The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-25
by WILLIAM FEET.

Adl4St WHO nave tdlUlN utrn asking tue
question: What's the matter with Cab
by street?' the writer got into communi-
cation with the Nationals catcher and
received the following frank reply:
Hot Springs. Ark. Dec .. 1910.
Mr. William Peet Sporting Editor The Washington
Herald
Dear Bin. The cold weather ND North lssr ,,ipter
coi me for geeTs and ] suffered a lot with rheuma-
uSm In fart. the hard spring training did cure
me- and I was not myself an season. ! hoped
things would b. hettor This winter bt several weeks
ago my old trouble returned. aud l determined 60
rm away nom the cold weather So that / could
gel into slaIV for next spring, Arrangements were
made fcr me TO come down here, and / have been
taking The baths
You ten the b%cban fans for me that right
rcs never felt better in my life. Three weeks
treatment az Ihe springs has completely cured my
rheumatism. and ! am ready 90 Start the season
tomorrow.
that hoped Manager McAlesr sould trade me to
Boston or ems club. ! Ike McAlctr immensely, and
want 90 play for him.
am sTeudius most of mas time here with Jiegs
honahuc who is going Go set lacs ia Ibl big league
next s-a-ou. You should see Jsgs nov; the "old
scout looks great.
Give my regards To an the Washington fans and
sly that Vin D. there Vit beil- on when the sea-
son oreus Win best regards
CHARLES E, STREET.
IL would seem a. if the Washington club
made wise move when they sent Street
down 10 the famous Arkansas watering
place. There is no question but that
Gabby was not himself last season. He
frequently complained Of rheumatic pains
30 his back and legs during the hot DAYS
las, summer. and blamed il on the cold
winter spent in WiIiamsp0rt
When tho r4IL ,F rf..Tf,r4 lst---- -....-
everybody's mouth during the big Ieagr9
meeting, Manager John TAYLOR 01fthe
Boston Red SoX. made the statcmcst thar
he did not want any "cripplss on his
team, for he had heard thai Street was
ln Hot Springs and evidently inferred
that the catcher Wa an poor condition
IL streets own @ords can be- credited
we VIII See Niively cripple doins bust
ness behfnd Athe bat next spring.
In dissussing with "a weH-known fol-
lower 20 the Nationals Yesterday the
Strset question. il was brought out thai
...erhaps for the good of the club Nc
Aleer could Wen afford 10 part with his
star catcher providing another catcher
could bee obtained by the swap. The rea-
son for this was that with Street dOing
the bulk OF the work young Ainsmith
would not get much of an opportunity
10 develop
As matter of fact Ainsmith. who has
demonstrated his ability % handle the
speedy delivery of Walter Johnson. will
probably be worked much oftener than
the fans realize, especially during the
latter part Of the season, when double
headers come thick and fast
d
says that JiEgs Donohuc will sure be
given another chance 10 play in the big
show.
With tho scarcity OF FIRST baScmen IN
the American League. "Jigger" may find
II easy picking TO hold his job. There
never was any question about DOnOhues
ability when he was ia good shape. Few
nelders ia the league had anything on
Jigss. and as to his hitting. many
game the first baseman broke up with
a timely swat.
II JigSs gets I'm shape ne will disprove
the cant come back theory. Just put
this down and remember it,
Many years ago in Louisville there was
a swampy spot back in the center field
during the spring months. there being a
slight depression in tho field. on se-erai
occasions the Louisville team won games
when a batter would rap the bali into
this spot, as it was generally good for
a home run. 1t was practically impossi-
bic for the opposing fielder TO wade out
and set the bail i'm Hme TO make the
throw 10 the plate.
II was also noticed that when "A rival
slugser hit the BAH there he was either
held al second or third as the Louisville
center fielder. who had a splendid arm.
would get the ball back in time TO the
inheld This strange fact was not no.
uced, as "a club stayed there only three
or four days and the incident might
only happen once during that time The
mystery was solved one day. however.
after a team had IL worked on it twice
within thu series.
once on the previous trip Louisville had
won a game by home run into the
marshy ground after. the rivals had rap
ped bali there and the batter been held
on second, So the captain Of the vis-
tors determined that something was not
quite risht and decided 20 watch. Moth
ing happened the third day, but on the
fourth one of his players whacked the
ball toward the swamp and the fielder
rushed uantically back
splash indicated that the bail had
popped into the water and the runner
rounded first, turned second, and was
nearly to third when the fielder came tear
ing back and threw To the plate The
runner almost beat the ball. but was out
by a close decision at tho plate. He rose
up and brushed the dust from his uni
form. and as he did so the captain ran
out from the bench yelling Let me see
that BAH"
The catcher tried to protest, but the
captain jerked il away from him He
turned to the umpire and exclaimed:
See Jhate The ban is dry"
II seemed that there was a colony of
balls planted in the outfeld
Il often think remarks Ad Gumbert,
now prominent official OF Plttsburg. bur
long ago famous pitcher, that many
OF our most respected legends and ira
ditions must have become pretty well
twisted as they came down through the
ages. This conclusion is forced upon me
By the way famous baseball stories have
become badly tangled ia the progress Of
a lew short years. For instance. a story
IN connection with my own career.
When / was visiting IN Chicago a lit /
Tie while ago l took a run out on the