The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-21
GAIhOR FAv0RITE
IN BATTLE FOR
FIRST BASE
sYou're q First Baseman," Hughie
y Told Him IS Months Ago and He
Was, Though He Didn't
f Know II,
Strong Endorsement Given Gainor
From the Man Who Was Teach
ing Him Last Season.
NJ PAUL HALE sRUsKE.

tthe Detroit club q rangy athlete IRON,
west Virginia who had been siEneu
ax the result of an enthusiastic recon-
mendation from one OF the Detroit
scouts who had dropped on at httie
Pennsylvania town, just to see game
and pass the time away. Gainor was
his name and ne admitted TO 10 years
LOT age--"going on nineteen, as ne
depressed It.
Hughie Jennings looked Gainor
over. =,
the inquiry fired at the youngster.
I'm q short stop"
You're mistaken" said the man
ager promptly. you're a hrstbase-
man."
a rst-baseman Mr.. Gainor has re-
NAMED from that day.
Ears Open; Mouth Shut.
Through the autumn OF that year,
Hoainor remained on the bench ana
watched a champion big-league team
con another title from out OF the IRE.
4 Il was a great experience for young
\ ster. lust out of the bushes OF
league where they pay salaries on the
shake-purse method, but he kept his
4 ears open and his mouth shut Also
he paid particular attention to the
way the big.league frst-basemen
shifted their feet and played the bats
men. Mornings he devoted his at
( tention TO testing in practice what ne
| had learned In theory. When the
regulars tired of their batting prac-
fice. he would step up to the plate and
Give some of the volunteer outheld-
/ ers n chase with line drives that re-
/ ioiced the soul OF Hughie Jennings
| and reused the admiration OF the vet
Grams.
But Gainor was only a diamond in
I the rough. II takes time and expert
II ence to make q major-league first
baseman, regardless of managers nat
and promising material. Gainor was
turned over TO Jimmy Burke, the old
major league infielder, at Fort Wayne
last spring. Mr.. Burke was given the
VI lease OF an embryo major-league play
er for the privilege of teaching him
and giving him the needed develop
ment.
~ eurke's First Verdict.
81 About month after the season be
gan, Burke wrote to President Nayin.
where did You pick this lemon
\ he INQUIRED. -and what did ever do
to you that you should unload him
on me?" -
It appeared that Gainor was doing
sensationally well In the field but
\ shockingiy ut the bat.
On the very day, however, that he
4 received Burke's letter, Mr.. Navin
N looked up the box scores of the Cen
4 trail league race. Gainor had three
hits and az many assists. The record
/ was practically duplicated the next
q day-and the next.
IN A week later Mr.. Burke wrote to
Mr.. Navin again:
He's no lemon; he's real peach,
Quoth he. Hes struck his gait. He's
by all odds the best ball player in this
league"
For the remainder of the season,
4 Burke divided his time between tach-
4 ing Gainor the inside baseball which
he knew 80 well, and marvelling over
the way In which the youngster alb
sorbed It all.
IL AT the end of the season, when De.
troit recalled Gainor, according to the
optional agreement. Mr.. Burke closed
the correspondence.
Pick Of Entire League.
"Gainor will never see the minor
leagues again." read the letter. He
IL one of the best fielding frst-base
men | ever saw, and corking hitter
This Is pitchers league, but they
all look alike 10 him. He won most
, Of our games for ms and We finished
{ second. He's the smartest youngstel
| ever saw. He never asked me the
E same question twice and never haC
to suggest anything to him more thar
I once. He hasn't missed a sign al
year and he ran the bases with speel
and judgment. He'll surely be DE
3 troit's first-baseman next year.
\ anything happens so that you can
use him and can still get him pas
the waivers next year, send him to m,
" at indianapolis and I'll win q pen
nznt-"
Burke's testimony must surely ind
( cate that Gainor Is the most prob
able occupant OF the frst-base job Il
the elimination test which Will prov
the most interesting feature OF tn
Tigers trip this spring. That, in Mes
whom many OF the Tigers fancie
much a year ago, he will have fol
midable rival, goes without sayinl
however. The situation Is still furtf
/, CT complicated by the possibility tina
Mickey Corcoran will prove himseI
q more finished ball player tina
either. In this case. room will Inv
70 be made for him either at tbir
base or In the outfeld.
Motor Boat Show 10 On.
NEW YORK. Feb. 21.--with MOI
than 800 models Of motor boats o
4 display, the National Motor Bos
show opened today at Madison-s
Garden. The smallest boat displaye
II OF 1lk-horsepower, and the large
+ 10 an imposing 60-foot yacht of 10
s horsepower. The show viii last
days.
College Wrestling Tourney.
IOWA CITY. Ia. Feb. 21.---It w'
announced here today Iowa and n
braska universities VIII engage In q
frnf intercollegiate wrestling tourut
ever held west Of the Mississippi. ne
nonth. probably about March IL