1912 "jazz (ball)"--further look at its coiner, Benny Henderson

[Gerald Cohen]

   This continues my 8/21/2003 message suggesting that Benny
Henderson's 1912 "jazz (ball)" was isolated.

     Portland's _Oregon Daily Journal_ (Henderson's hometown newspaper) reports
on April 26, 1912 (p.13/1-2) that Henderson had been one of three
pitchers the day before in a Portland loss to Oakland. He pitched two
innings and gave up five runs in the first of those two innings
(Article subtitle): "Ben Henderson Hit Fearfully in Fifth Frame...").
There is also mention that Henderson was suffering a sore arm.

     This was the fifth and last game in which Henderson pitched for
the month of April 1912. He didn't win a single one.

     The newspaper then falls silent on Henderson until May 5, 1912
(Sunday; section 4, page 9, col. 2; headline): "Benny Henderson Gets
Suspension." (subheading): "Twirler Breaks Training Rules and
Contract Clause and Is Retired."
     The article says:
"Pitcher Benny Henderson, formerly one of the best twirlers in the
Pacific Coast league, has been indefinitely suspended by Manager
McCredie of the Portland Beavers [aka Ducks--G. Cohen]. Henderson was
suspended after today's game
by the Beaver boss.
      "Henderson has not been out with the team for over a week and
has broken both the training rules and his contract clause.
     "Benny has not won a game this season for the Beavers, although
he lost them by but one or two runs.  McCredie is getting down to
business now and intends to suspend or trade all players that do not
keep on edge.
        "McCredie's pitching staff is all shot to pieces and there
are several deals pending for twirlers and will likely be put through
before long. ..."

     Note too a cartoon (same page) containing humorous drawings of
nine individuals, none of which is Henderson. Henderson had evidently
tumbled off the water wagon and didn't make for "good copy." His
suspension was duly and regretfully noted, but that was all.

  Moreover, the Portland team--league champion in 1910 and 1911--was
now mired in last place.  This simply wasn't the context for the
exuberance necessary to use "jazz (ball)" repeatedly.  Hence the
absence of "jazz (ball" in the Portland newspaper, April 1912 and
early May (as far as I had time to read). I don't know when Henderson
returned, but whatever exuberance once existed for his term "jazz
(ball)" had now evaporated.

     Conclusion: The April 2 (and April 3) 1912 _LA Times_ mentions of
his "jazz/"jass" ball remain isolated and *not* the source of "Scoop"
Gleeson's use of the term in early March 1913.

     As for where Henderson got his term "jazz" (ball)--a pitch which
he said wobbled, we probably deal with a humorous alteration of "jag"
(intoxication). Even the April 2, 1912 LA Times sportswriter, who
first seems to deny the connection, sees its logic: "It is to be
hoped that some unintelligent compositor does not spell that the Jag
ball. That's what it must be at that if it wobbles."

Gerald Cohen