Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-16
What Al Orth Hit.

When the genial Al Ortiz first broke
into the major league game with the
Philadelphia National team he was about
the coolest proposition that was ever
drafted from the ranks of the minor
league Nothing seemed to feaze him
and he took the kidding from the players
on the opposing clubs with sangfrold.
Wha teVer that means.
In those times it was customary for the
old leaguers to keep up running fire
of chaff with any young recruit when
it came his turn to bat, that they
might get him badly ratified and cause
him to fan the air.
This kidding ruse was successful in
most cases, as, naturally, a youngster
breaking into fast company and associat-
ing with men whose names he has been
holding in veneration for years is bound
to be nervous to some degree; and in the
days when Ortiz got into major league
society each club carried a bunch OF
charters. who We're bitingly personal in
their remarks and scathing in their criti-
cisms.
One of the keenest witted fellows and
one of the quickest at repartee was
Frank DWyer, who was then pitching for
the Cincinnati team, and he had a crowd
of chesty chaffers working behind him
who usually made life strenuous not
only for young leaguers, bat old leaguers
as well
Not long after joining the PhilIies Ortiz
was put in to pitch against the Reds,
and from the moment OF his appearance
the Cincinnati players got real busy with
tn liz kidding stunts. but Al with that
well-known smile of his kept steadily
working and apparently was not a bit
worried by theg rueling crossilre con-
versation he was being subjected to-
Now Al Ortiz, who hit around the SOC
mark last season. is Il natural batsman,
and he once told the writer that his sal
a-y was raised three times in one season
Oh account of his knowing how to ram
haste the ball when he was playing in
the Virginia State League. SO IN his first
game against the Reds and his first
time at the bat he felt reasonably con-
fident of connecting with the sphere! In
fact. he made up his mind to SHOW tna'
he was a bal player. So when he went
To the bat he grlttcd his teeth and waited
with a grim determination for Dwyer to
pitch the ball.
Well YOU re a fresh kid. | must say.
cried out Frank. he stood with IL look
of assumed surprise on his face. WINE
Al posed ready with his bat. TO think
of a bush Lacquer Ike you went on
Dwyer. having the nerve to bat against
me.
"G'wan; pitch the ball" retorted Ortiz
still grinning, land III knock it away
why. you couldn't hit the Pacific
! ocean of you fell off steamboat" CRIED
| Dwyer
I'll hit anything that you send up,
! shot back Orth.
You'll! hit nothing this time shouted
! Frank as he sent in a straight ball.
/ But Al leaned against that ball Will
! so much force that il shot dowp toward
! Dwyer with the speed Of d lightning flash
/ Frank saw it coming and tried to sidestep
! but he failed. as the leathern pellet LANDED
| on his forehead and then bounded away
| over in left field where Tommy Corcoran
the shortstop. caught il on the fly.
| After Frank had been picked up ant
! had been restored to consciousness tn
! first person his eyes fell upon was a
| Orth. who the moment he saw Franz
| open his eyes said:
/ You We're right about that. Dwyer.
| hit nothing And then AL had TO bea
! it, for Frank made for him with Wilt
| glare in his optics. but was forced to Civ,
up the chase because young Orth wa
! too fieet-footed.