Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-13
Fans Flocked to the Park.

Fans Flocked to the Park.
Mr.. Corridor was the most talked of
man in st. Louis that day. All the fans
were anxious TO get their glimmers on
this wonderful young man who could
play shortstop just as well as the reliable
Bobby Wallace. The crowd that saw the
game the afternoon following Corridors
debut was about three times as large as
any gathering that had turned out to see
the Browns play for Il month previous to
that time.
1t was, Il very unfortunate day for the
youngster. The many, many kind boosts
that were handed him evidently unnervGd
the kid. for everything broke badly. He
knew the crowd had come out to see
him repeat his star performance of the
day previous. and he was. anxious TO
turn the trick. but hc failed dismally.
Ground balls that had been easy for
him the. day previous We're misplayed,
while the Texas .eaguerS and loul flies
dropped just out of his reach, At the
bat he cut three deep gashes in the
air on several occasions. His perform
ance was just the reverse of his debut.
Fans who were singing his praises TWEEN
ty-four hours previous left the grounds
insisting that the ''phenom'' had ex-
ploded over night
This little fellow Corridor is really Il
very clever younSster His start was 80
bril- liant that it rescmbled the playing
of an experienced star. No youngSter
could expect to keep up such gait. The
many nice things said about him were
well meant and deserved, but they had
q bad effect. for they caused the young
stcr to think that lie must repeat. He
realized the fans regarded him as
wonder. AS Il result Corridor failed to
regain his stride during the rest OF the
year. and really did not play anything
like the game he. is capable of playing.
Strongly Touted Youngsters Fail.
When 'Rube'' Vanguard was bought
by the New York club from indianapolis
for 81 900 he was heralded as the highest
priced ball player ever marketed. The
fans figured that he must be wonder
to sell for such fancy sum. They ex-
pected him to be second Mathewson.
Marquard realized what they expected.
and he tried his best 10 reach the high
standard AS yet he has been of little
or no use to New York. He has the
abb ity, nc doubt, but he has yet to
show it.
The winning of three games for Pitts
burg in the 1909 worlds series caused
Pitcher Babe Adams TO be the CHIEF pase
ball topic throughout the winter. He was
expected to be instrumental in winning
the 1910 pennant for the same club.
! Adams felt the responsibility that had
! come to him because of his worlds series
work. and the burden proved too great
He got bad start, and was censured
ard said to have been lucky in the big
series 1t was not until late in the sea-
son that he struck his stride. The Pirates
were then out of the running.
In 1869 Russell Blackburn. shortstop OF
the Providence club, was regarded as the
sensation of the Eastern League. Owner
Comiskey of the Chicago White Sox pur-
chased him for $500. believing that he
would have no need of worrying about
the short field after he had secured
Blackburn's signature to a contract. All
last winter Blackburn was good for d
notice on the sport page OF almost an.'
old paper. He was touted as making the
White SoX pennant contender. The re-
sponsibility that came TO Blackburn was
too heavy. He made a poor start in the
hitting line which ROBBED him of much
of his confidence. After he got to going
injuries put him out of the running. Thus
the man who was expected to add so
much strength to the White SoX was OF
little use to them. Competent critics.
however feel certain he will come into
his own next year.
Some youngsters weather too, much
boosting but TO the majority it proves a
rather bitter pill, even though it does read
nicely.