Arlie Pond
Encyclopedia
Dr. Erasmus Arlington "Arlie" Pond (January 19, 1873 in East Saugus, Massachusetts
– September 19, 1930 in Cebu
, Philippines
) was an American
major league baseball
pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles
from -, as well as a doctor in the U.S. Army.
and spent two years at Norwich University
where he distinguished himself as a musician as well as a pitcher. In 1890 he transferred to the University of Vermont
. Pond was a member of the glee and banjo clubs, played one season of varsity football during his senior year in 1893, but earned his greatest fame as a baseball player.
Following graduation from the University of Vermont medical school in 1895, Pond enrolled in a post-graduate surgical course at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Baltimore, Maryland. However his reputation as an outstanding pitcher became known to Ned Hanlon, manager of the National League
's Baltimore Orioles, who convinced Pond to spend his summers with the team. He signed his first major league contract on June 23, 1895 and made his major league debut on July 4, 1895. Although he pitched only in six games that season, the 23-year-old rookie found other ways to make himself useful, including serving as the team doctor. After one game, the Baltimore Sun reported "Dr. Pond is suffering from a small abscess in his left hand, which he lanced himself." By the 1898 season Pond was pitching sparingly and poor attendance in Baltimore dictated that Hanlon must cut salaries. As a result Pond was released. On July 4, 1898 he re-signed with the Orioles and on July 6 he started the second game of a doubleheader and pitched a five-hit shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies
. Although Pond expressed a desire to return to baseball, even going so far as to write to his old teammate John McGraw, who had taken over as manager of the Orioles in February 1900, he would never appear in a major league game again.
In 4 seasons he had a 35-19 record and a 3.45 ERA in 69 games pitched (57 starts). He was also part of 2 National League Championship teams (1895 and 1896).
and performing his residency at St. Joseph's Hospital and his internship at Baltimore City Hospital. On July 5, 1898 Pond was appointed as acting assistant surgeon of the U.S. Army with orders to report to Fort Myer
near Washington D.C the following Saturday. Pond was sent to the Philippines
with the Tenth Pennsylvania Regiment. The Senate's
decision to keep the Philippines as an American colony
set off an ugly guerilla war with the Filipino nationalists who had been fighting the Spaniards. When his regiment returned to the U.S., Dr. Pond was ordered to remain with a regiment from Colorado, and later, with the Fourth Infantry.
In 1902 while in the Philippines, Pond served as manager of the all-black 25th Infantry Regiment's baseball team.
On August 11, 1902, Pond was detailed from the Army to the Philippine Board of Health
for cholera
duty. In July 1903 he accepted a permanent position as medical inspector, helping in the cleanup of Manila City and the collection and segregation of lepers. In 1906 he was appointed first chief of the Southern Islands Hospital, 400 miles south of Manila on the island of Cebu
. Pond founded a hospital for lepers there and vaccinated the island's entire population.
When World War I
broke out, Dr. Pond was commissioned a major in the Army Medical Corps
and assigned to Medical Officers' Training Camp at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. He was preparing to go to France
in July 1917 when Francis Harrison
, Governor-General of the Philippines
asked for his return to the islands. Pond was assigned to Camp Stotsenburg with the 9th U.S. Cavalry and the Philippine Field Artillery, then in August 1918 he was named post surgeon of the Cuartel de Espana and placed in charge of the dispensary at Fort Santiago
.
On October 28, 1918, Major Pond reported for duty aboard the transport U.S.S. Warren en route to Vladivostock. The transport arrived in Vladivostock on November 11, the day the Armistice
was signed and immediately returned home. Pond received his discharge on January 15, 1919. By that time he had attained the rank of lieutenant colonel
.
Dr. Pond entered private practice in Cebu and engaged in several business ventures, including a coconut
plantation
, a cattle ranch on the island of Mindanao
and the Pond & Deen Navigation Company.
in his own hospital in Cebu. At first the operation appeared successful but then peritonitis
set in. A wire was sent to the governor general requesting that an Army surgeon be sent from Manila but an amphibian plane could not be located. After showing marked improvement, Dr. Pond suffered a relapse and died at 9 a.m. on September 19 in the same hospital where he had saved so many lives. He was 58.
His death was mourned as a great loss to the Philippines. Flags flew at half-mast and all businesses were closed on the day of his funeral. Services were held at the Manila Lodge of Elks No. 761
. Several prominent people attended the service, including Senator Sergio Osmena
. After an honor guard fired three volleys and the bugler played taps, Dr. Pond's body was taken to the army morgue where it was cremated.
Pond Parkway, a downtown thoroughfare in Cebu City
, bears his name.
Saugus, Massachusetts
Saugus is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. The population was 26,628 at the 2010 census.-History:Saugus was first settled in 1629. Saugus is an Indian name believed to mean "great" or "extended"...
– September 19, 1930 in Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
major league baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (19th century)
The Baltimore Orioles were a 19th-century American Association and National League team from 1882 to 1899. The club, which featured numerous future Hall of Famers, finished in first place three consecutive years and won the Temple Cup championship in 1896 and 1897...
from -, as well as a doctor in the U.S. Army.
Baseball career
Pond grew up in Rutland, VermontRutland (town), Vermont
Rutland is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,054 at the 2010 census. Rutland completely surrounds the city of Rutland, which is incorporated separately from the town of Rutland.-History:...
and spent two years at Norwich University
Norwich University
Norwich University is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont . The university was founded in 1819 at Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It is the oldest of six Senior Military Colleges, and is recognized by the United States Department of...
where he distinguished himself as a musician as well as a pitcher. In 1890 he transferred to the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
. Pond was a member of the glee and banjo clubs, played one season of varsity football during his senior year in 1893, but earned his greatest fame as a baseball player.
Following graduation from the University of Vermont medical school in 1895, Pond enrolled in a post-graduate surgical course at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Baltimore, Maryland. However his reputation as an outstanding pitcher became known to Ned Hanlon, manager of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
's Baltimore Orioles, who convinced Pond to spend his summers with the team. He signed his first major league contract on June 23, 1895 and made his major league debut on July 4, 1895. Although he pitched only in six games that season, the 23-year-old rookie found other ways to make himself useful, including serving as the team doctor. After one game, the Baltimore Sun reported "Dr. Pond is suffering from a small abscess in his left hand, which he lanced himself." By the 1898 season Pond was pitching sparingly and poor attendance in Baltimore dictated that Hanlon must cut salaries. As a result Pond was released. On July 4, 1898 he re-signed with the Orioles and on July 6 he started the second game of a doubleheader and pitched a five-hit shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. Although Pond expressed a desire to return to baseball, even going so far as to write to his old teammate John McGraw, who had taken over as manager of the Orioles in February 1900, he would never appear in a major league game again.
In 4 seasons he had a 35-19 record and a 3.45 ERA in 69 games pitched (57 starts). He was also part of 2 National League Championship teams (1895 and 1896).
Medical career
While in Baltimore, Pond took advantage of being in one of the world's leading medical communities, taking post-graduate courses at Johns Hopkins UniversityJohns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
and performing his residency at St. Joseph's Hospital and his internship at Baltimore City Hospital. On July 5, 1898 Pond was appointed as acting assistant surgeon of the U.S. Army with orders to report to Fort Myer
Fort Myer
Fort Myer is a U.S. Army post adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. It is a small post by U.S...
near Washington D.C the following Saturday. Pond was sent to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
with the Tenth Pennsylvania Regiment. The Senate's
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
decision to keep the Philippines as an American colony
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
set off an ugly guerilla war with the Filipino nationalists who had been fighting the Spaniards. When his regiment returned to the U.S., Dr. Pond was ordered to remain with a regiment from Colorado, and later, with the Fourth Infantry.
In 1902 while in the Philippines, Pond served as manager of the all-black 25th Infantry Regiment's baseball team.
On August 11, 1902, Pond was detailed from the Army to the Philippine Board of Health
Department of Health (Philippines)
The Philippines’ Department of Health is the principal health agency in the Philippines. It is the executive department of the Philippine Government responsible for ensuring access to basic public health services to all Filipinos through the provision of quality health care and the regulation of...
for cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
duty. In July 1903 he accepted a permanent position as medical inspector, helping in the cleanup of Manila City and the collection and segregation of lepers. In 1906 he was appointed first chief of the Southern Islands Hospital, 400 miles south of Manila on the island of Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
. Pond founded a hospital for lepers there and vaccinated the island's entire population.
When World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
broke out, Dr. Pond was commissioned a major in the Army Medical Corps
Medical Corps (United States Army)
The Medical Corps of the U.S. Army is a staff corps of the U.S. Army Medical Department consisting of commissioned medical officers – physicians with either an MD or a DO degree, at least one year of post-graduate clinical training, and a state medical license.The MC traces its earliest origins...
and assigned to Medical Officers' Training Camp at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. He was preparing to go to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in July 1917 when Francis Harrison
Francis Burton Harrison
Francis Burton Harrison was an American statesman who served in the United States House of Representatives and appointed Governor-General of the Philippines by President of the United States Woodrow Wilson...
, Governor-General of the Philippines
Governor-General of the Philippines
The Governor-General of the Philippines was the title of the government executive during the colonial period of the Philippines, governed mainly by Spain and the United States, and briefly by Great Britain, from 1565 to 1935....
asked for his return to the islands. Pond was assigned to Camp Stotsenburg with the 9th U.S. Cavalry and the Philippine Field Artillery, then in August 1918 he was named post surgeon of the Cuartel de Espana and placed in charge of the dispensary at Fort Santiago
Fort Santiago
Fort Santiago is a defense fortress built for Spanish conquistador, Miguel López de Legazpi. The fort is part of the structures of the walled city of Intramuros, in Manila, Philippines. José Rizal, the Philippines' national hero, was imprisoned in the fort before his execution in 1896...
.
On October 28, 1918, Major Pond reported for duty aboard the transport U.S.S. Warren en route to Vladivostock. The transport arrived in Vladivostock on November 11, the day the Armistice
Armistice
An armistice is a situation in a war where the warring parties agree to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, but may be just a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace...
was signed and immediately returned home. Pond received his discharge on January 15, 1919. By that time he had attained the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
.
Dr. Pond entered private practice in Cebu and engaged in several business ventures, including a coconut
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
, a cattle ranch on the island of Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
and the Pond & Deen Navigation Company.
Death
On September 10, 1930 Pond underwent surgery for appendicitisAppendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
in his own hospital in Cebu. At first the operation appeared successful but then peritonitis
Peritonitis
Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the serous membrane that lines part of the abdominal cavity and viscera. Peritonitis may be localised or generalised, and may result from infection or from a non-infectious process.-Abdominal pain and tenderness:The main manifestations of...
set in. A wire was sent to the governor general requesting that an Army surgeon be sent from Manila but an amphibian plane could not be located. After showing marked improvement, Dr. Pond suffered a relapse and died at 9 a.m. on September 19 in the same hospital where he had saved so many lives. He was 58.
His death was mourned as a great loss to the Philippines. Flags flew at half-mast and all businesses were closed on the day of his funeral. Services were held at the Manila Lodge of Elks No. 761
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is an American fraternal order and social club founded in 1868...
. Several prominent people attended the service, including Senator Sergio Osmena
Sergio Osmeña
Sergio Osmeña y Suico was a Filipino politician who served as the 4th President of the Philippines from 1944 to 1946. He was Vice President under Manuel L. Quezon, and rose to the presidency upon Quezon's death in 1944, being the oldest Philippine president to hold office at age 65...
. After an honor guard fired three volleys and the bugler played taps, Dr. Pond's body was taken to the army morgue where it was cremated.
Pond Parkway, a downtown thoroughfare in Cebu City
Cebu City
The City of Cebu is the capital city of Cebu and is the second largest city in the Philippines, the second most significant metropolitan centre in the Philippines and known as the oldest settlement established by the Spaniards in the country.The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu and was...
, bears his name.