The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-22
BASEBALL STORIES.


 The first baseball contract that Ma poleon Lajoie ever signed was written on the back of a common envelope and called for Larrys services for the sum of $loo month The story of how Lajoie broke into the professional game was told by Charley Marston of Fall River, Mass, as he sat in the grand stand at Central Park, at Atlanta, re- gently, and watched the team managed by his protege go through its daily practice stunts. Back in Januaay, 1896, Marston, then manager of the Fall River club, and Selee, then managing the Bos- ton Nationals, dropped into the office of the sporting editor of the Boston Herald. A few other baseball men were there, including Woodcock who was once a star pitcher at Brown university.
 Do any of you know of any good players that would do for my club?' asked Marston.
 'I know of a good batter,' replied Woodcock. 'I don't know his name, but he is big Frenchman that lives down at Woonsocket. 1 call myself a pretty fair pitcher but l haven't found anything that he cannot hit all over the field. l can't get the ball past the plate" As they left, Selee rather discouraged Marston in going after Larry. Marston, however, could not get Woodcock's tip out of his mind and the next morning he went down to Woonsocket. He did not know the name of the man that he was going for and when he reached the town of shoes he made inquiries at the depot, but without success. Next he visited a newspaper office, but they did not seem to know whom he meant Final ly he stepped into a cafe and when he said he was after a big Frenchman that could hit the ball a mile he was told that he must mean Larry Lajoie. He next went to where Larry was employed and then he was summoned.
 Marston had neglected to take a con tract with him, but an envelope was brought into use, and the greatest ball player that ever lived signed up on that. ''I asked him where he wanted to play, continued Marston "and he said he wanted to play second. As l had good second baseman, however, told him that there was no chance, and he replied that he could play any place except pitch"
 q suppose speed is absolutely essen- tian to pitchers success said a young man to Addie Joss.
 Speed helps a lot" observed the Stat.
 And curves! Gee one must have to have lot of them"'
 ''Yes, curves come in handy in a tight place"
 And confidence-you've got to have that, too, aint ye?
 "Confdence is a factor" replied Addie.
 And some some support and plenty of hitting behind you and all that?"
 Undoubtedly" said the tall pitcher.
 Well, ain't that about all?
 "No," said Joss quickly, you haven't even mentioned the very first require ment of pitchers success"
 "What's t.idt?" asked the youth
 "Armsful and bushels and train loads and oceans of luck" said the man from Wisconsin.
 Lots of people ask me what particular victory in all my career on the diamond brought me the most joy" remarked big Cy Young to group of friends at the Pilgrims hotel. q can't recall another one of them to be compared with that game l won from Chicago here in Cleve- land seventeen years ago, when I not only pitched but saw my first major league game The people of Cleveland seemed to take me deep into their hearts that day. and Tv felt ever since as if I