Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-09
Continued from page s

should have wrenched every muscle in my
body loose for that man. | knew who was
nv friend, and | Immediately lost faith in
the so-called loyal fan.
Let me tell you something about fans,
the manager said to me when we got back
to the clubhouse "They have no feeling for
a ball player, as a rule and as to being loyal
that joke. If you go in there and win
they are all for you. If you have been a star
for wears, the first time you have bad streak
they will turn on you and yell, Take him
out Ignore them, and you'll be all right.
FROM that minute | became regular ball
PLAYER Fgrew to be as clannish as the rest
of them, and Stunned the fan whenever it
was possible. | got to where would never
talk baseball with an outsider, because had
learned that ball players words are often
carried from one to the other and distorted.
| was thoroughly cured of playing to the
stands.
In the meantime had been pitching regu-
larly in the morning practice games, and
my curve ball was breaking in great shape.
By working an hour like that on regular
diamond | soon got the range of the plate,
and | was getting back the control that
made me SO successful in college The man
ager appeared to be immensely pleased at
nv progress, because was showing willing
spirit.
One afternoon the star pitcher spent
half-hour with me trying to teach me
crosshre delivery.
About this time the papers all over the
country were printing stories to the effect
that | was as wild as a March hare, and,
though had "a lot of stuff they said, |
could not control it. This gave me an idea,
and when we were on the tram gong west |
mentioned it to the manager.
That's all right he said, after listening
to me for long while. @Let them think you
are wild"
My idea was to work trick on the pro-
fessionals similar to one that | had been
taught in college by an old Lacquer. The
only thing lacking was a chance.
"If things break right in the first two
games at Pittsburgh, the manager promised,
all give you a chance in the last one
You've got a good idea there, and if you have
confidence enough you may get away with it.
But you've got to be careful that they don't
get on and double cross YOU
THINGS did break lucky for us in Pitts
burgh, and on the third day the man
ager sent me out to warm up. | was an
nounced as the pitcher!
Before starting in had another talk with
the boys on the bench and they all agreed
that should go in and try and bean few
batters just to keep them frightened.
"Don't try this on the first man, though
said the manager; "for he'll wait you out
sure and put you in the hole. It's his bust
ness to get on the base any way he can. Re
member he is not college player
was so interested in my scheme that
when | walked to the box was eager to
start, and my stage fright completely left
me. The fact that | was in a strange town
must have helped me some.
The first batter to face me was very small
of stature; but | managed to hold my own
with him. After getting two strikes on him,
| wasted two balls by pitching them to the
outside The next one | curved squarely
over the plate, and he popped it up to third.
This put me over for beginning, and
picked up courage as went
The next batter beat out scratch hit to
the infeld, and then | had to pitch. The
two strongest batters on the club were COM
ing up.
There was a signal from the bench, and
knew that the time had come to work my
scheme | did not wind up, because there
was a runner on base; but | shot the ball
straight at the batters head with a barrel
of speed on it. He lodged out of the way
and fell over the plate. He remembered
what he had read about my being wild, and
backed off in the far corner of the batter's
box Again shot one at him, and in trying