The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1910-09-02
Livingston Tells Of Ills First
Experience as Major Lacquer.
HAD HARD TIME BREAKING IN.
MeAissr Gave Him : Chance With
leveland-Made Poor Showing In
First Gams--Had to Warm Up
Pitcher Rarshanded.
No. XVIII.
By PAT LIVINGSTON.


BY PAT LIVINGSTON.
ICopyright, 1910, by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
Did have easy sailing when ] went
In.o the major leagues? Well, / should
ray not. AS / suppose you are aware
Of the fact that nearly every youngster
who is drafted from the minor leagues
has pretty tough time Of it with
the majority Of the old fellows, who
resent their admission, as they regard
the newcomer as another evidence Of
the inexorable fact that sooner or later
a sprightly young man, full Of ginger,
will be called upon to shove aside the
veteran whose hinges are growing
rusty and whose arms have gone stale.
This is my third time in the biz
leagues, and / believe that az last
have succeeded or else ! would not be
on the payroll Of the Philadelphia club.
1t was IN 1901 that was given my
frst chance in the big circuit
had graduated from the Baehrs at
Scenic park to the ranks Of the semi
professionals. playing with the club at
Kent Pitcher Bob Spade, now Of the
Cincinnati Reds, was also a member
of the team. happened to be a very
handy man with the stick and at times
was hammering the bah for keeps at
Kent, when / received a hurry call
from Jimmy McAleer, manager of the
Cleveland team at that time. Then I
thought tcst my future was assured.
was very much pleased at the chance
of becoming a regular on a major
league team and had visions Of making
home runs with the bases filed in the
American league as well as throwing
out every man that tried to steal a
base ON me.
l will never forget my first expert
ence In the big circuit. On my way
out to the ball park was all swelled
up at the thoughts of being major
Lacquer. ! reported to McAleer about
an hour before the game and. after
putting on uniform, went and sat
down on the bench IN my haste 10
report / neglected to bring my baseball
shoes and consequently had tennis
shoes on my feet.
Pretty soon McAleer came along and
said to me, Say, youngster, get out
and warm up one Of my pitchers" q
haven't any Initt," / replied. "Huh.
nuh! Wen, what do you think of that7
No glove and expecting 70 play In the
American leaguel" shouted Erve Beck
to Shelbeck, the two being seated on
the bench. Neither Joe Connor nor
Bobby Woods, who were the Cleveland
catchers at that time, offered to let me
use teir gloves, and I'll tell you that
was good and mad then. Il may be
sand lotter, but down in Kent We
never refuse to loan our gloves" Nc.
Aleer overhead my talk and then went
to look for an old mitt. l was so mad
that started to warm up one Of the
pitchers barehanded and also took my
turn at the plate when the fielding
practice was on without wearing o
glove, taking the throws of the infeld
ers regardless Of pain.
Finally McAleer appeared with an
old glove. discarded by one Of the reg
ular catchers, and told me that was
slated to do the receiving. / managed
TO catch pretty fair sort OF game
but when 1t came to batting had my
troubles Boston was the opposing
club. That was the year that team
won 1he pennant IN the American
league, and 1t was going mighty
strong. "Old Cy" Young was in the
box that day. The first ball pitched
1 by Young came right near my head
and in lodging It | sat down. while
the players grinned. The next one
came in the path Of the first. only
lower. sThis ,ne did not dodge. and
the BALI hit me about midship and
the club was knocked from my hands
Down ] went again. this time for the
count. When I came to / ran to first
base and the game proceeded.
The next time at bat I had one foot
somewhere near the plate and the 9th
er as close to the grand stand as
could get it. I never got my bat close
to the pan to touch the ball, ant
young struck ME out twice. ! was
happy, though. only struck out twice
ana Ed cermack of the o'Conners
whom McAleer also tried out tha
summer. struck out four times IN on
game. Bfil Bernhard turning the trick
or course I had only two chauces (
ian. but the fact remains Cermacl
famed twice as many times as | did.