The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-08-09
Livingston Tells Of His First
Experience as Major Lacquer
HARD TIME BREAKING IN
MtAleer Gave Him a Chance with cleve-
handmade Poor Showing in First
Came--Had to Warm Up
Pitcher Barehanded.
No. XVII.
~ PAT LIVINGSTON

BY PAT LINfNG9ION
rppyright 1910. BY American Press Asso-
ciauon.l
Did have easy sailing when ! went
Into the major leagues? Well, | should
say not. AS l 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 or
the inexorable fact that sooner or later
q sprightly young man, full Of ginger,
viii 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 big
leagues. and | believe that at last l
have succeeded or else would not be
ON the payroll Of the Philadelphia club.
II was in 1901 that was given my
first chance in the big circuit.
had graduated from the Baehrs az
Scenic park to the ranks o. the semi.
professionals, playing with the club at
Kent Pitcher Bob Spade, now Of the
Cincinnati Reds, was also member
Of the team. / happened to be a very
handy man with the stick and at times
was hammering the ball for keeps at
Kent, when received hurry call
from Jimmy McAleer, manager Of the
Cleveland team at that time. Then
thought that my future was assured.
/ was very much pleased at the chance
OF becoming 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.
| viii 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 a uniform, went and sat
down on the bench. In my haste to
report neglected 10 bring my baseball
shoes and consequently had tennis
shoes on my feet
Pretty soon McAleer came along and
said 70 me, Say, youngster, get out
and warm up one Of my pitchers" Il
haven't any mitt," | replied Huh,
huhl Well, what do you think Of that
No glove and expecting to play in the
American leaguew shouted Erve Beck
TO Shelbeek. the two being seated on
the bench. Neither Joe Conner nor
Bobby Woods. who were the Cleveland
catchers at that time, offered to let me
use their gloves, and I'll tell you that
was good and mad then. II may be
q 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. | 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 a
glove, taking the throws OF the indeld-
ers regardless of pain.
Finally McAleer appeared with an
cid glove. discarded by one OF the reg
ular catchers, and told me that | was
slated TO do the receiving. ] managed
to catch a 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 the pennant In the American
league. and 1t was going mighty
strong. "0ld Cy" Young was in the
box that day. The first ball pitched
by Young came right near my head.
and In lodging 1t sat down, while
the players grinned. The next one
came In the path Of the first, only
lower. This time I did not dodge, and