Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-10
BY BILLY EVANS.

Several wears ago a young fellow joined
Tho PHILADELPHIA Athletics He was toutcd
as another OF Connie Mack's finds
dav or so after his arrival he was as
sisned to play center field. The young
ster's performance that day was far above
the ordinary. 1t really did look as If the
foxv Mack had picked UP another I'M
heard-of phenom.
The next morning the name of this
pIaver occupied very prominent part
III every sporting page in Philadelphia.
Most of the critics were of the opinion
that with a year or two of experience
Nack's latest prodigy would develop into
one of the greatest outtielders in the
game. That afternoon the recruit failed
to show at the ball park No one knew
a thing about him. il was stated that
he was i'll. His failure to show up the
next day caused an Investigation. which
showed that the newcomer had tired of
the big League after one day of work.
and had departed for his home. That
player was Joe Jackson, one of the
American League sensations in kn1-
This same Jackson b0bDed up again as
a big league possibility IN the fan OF
1910 as member of the Cleveland team
Despite tine fact that he had been a whale
OF a hitter in the minors, he was given
but little consideration. Jackson played
twenty games with the Maps in the fall
Of the year and startled fandom by hit
ting for 81, the best average credited 20
any player in the league. Despite this
great showing jackson was still looked
On only ordinary. The race was over,
and the pitchers didn't try. was the
opnon of many. Others insisted that just
as soon as the pitchers discovered jack
sons weakness they would make him
.ook foolish.
Ball players have wonderful memories
about some things. If fellow ever
shows sign of yellow. gets the repu-
alton of being Il gutter. he is sure to be
he target of ali kinds of abuse. Ball
players detest gutter When Jackson
oined the Athletics he was a big kid. 1t
Mas his first trip away from home. Jack
son baked III the big city. He was home
;ick. II was a case of longing for the
olkS at home and not streak OF yellow
hat caused Joe to quit the Athletics
None OF the players took such view of
Zoe JackSOn's case. They insisted he
would quit under fire. when the pace grew
hottest Many pitchers ridiculed Jack
sons 1910 swat average. One star twirler
wanted 10 make d bet in the winter books
hat Joe wOuldnt hit 20 in 1911. Others
insisted that Just as soon as he struck
batting slump he woUiu board train
.or the sunny south
i doubt il any bal! player ever started
season under less suspicious circum-
uances than did Joe Jackson in 1911. In
il late in the season Jackson was daily
orced to face Il volIey of criticism from
opposing players that was surely an acid
est for Jackson's nerve. The players
housht that jackson would hoist the
white flag under fire They were trying
o prove the correctness of their belief
We'll. Joe, see you haven't gone home
res Honestly, what made you quit
Connie by the light OF the noon Il
understand YOU have Il keeper, joe. so no
me will kdnaE You A couple of
mere days without any hits. and it will
,e back To- the sunny south for Joe" Give
liIn base on balls Then he will run
Viid Until some one puts him out These
IRE just a very few OF the thousand
Kings Jackson had fired a him during
he season. The players Were trying TO
make the yellow streak come 10 the sur
ace. Nine times out of ten Joe would
:ome back with some witty remark that
would set EN- thinking
The pitchers. Of course. started 10 dis
cover Joe'S weakness. One star tWirlfr
iaid il was IA foater that would make
hin look foolish. One afternoon shortly
lfte-ward i'll Cleveland. Joe hit TWO OF
he pitchers fOaterS against the right
ieIi wall Another veteran said a low
.urxe on the inside was the Very thing
1ne afternoon Joe hit one 0f those low
.urVes over the right field wall at Wash
ngton. fast one at his head, and then
l sweeping curve on the outside, was the
iope of d crack southpaw- Joe hit such
pals mile a minute TO left field.
Joe Jackson, with his batting average
Of los in his first year Il big Lacquer.
rave wonderful performance. To make
SUCH a showing under the conditions he
.aced makes his record all the more re-
nagl5abIe. Jackson by his wonderful
work in 1911 has lived down the stigma
most players attached To him-a yellow
Hr6ak All now admit ne is one Of the
games greatest stars
Naturally, because OF his great showing
last summer, base ball fans are wonder
ng what Joe Jackson VIII do next year
Much Of Cleveland's success last year was
hue to Joe's ability to hit the ball. For
Cleveland TO have a good year Joe Jack
son must lend the aid OF his trusty bat
Cleveland fans, however, should be lenl-
mt with Jackson if he fails to get away
10 a flying start next summer. For
player TO have made the showing Jack
,on DID in his first year as major
eaguer seems almost an impossibility
There IS possibility that Joe may not
1T within ifty points of the record he
lunS up in 1911. Such q happening would
not surprise me in the least, yet that
would give him q record Of $50 and
players who cap hit for such a total In
0ase ball today are very rare indeed.
Few players have ever created more
discussion among the fans than the Cleve-
and Grenom- Base ball fans all over the
country are interested in the big south
erner who gave Ty Cobb such a chase
FOR the American League batting honors.
Many stories have been printed relative
% the intelligence OF the Cleveland out
ielder. and some of them have not been
very laudatoZ. II seems every bit of
information relative 10 Jackson has been
perused by the fans, for one of the first
questions ] am always asked when Jack
son Is the subject of discussion is:
What kind of fellow is this Jackson
off the field? is lie bright fellow, OF
aas he been successful simply because
nature has endowed him with all the
natural qualifications?''
1t seems some fans, especially those in