The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-07-22
LAJOIE
LOST A PENNANT

Chicago, July 22.-one must take
the bitter with the sweet in this life,
but to Billy Su1livan's way Of thinking
fate was just little more unkind to
Napoleon Lajoie, the maps great play
er, than 1t should have been on o.
tOber 3, 1908. The Chicago white
sox's star catcher didn't think so at the
time. as the sox had chance to win
the American league pennant, but it
has occurred to him hundreds Of times
since that that was the saddest day in
the life Of one OF the most famous ball
players OF all time.
SuIly Reminiscent.
Sully was I'm reminiscent mood the
other day and said that he never will
forget the expression on Larry's face
during the eighth and ninth innings of
that memorable contest as ne sat on
the bench and watched his boys go to
the plate In an effort to solve the puz-
cling spitters of Ed Walsh. Larry had
had his golden opportunity and had
failed. He had gone to bat in the sew
enth inning with the bases filled with
maps, anxious to scamper home and
had struck out. Su1ly believes that
that picture was always before Larry
as he sat on the bench.
The seventh inning Of that great
struggle win ever live in the memory
Of each and every one of the 20,729
fans who were present. Addie Joss
had won a no-run, no-hit, no-man-
reach first-base game from the sox
the day before, putting the maps with
in four points of Detroit and first
place. In the second and final game
Of that series the sox were leading
the maps, 8 to 1, when the locals came
to bat in the seventh inning.
Larry Up.
Then they started to get Frank
Smith. Perring reached second when
Dougherty, who was In the left field,
muffed his fly. Nick Clarke was sent
to bat for Leibhadr and struck out.
Josh Clarke beat out hit along third,
Perring reaching third. Josh stole sec
ond. Bradley walked, filing the bases,
and Frank Smith was derricked in ia
vor Of Ed Walsh. Bill Hinchman hit
the ball down toward third, Lee Tan
nehill making a sensational stop ana
throw to Sullivan, Perring being forced
at the plate.
Then came Larry. Opportunity was
within his grasp. A single would tie
the score, while a double would give
the maps victory, and, as future devel-
opments proved, an American league
pennant, and mayhap worlds cham
pionship. Larry sent two line drives
to left field, both Of which landed foul
by only a few inches. Either one OF
the srnashes would have been good for
q double had 1t landed safe. start
1t low, Sullivan yelled to Walsh, as
Big Ed prepared himself for the SUI
preme test.
Walsh shook his head. "Start 1t low.
Ietell you" Sully yelled a second. time.
Walsh again. shook his head. do what
/ tell you, Ed" Sully sent back, and
at the same time he .signaled for a
straight fast ball, waist high. Larry
was looking for low splitter and stood
like statue as the sphere shot past
him into SuIlivan's big nit.
Three strikes you're out!'' yelled
Silk O'Laughlin, and it sounded like a
death knell, not only to Larry and his
teammates, but to each and every one
of those 20, 72e rooters. 1t was the kind
of ball Larry generally hits mile, but
he did not figure that Walsh and Sui
Ivan would have the nerve to pitch
him straight fast ball with a pennant
hanging in the balance.
The maps managed to score one mere
run during the contest, but they lost,
3 to 2. That defeat cost them the PEN
nant, as Detroit beat them to the bunt-
ing with percentage Of 1888 to .5S4.
Larry is one of the few worlds most
famous players who have never played
on championship team. 1t is posi-
BILE he may yet be with a pennant win
ner, an honor that is coveted by every
player. Billy Sullivan is an ardent adj
mfrer OF the big Frenchman and is
hopeful that this may come to pass.
Every time Sully thinks of October 8,
1908, he thinks Of Larry and that old
adage: "Of all sad words Of tongue
or pen, the saddest are these, It might
have been"