The Washington times., 1905-10-29
iLAJO|E GETS HIS
FROM THE ANVIL
HammerSmithS Pound Out
Knocking Chorus.
CHORUS is STILL .4F0RTE"
Fans Come Out of Pipe Dreams Only to
Knock Mighty Larry Some
More.
CHORUS is STILL "F0RTE"

AT the beginning of the last baseball
season. when the Cleveland outlook was
so bright and Larry Lajoie was counted
upon to lead the team into the pennant
lmelight. there were all sorts Of predic-
tions that Larry would be a good leader
as long as things came his way. but that
when the evil days came he would fall
down on his job as a born lec der.
Everybody wa: waiting for something
10 drop and LIAR store Indian had
motion enoIF1 20 signal the anvil
chorus to be-ii. AT first the chorus was
naturally very piano." for II was not
KIN -wn what might happen with such
redoubtable material and such a puis-
SAINT captain, but when the toboggan
rose up and placed itself under the feet
of the Maps the dirge became as forte"
as the repeat of a coon song chorus by
4 minstrel brass band. Even unto this
day when the Western fan can snatch
a few moments away from his pipe
dreams about changes in the American
League circuit he thumps away on the
anvil just to keep up appearances. Fol-
lowing is a moonless serenade by one of
the hammersmiths. who probably has
crouch on Euclid avenue and everything
else sacred to Cleveland.
Ha, Ha, Discovered
La5oie-Faiiure,
That is the way Cleveland's fans as
well as the fans throughout the land
must regard the champion swellheads s
managerial stunt of 1906.
Hard luck." Bosh.
Detroit had it's share of hard luck;
New York has had more than Its; Bos-
ton likewise. and Chicago has also suf-
fered. What team hasn't?
But the above four played ball up to
the last minute. Not so, Cleveland.
The successor of Manager Armour in
the Forest City started with many
fine ideas. Armours continual ham,
mering away for team play was all
wrong, said La1oie.
Let every man go 1t his own way"
quoth he.
From the final result, what's the
answer?
Which is which. Afmour's team play
or Lajoie's go-as-you-please?
Indeed, a Piteous Fall.
Cleveland started the season with
three 800 hitters. a good corps of pitch
ers. good catchers, the greatest third
sacker in the game, Lajoie himself at
the keystone corner. and a fast outfeld.
The pennant sure" said the Cleve-
land papers.
But how the mighty have falleni
A scratch on the ankle causes the
mighty Lajoie himself TO sulk IN his
tent when scores of other players with
far more serious Injuries have been
playing ball when called upon. A few
other Clevelanders get homesick and
then the hospital talk starts. Bah.
II IS a bad taste in the mouth TO even
talk about It,
Then witness Detroit with Armour at
the helm. the Tiger considered a poor
aggregation at the beginning of the
year. with mo class at ALL in the
opinion of the experts. climbing Into
third honors and beating out Cleveland s
bunch of stars and also Boston, cham
pions for two years
Some Real Rude Words.
What's the answer. team play or La
joies go-as-you-please?
The disappointed fans at Cleveland an
swered the question during the last week
closed, when they hooted and jeered the
Maps at every mistake. The rest OF
the baseball world knew the answer be-
fore the season had progressed two
months.
Undoubtedly the doom of Lajoie as a
manager has been suonded. He's a dead
one that's certain.
He might be 2 drawing card In New
York and the Yankees might do well to
trade Williams and Chase for him AS a
awing card in Cleveland he will shine
hereafter as drawing forth the rightful
ire OF thousands Of good fans who have
reason TO feel the bitterest pangs of dis