I then made a proposition to him that he and I together should buy the Chicago League Ball Club, a proposition that he partially acceded to, though in view of subsequent events I am now certain that such a plan was not in reality entertained by him for a moment.
Matters had indeed been "fixed up" on my return, and Tom Burns, my old third-baseman, had been brought on from Springfield, Mass., to manage the team, or, rather, to serve as a figure-head for the Club's President.
It was then that I was advised by Mr.Spalding to resign, which I refused to do, preferring to take my medicine like a man, bitter as the dose might be.
Mr.Burns that spring took up the reins that had been taken out of my hands, and how well he succeeded with the able ( ?) assistance of President Hart is now a matter of history.
The following table gives 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.