The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1911-09-29
WELL" said the Grab,

"Well," said the Grab, rising
slowly, "I'll take the rest. But l
tell you now, Joe-it's all off. l
don't want to draw money when l
amt in shape to play
Il guess if can stand it, you
can" said the manager. Quit
worryin' about 1t, Henry.
81 amt worryin about myself"
said the Crab. 1--WE got the place,
you know. 1t amt as if l didn't
have anything laid away, and had
to go back to some bush league.
I'm worryin' about the team"
go to bed!" said the manager.
1t was two o'clock before the
Crab turned in. The chambermaid
found many bits of torn writing
paper in the waste paper basket
the next morning. Evidently, the
letter home, which had waited on
the conference with the manager,
had been a hard one to write.
The next day, the new man
played third base, and played it
so well, that by the end of the
third inning, Charlie Brydon wir-
ed his paper that the old Crab was
on the bench with Justification of
the right claw, and Shrimp"
johnson, the new man, was play
ing like star of the first magni-
Itude.
Johnson won an ovation from
the crowd by some very fancy
fielding. and a few lightning shots
to Carsey, and the old Grab, iit-
ting on the ground at the end of
the bench, nodded to his successor
las Johnson came trotting back
after the fifthjnning.
You're going to do all right,
kid" said Gilman, but play a lit
tie mite farther back for Burke,
and closer to the bag. He pulls
around on 'em once in a while,
land lams one down over the bag
a mile a minute. You're doing
fine"
Joe Holmes heard IL, and his
heart warmed toward the veteran,
who, without bitterness or jeal-
lousy, was doing his best to equip
a man to fill his shoes. This does
mot happen often in any league,
big or small.
By mid-season it was a general
ly accepted theory that the Crab
would be seen no more on the reg
ular lineup, and by the middle OF
September, so~short are our men,
cries for those who amuse us, he
was almost forgotten. Gilman
worked out faithfully every day,
but the power was gone from his
arm. He was no longer able to
"arch 'em over to first" Several
times he asked for his release, but
Holmes, always cautious, refused
lit.
You're worth salary as a
pinch hitter!" the manager would
say. you wouldn't quit me when
it looks like I'm about to win a
Ipennant, would your"
The home town, cherishing hope
for the first time in eight long,
loyal years, burst into a flame Of
baseball enthusiasm. Every man
on the team was a public idol,
johnson among the rest. The boy
owed much of his success to the
dltlui COdeHluB Oh the CEdD, VINO
taught him how to play his posi-
ton for every man in the league.
1t was one of those mad base
ball years, with three teams fight
ing tout down to October and the
close of the season. The Pinks,
the Chicago Maroons, and the Bos-
ton Highbrows were battling in an
elimination finish, in which the
team which lost a game would
drop behind.
SO 1t came down to the last
game of the season, and the Pink
Sox had single game with the
Maroons on the Chicago grounds,
and the Athletics were finishing
their season on the Boston ground
against the other contender.
Just before the Chicago game
opened, news flashed over the te1e-
graph wires which brought every
nan in the grand stand to his feet
with a below Of delight. Thel
Athletics-bless their hearts,
we're wiping up the ground with