Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-08-21
The BALL PLAYER.
He Faces Many Trying 0rdeals
In His Early Experience.
MAKING A BIG LEAGUE CLUB.

Tribulations Of a Veteran Star Who
Started In With a "swelled Head"
and Got Fired and Then Worked His
Way Back Into Fast Company.
In the American Magazine Hugh S.
Fullerton writes un article entitled
"rhe Making Of Big Lacquer" It is
true story OF the development of one
Of the greatest ball players In the
United States as told by himself to
Mr.. Fullerton. This player, OF course,
began the game as boy and passed
through all the stages from amateur to
minor lengue teams and then into the
biz league, In this early experience he
became a great victim Of the "swelled
head" hit the first ball pitched when
he went to bat after being told to walt
FOR two strikes and finally lost his posi-
tion on the big league team. After
many viclssltudes he lost his "swelled
head" and got into the big league
again, where today, at thirty-four
years of age, he is one Of the great
veterans of the game. OF his final en-
trance into the big league he says:
"In June was purchased for a
large sum by the club which then was
the strongest In the country. | didn't
say word about money, although the
club paid over $4,000 for me. The new
manager sat down with me in the
hotel the night Joined his team.
"'All want he said, is for you to
get out there and hustle and behave
yourself. I've heard you're hard to
handle, but I'll take chance
"'You won't have any trouble with
me- assured him. AN want is a
chance to show that can play
"'You'll get all the chance you want
he said quietly. You're in the lineup
tomorrow
stage fright! Did you ever suffer
it? did that night. My nerves were
Jumping, and thousand times fig
ured out pays-yes, and made them
in planning what ! would do the next
day.
I'VE were playing a game against
team which we figured we would have
to beat ont to win the championship.
pictured myself hitting home runs
and making triple plays, and when
awOke In the morning | was nervous, a
shaky, uncertain and scared ball play,
er. In practice before the game every
thing hit my way either fumbled or
threw wild. MS my nerves We're rags
The crowd seemed to be sorry for me
when they weren't mocking. 1t was O
relief when the game started,
"a was second at bat in the lineup
on Il foreign field and with hostile
crowd rOuring. The first man died
out. Wait him ont Take two, said
the manager MS picked up bat The
first pitched ball cut the heart of the
plate. saw 1t all tile way up anC
knew 1t would have been easy to hit II
hnrd, yet | let It 90. Strike one the
umpire yelled, and the crowd howled
| was cool us n Boston east wind. The
second ball came whlzzing up straight
over the pnte with nothing ON 1t, anC
itchcd to hit II, yet let It go for thu
second strike
"rhen settled to hit, expecting {
curve ball, The curve went wide. A
fast one went high and wide. figured
that the pitcher thought he had suck
er at bat aud would curve one over
lie came with fast ball foot high
aud swung at 1t and struck out. NJ!
heart nearly got spiked as 1t sank int,
my toes going back to the bench.
"'Thats the boy said the manager
Wait him out Make him pitch,
81 could have kissed him for thos'
words, ! went to short with my nerve,
steudy and my system full Of conf
dence. The first hall hit was n sizzle
over second got the ball with on,
hand, and there wasn't chance I,
throw the runner out II stopped t,
strulghten up. so threw without look
Ing and without waiting and plunged
forward onto my face. The yell from
the crowd told me the first basemnl
had caught It, aud MS | scraped tn
dust out Of my eyes and trotted bacl
to position ! felt ut home.
~ wasn't excited nor elated, but tn
confidence that had carried me throug
the minor lengues came back with
rush and all fear was gone, | was
big leuguer-and knew It. The mex
t time at bat crowded the plate, jock
eyed with the pitcher and watched II
, whipped a curve inside the plate.
, pretended to dodge and let the ball hi
me. II hit hard and | squirmed, but a
the manager bent over me ! winked q
c him and, letting him lift me, llmpe
0 down to Grst-and stole second on tn
S FIRST ball pitched, sliding clear aroun
the baseman On my third trip to tn
plate ! cracked clean hit over secon
D baSe and. after being sacrificed to se'
c ond. stole third because | figured n
Q one would expect recruit to do that.
a "ln the clubhouse that night III
4 manager sald, You'll do. kid, II yo
don't get sweled,' And replied, Nv
gone through that"
Il
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