Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1911-07-13

| l don't mind telling you that al
though / stood there and never took
my eyes off the twirler until the game
was called, | didn't succeed in getting
wise to his curve. When 1t was all
over and the boys were putting on
i their coats | strolled over to the
bunch and asked the young giant how
| he did it,
How do DO what?" he laughed.
Make that outcurve." | said.
Its the easiest ever he declared
ITO make that outcurve, | grasp the
ball firmly with my two first fingers.
make the ball curve with my thumb.
which | bring up against the ball with
a tight grip Then do lot of stunts
to fiddle the batter, and when get
ready to let her go give slight side
motion to my hand, with a decided
snap to the wrist. In that way you
can get as much speed with curve
as with straight ball. Don't you
think so?"
/ didn't express an opinion. What Z
did do was to ask him plump out how
| he would like to go to Chicago and
play with the league team.
First rate" he said But Captain
he hasn't got. l always could beat
| Mark Baldwin, and hear he is doing
big stunts out in Chicago. Perhaps
I'll go out there some day and show
the captain what l can do. Do you
know him."
Slightly" admitted Then I
added: 81 know Arson we'll enough to
offer you position on the Chicago
team. All you've got to do is to say
Yes or No right now" He looked
me over carefully from sole to crown
and then, apparently satisfied that
had the goods, said: We'll, make 1t
yes"
| wanted him to go right away with
me that night, but he said he was a
bookkeeper and couldn't leave his job
without proper notice. We made the
date for his appearance in Chicago, ar
ranged about his salary and travelling
expenses and then, as was bidding
him good evening, 1t occurred to me
that it might be convenient to have
his name. When he told me that he
was John X Tener l was SO amused
over the whole business that l turned
the trick by letting him know that he
had been negotiating with the captain
and manager of the Chicago club.
AT Suisun, about 80 miles from San
Francisco, we received a telegram
from E. j. Baldwin, better known as
Lucky Baldwin," welcoming us to the.
city and inviting us to be his guests at
the big hotel of which he was the pro-
prietor. Such sample of Pacific
coast hospitality put all OF us in first
class trim, and we made up our minds
THAI we were going to have the time
of our lives Before we got to the
Baldwin hotel l was notified to get
into dress suit as soon as possible,
and as soon as we were assigned to
our room l proceeded to do as di-
rected. Getting into dress suit in
those days was one Of the most siren
uous jobs ever undertook, and con-
fess that I still find 1t a very trying
business. With Mrs. Anson's help,
however. managed to accomplish it,
and then we went out to very dainty
spread, which was followed by jolly
theater party, and after that a little
repast that Fingers in my memory
still"
We were booked to remain two
weeks in San Francisco and the mo-
ments fed only too swiftly. The day
after our arrival, November 4, dawned
bright and beautiful, but our festivi
ties of the night before did not leave
us In the same condition. When we
! assembled in the rotunda of the hote
to go out to the ball grounds oul
played-out appearance must have beer
dlscourasing to those who expected
to see an exhibition of good ball tina,
afternoon.
When we got to the grounds, more
dead than alive for want of sleep, W.
found that great crowd has as
sembled, about 1900 people having
bought admission tickets. Big bunche.
: OF cheering fans greeted us all alonl
: our route to the grounds, and whel
We reached the entrance the jam wa
. SO thick that we could not get in unit
a platoon Of police had cleared tn,
:. way. The practice work on both side.
:. prior TO the opening OF the game wa!
- better than had any reason to hop,
= for, but when it came to the game II
self-well, 1t is only stern necessit.
that makes me refer to 1t at ALL Every
: thing seemed to work against us, evel
= our overanxiety to put up a first clas
;, game. Mark Baldwin pitched for us
:, and never saw him do worse; b
,. didn't seem to have any more contro
I, of the ball than if 1t had been to-
= balloon. If Mark should see this
- will be mighty easy for him to ge
back at me with the statement tina
y. the stone wall inf1eld, of which l wa
= a member, gave an exhibition of fiele
. ing that would have disgraced tear
~ of schoolboys.
70 The score of that discreditable gam
--All-Americas IA, and Chicago f.
tells the story. That the crowd wa
y disappointed was easy to see, but
e. | didn't fea1 NM, uorca about thop w