Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-09
BREAKING INTO THE BIG LEAGUE


made to stick.
After this disaster walked to the club
house with my head down. Nobody had
ANYTHING to say to me, and did not feel like
talking to anybody else. dressed as quickly
as possible and went out alone | wanted
the fresh air and a chance to think things
over
The next day the papers ridiculed my
work, and one OF them declared that the
club had found another lemon | knew
these papers would reach my father and
mother and all my old classmates at college.
| was 50 Respondent that | wished | had
never seen a ball club.
Not once did the manager make any COM
ment on my work, and the next day | re-
ceived nv pay. | really felt ashamed to
take it; but the secretary did not notice my
embarrassment and passed me the check
with pleasant word.
A WEEK later l was sent in to start
"A game, and though | was more com
posed / was knocked out of the box. With
two runners on base a bunt was hit to me,
and didn't know what to do with the ball.
As a result all hands were safe. The crowd
guyed me numerically. The manager said
nothing; but when made my next mistake
he took me out. The batter had fouled off
two balls, and that gave me two strikes on
him. then very foolishly put the next ball
squarely over the middle of the plate, and he
hit it for two bases. should have kept the
ball outside so as to make him swing at bad
one, and knew it the moment the ball lett
nv hand That was enough for the man
ager. | looked toward the bench, and saw
that ominous motion of his thumb. This
time understood quite clearly, and, tossing
the ball to the catcher, walked out OF the
box.
| was so discouraged over this that felt
like quitting and going back home. Again
the papers roasted me and made fun OF the
manager for having picked me out as
pitcher. | knew at heart, though, that l
could pitch; but was completely unnerved.
didn't have a chance to talk to the manager
that afternoon, because | had hurried from
the field and dressed. | left the clubhouse
before the team came off the field.
| reported for morning practice the next
day. and was much surprised to find the
manager on hand | was looking at the
papers when he came in, and Speedy, the
bow. had come over to offer me what con-
ISOLATION he could
"Don't pay any attention to that stuff you
see in the papers, he said. It'll only make
you worse.
UNJUST have been very ad-looking per-
son Wflen the manager llOllCtu lIle. IlC
came over and, tapping me on the shoulder,
motoned for me to join him. We walked
out on the field and when we came to a
pile Of lumber, which was being used in re-
pairing the stands, he sat down and looked
at me inquiringly.
whats the matter with yOu! he SAID.
@You seem to have lost your pep"
a guess I'm not big league pitcher |
replied Just look at what these papers
are SAYING
ooh, you are reading the papers, are your
he asked rather contemptuously.
EYES," | answered, "and the spectators
don't seem to think that | will ever make
good Didn't you hear them all giving me
the laugh?'
Nov look here, young fellow he said.
@Let me tell you something You are play
ing ball for me, and not for the public. Do
you understand that
| looked at him in surprise.
IF you are going to play ball for the pub
lie and the newspapers, he continued, Il
don't want you. | want a man who is willing
to play ball with me- Those newspapers
and the public are not paying your salary.
DO you get me-!
"Then you are not ready to turn me
loose?" asked.
"If didn't think you had something he
said, a shouldn't have kept you this long.
/ know you We got the stuff; but you We lost