1894 83 .394 .988
1895 122 .338 .990
1896 106 .335 .982
1897 112 .302 .987

CHAPTER XXXIV. IF THIS BE TREASON, MAKE THE MOST OF IT.

Experience is a mighty dear teacher. This is a fact that has been
generally admitted by the world at large, but one that I have never
fully realized until within the last few years, though just how much it
has cost me in the matter of dollars-and-cents it is hard to say.

It is but natural, I presume, after twenty-two years connection with a
corporation for one to have well-defined opinions of certain of its
officials, and it is pleasant to record here that prior to the advent of
James A. Hart on the scene my relations with the club were most
pleasant. Under the watchful eye of Mr. Hurlbut the club flourished, and
not only maintained a higher average in the percentage column than it
has since enjoyed, but, in contradistinction to the latter day methods
of management, it annually returned a large balance on the right side of
the ledger, this last feature being by no means the least pleasant of my
memories. Now, the query arises, "If the team was so uniformly
successful under Mr. Hurlbut, why has it not enjoyed the same measure of
success since?" And the answer, short and sweet, can be summed up in one
word, "mismanagement."

As I have already explained elsewhere my financial relations with Mr.
Spalding in regard to the around-the-world trip of the ball players, it
is unnecessary for me again to go into that phase of the matter,