Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-28

~ following speaks for itself:
~ "Mr. Happy Hogan, Manager
Vernon Baseball Club, Vernon, CAL;
Dear Sir-will you please let me know
as soon as possible whether or not you
are in need of a good, fast shortstop'
81 have a wooden leg, but don't think
am not fast enough for vernon. 4
am willing to bet $1,000, and deposit
same with the sporting editor or the
Vernon Yearly News, that l can beat
any man you have signed around the
bags, with the exception of Truck
Eagan. l am the greatest ball player
in the world for being second man up
in the hitting, as l have scientinc
way of using my leg In laying down
hunts, which makes 1t impossible for
the umpire to tell whether the paii hitS
my leg or the bat.
LAS regards speed on the bags, l
am there with the bells on. have a
spring in my leg which enables me TO
cover ground as fast as a Jackrabplt
running from a charge of buckshot.
The umpire kindly winds the spring UP
when l go to bat. l generally hit the
first ball pitched so l can get away
from the plate before the spring runs
down. When the Vernon fans see me
SCOOP UP hot grounders with q knot
hole in my foot they will surely stand
up and yell their heads off. Several
of the big league managers have been
after me, but as the eastern climate
does not agree with my wooden leg, l
have been advised by the president of
the carpenters union to play on the
coast If possible.
'I have three kilograms in my pocket
from Murphy, begging me to sign UP
with the Cubs. l sent him my final
terms last week, but have heard
nothing from him since. Along with
the terms l mailed him ] sent pic
ture of very fine, large orange grove
down near Los Angeles, which have
been looking at with the expectation of
going into the orange business. Frank
Chance is a friend of mine, and he told
me that he worked Murphy to finish
on the orange grove bluff, and for me
to try it.
GAS regards salary, Hap, I am will
ling to play for $35 per month and
house rent. This, no doubt, will seem
an enormous sum of money in Vernon,
as I have been informed that Jack
Doyle, mayor of Vernon, receives IS
per month, but increases his salary to
$3.50 by acting as poundmaster l met
friend of yours from Los Angeles this
morning, and he told me that you were
only signing married men with large
families. in-order to increase the popu-
lation of Vernon as much as possible.
If you decide to sign me up, Happy,
please wire transportation to include
my wife and twelve children imme-
diately as l am very anxious to be in
Vernon long enough to get my leg
acclimated.
what do you think about Fielder
Jones, Happy? Take it from me, Hap,
that boy will never captain the White
Sox again. I saw an article in the
paper the other day that man can't
play ball over five years without going
crazy. I have been around ball play
ers a good deal, and that strikes me
as being the correct dope. / would
not repeat a statement like that Mr..
Hogan, If l was not absolutely sure
that you have only been in the game
three years. If Jones had a little
brains left and had made up his mind
to live in Los Angeles, l might have
thought that after few years. sojourn
in that little orange settlement he
might have come round and got back
in the game, but any man who is SO
far gone that he will make up his
mind to settle down in a country like
Oregon, when he might just as we'll
live in California, will never come back
enough to be of any use in the world.
/ met q man from Oregon yesterday
and he told me he spent a day out at
Fielder's apple ranch and that Jones
is all in. Jones has got few thou
sand dollars in the bank, and he
,imagines that he is the richest man
in the world, and instead of attending
to his apple trees, he puts In all his
time writing letters to John d. Pier
pont, Andrew Hartman and some more
members of the Precious Metal club.
asking them what the chances are for
him to join the club. Poor Jones, /
am sorry for the boy. A good, warm
hearted fellow and not long ago one
Of the worlds greatest ball players,
but soon now to fill an unmarked grave
in an unknown country.
please keep all future correspond
ence quiet, Happy, as ! have signed
with the White Sox. When they leave
San Francisco l will jump to vernon.
Respectfully yours.
"The Knot Hole Wonder"
The loss of one game does not lose a
pennant. There may be different
story to tell after today's game.
"Red" Davis is showing them how
to run the bases UP in Stockton. The
sorrel-topped one resembles a streak of
lightning going down to second.
Raglan had an off day at short yes
terday and chalked up two errors. The
fast little infielder will not chalk up
C~~N
an entire season.
Big Chief John House is already
worrying the opposing pitchers with
his bick stick. The Indian uses his
head as we'll as his muscle in playing
the game.
Wait until Fresno's new first base-
man arrives. 1t will really be shame
to take the money from Stockton when
the Raisin Eaters are really recruited.
Go 1t, Kelly! Fresno fans are behind
you even if you lose the entire series
while your team is crippled.i There
are better times coming.
Stockton fans claim that their team
is the hardest hitting aggregation In
the league Little Arthur Smith al
lowed them but eight bingles
Schimpff Slapped out two hits yes
terday. The Dutch boy is starting cut
with a rush.
F'resnos three grass burners or the
outfield gathered in everything that
came their way at Stockton yesterday.
SOTO STREET DEFEATS