Bill Lange from the Chronology

Jan 10, 1918 - While acknowledging that Ty Cobb‚ Tris Speaker‚ and Eddie Collins are all good ball players‚ Cap Anson picks his all-time team‚ leaving them off while modestly naming himself as the first baseman. In the current issue of TSN‚ Anson selects C-Buck Ewing and King Kelly; P-Amos Rusie‚ John Clarkson‚ Jim McCormick; 2B-Fred Pfeffer; 3B-Ned Williamson; SS-Ross Barnes; OF-Bill Lange‚ George Gore‚ Jimmy Ryan‚ and Hugh Duffy.

Aug 20, 1915 - The Giants purchase the contract of George "High Pockets" Kelly from Victoria for $1200. Kelly is the nephew of Bill Lange‚ 1890s star of the Chicago Nationals.

Dec 21, 1911 - In the New York Evening Journal‚ 80's player-manager Sam Crane picks his all-time greatest list‚ in response to a list that Charles Comiskey compiled. Crane graciously faults Comiskey for not including himself‚ as well as for not going back far enough. He lists 20 in chronological order: G.Wright‚ R. Barnes‚ C. Anson‚ M. Kelly‚ C. Radbourn, F. Dunlap‚ Buck Ewing‚ J. Ward‚ C. Comiskey‚ B. Lange‚ J. McGraw‚ L. Lajoie‚ F. Clarke‚ H. Wagner‚ W. Keeler‚ J. Collins‚ C. Mathewson‚ H. Chase‚ T. Cobb‚ and E. Collins.

Nov 11, 1899 - Chicago Orphans star Bill Lange returns to San Francisco and vows he will never appear on the diamond again. He is only 28 and hit .325 this year.

Oct 8, 1899 - The Chicago Orphans win an unusual doubleheader at West Side Grounds. In a morning game‚ behind Jack Taylor's first season shutout‚ they beat Cleveland 13-0. Jim Hughey is the loser. Hughey will finish the year at 4-30‚ the last ML pitcher to lose 30 games. Then in an afternoon game called after 5 innings because of darkness‚ Chicago beats Louisville and Rube Waddell‚ 7-3. Sam Mertes has an inside-the-park homer and Bill Lange has a double‚ then steals 3B and home. He scores twice‚ as do Chance and Griffith. Lange‚ 28‚ will quit the majors after this season and return to California.

Mar 17, 1898 - Bill Lange offers to give up his position as captain of the Chicago team so that Bill Dahlen might have the job. Tom Burns‚ new manager‚ says no decision has been reached on the matter.

Aug 22, 1894 - With the Giants up by 6 runs in the 8th‚ Chicago's Bill Lange comes to the plate wielding a 5 foot 10 inch bat that had been given to Jimmy Ryan by a New York theater manager. Neither the umpire‚ John McQuaid‚ nor the Giants object‚ and Lange‚ who had struck out twice against Jouett Meekin‚ hits a soft grounder to 1B Jack Doyle‚ who mishandles it. New York wins‚ 8-5.