AMERICAN GLADIATOR: The Life And Times Of ... - The Book Locker

AMERICAN GLADIATOR
“Louis Rodgers Browning’s lamps are out until eternity’s morn. ‘Old Pete”’ the Gladiator and hero of the
baseball world, died yesterday afternoon at the City Hospital at 2:15 o’clock.”
By contrast, the morning Courier-Journal ran a protracted, nostalgic and evocative lead which neatly set up
the rest of the obituary.
“’Old Pete’” Browning, gladiator of the baseball diamond, whose steady eye was proof against the curves of
the best pitchers who ever stood in the box and whose line drives, times without numbers, set Louisville fans wild
with joy, is gone. Long-time idol of the lovers of the national game, Louis Rogers Browning breathed his last in
the City Hospital at 2:15 o’clock yesterday afternoon.
“’Line-em-out Pete’ was a favorite nickname for him in the days when he was in his prime. When the game
looked doubtful and when the opponents appeared to be getting the lead in those days, the fans unconsciously
studied their score cards to figure just how soon ‘Pete’ would go to the bat.
“Tall and ungainly in appearance, he would rise from the bench, lifting his ‘stick’, which was longer than
that used by any other player, and amble to the plate. Such a movement was always a signal for a cheer and ‘Pete’
seldom failed to give the fans good cause to cheer lustily a few seconds later.
“It was when the game was in a pinch that ‘Pete’ was at his best. He joyed in driving the ball into the suburbs
at all times, but he loved it best when it was most needed. He took pride in his ability to hit when a hit meant
everything, and he had good reason to be proud. Such conversations as the following were often heard in the grand
stand:
“Last half of the ninth—two outs—two men on base—score 3 to 2 against Louisville—we need this game—
to lose it will send us back three points in the percentage—who’s up?”
“Pete!”
“Line her out, old fellow! If you ever loved us, line her out!”
“Oh, joy! Where is it? To the woods! Old Pete is right to-day, and the game is over! I knew he would! I knew
he would!”
“Then the young fans would climb down from the bleachers with their hearts in their throats and promise
themselves that when they grew up they would be professional ball players and that to be President was nothing
when compared with the glory of a man like Pete.”
******
In accordance with the wishes of the family, a simple funeral service was held the following afternoon,
Tuesday, September 12, at 2:30 at the home of Browning’s mother. Bannered “Funeral Of ‘Old Pete’: Famous
Ballplayer Laid To Rest After Simple Services; The Casket Hidden by Flowers, Many Being from Old Associates
on the Diamond”, the Louisville Evening Post ran a stark and moving story that in part ran:
“The big double parlors were filled with friends of the dead ball player. There were men who knew him
when he first swung a bat and who saw him hit the ball on the nose in the day of his glory, as no player had ever
done before.
“The casket, draped in black cloth, was covered with flowers. The surviving members of the old Eclipse
team, which set the ball of the national game in Louisville to rolling, sent designs. There were wreaths of green
and clusters of roses, and a big blanket of pink roses.
“A trifle thin, ‘Old Pete’ looked as natural as in life and the hands that had swung the biggest of bats were
folded to peace across his breast. It was a long line that passed the head of the casket to take a last look at the last
Gladiator of them all.”
Serving as Browning’s pallbearers were John Dyler, his first manager, and former teammates John Reccius,
Tim Lehan, Isaac Van Burkalow, Charles Pfeiffer and Tom McLaughlin.
From his mother’s house, Browning (who apparently died intestate) was taken to Cave Hill Cemetery, the
final resting place for many of Louisville’s major-league ballplayers, as well numerous nationally prominent local
and state figures.
One of the more prominent major-leaguers is another Louisville batting champion, William “Chicken” Wolf,
who had died several years before in 1903 and whose end Browning mirrored exactly.
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