The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-08-28
THE BALL PLAYER.
He Faces Many Trying 0rdeaIs
In His Early Experience.
MAKING A BIG LEAGUE CLUB.

and Got Fired and Then Worked His
Way Back Into Fast Company.
In the American Magazine Hugh s.
Fullerton writes an article entitled
The Making of Big Lacquer" IL is
true story Of the development of one
of the greatest bail players in the
United States as told by himself to
Mr.. Fullerton. This player, OF course,
began the game as Il boy and passed
through all the stages from amateur to
minor league teams and then into the
big league. In this early experience he
became il great victim Of the ''swelled
head" hit the first ball pitched when
he went to bat after being told to wait
for two strikes and finally lost his posi-.
ton on the big league team. After
many vicissitudes 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. or 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 n 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 be 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 a chance
"'You won't have any trouble with
me- ] assured him. All want Is
chance to show that can play
"'You'li 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 Il thousand times ] ag-
ured out plays-yes. and made them
in planning what l 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
and making triple plays, and when
awoke in the morning was nervous.
shaky, uncertain and scared ball play
er. In practice before the game every
thing hit my way either fumbIed or
threw wild. as my nerves were rags
The crowd seemed to be sorry for me
when they weren't nOcking. 1t was a
relief when the game started.
Il was second at hat in the lineup
on a foreign field and with q hostile
crowd roaring. The first man flied
out. Wait him out. Take two. said
the manager us picked up bat The
first pitched ball cnt the heart of the
plate. saw it all the way mp and
knew it would have been easy TO hit II
hard. vet | let it 60 Strike one the
umpire yelled. and the crowd howled
| was cool as Boston east wind. The
second ball came whizZng up straight
over the plate with nothing on 1t. and
l itched to hit it, yet let it go for The
second strike.
"Then 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 hat and would curve one over
:. He came with fast ball n foot high
, and l swung ut it and struck out. NJ!
! heart nearly got spiked rs it sank int
my toes going back to the bench.
. "'That's the boy said the manager
: Wait him out. Make him pitch
e II could have kissed him for thos'
t words. went to short with my nerves
! steady and my system full OF conf
dence. The first ball hit was a sizzle
U over second got the ball with on
: hand, and there wasn't a chance t
throw the runner out II stopped t
r straighten up. so threw without look
b ing and without waiting and plunge
forward onto my face. The yell fror
|. the crowd told me the first basema
!. had caught it. and as ! scrapcd tn
dust out OF my eyes and trotted bac
y to position | felt at home
:" II wasn't excited nor elated. but tn
# confidence that had carried me throng
the minor leagues came back with
n rush and all fear was gone. J was
|, big Ieaguer-and knew 1t. The neA
time ut bat | crowded the plate. 1oc'
., eyed with the pitcher and watched h
. whipped a curve inside the plate.
pretended to dodge and let the ball d
, me. 1t hit hard and squirmed. but
: the manager bent over me ! winked
!, him and. letting him lift me- J 'impe
:. down to first-and stole second on Il
- first bali pitched. sliding clear arour
:, the baselnan On my third trip to Il
-, plate / cracked clean hit over set'oI
y base and. after being sacrificed to sc
~ ond. stole third because figured
=, one would expect recruit to 10 that.
:" I'm the clubhouse that night q
=" manager said. You'll do. kid. IT y
Ut don't get swelled.' And replied. ~
~ gone through that"
ot |