The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1913-10-02


and Got Fired and Then Worked His
wav Back Into Fast Company.
In the American Magazine Hugh s.
fullerton writes an article entitled
sThe Making of Big Lacquer 1t is
. true story of the development OF one
of the greatest bali players in the
United States as told by himself to
Mr. Fullerton This player, OF course.
heesn the game as boy and passed
tbrough all the stages from amateur to
minor league teams and then into the
hig league In this early experience he
hacame a great victim of the "swelled
head" hit the first ball pitched when
no went to bat after being told to wait
sor two strikes and finally lost his posi-
ton on the big league team. After
many vicissitudes he lost his "swelled
headr 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
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
IAN want he said. lis for you to
get out there and hustle and behave
Yourself I've heard you're hard to
handle. but III take chance
"'You won't have any trouble with
me- assured him. All want Is
chance to show that l 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 | f1g-
ured out pays-yes. and made them
IN planning what ! would do the next
day.
I'VE were playing a game against a
team which we figured we would have
to beat out to win the championship.
] pictured myself hitting home runs
and making triple plays. and when l
awoke IN the morning l was nervous.
shaky, uncertain and scared ball play
er. In practice before the game every
thing hit my way | either fumbled OF
threw wild. as my nerves were rags.
The crowd seemed to be sorry for me
when they weren't hooking. 1t was a
relief when the game started.
u was second at bat In the lineup.
on foreign field and with hostile
crowd roaring. The first man flied
out. Wait him out. Take two said
the manager as picked up bat. The
first pitched ball cut the heart Of the
plate saw it all the way up and
knew 1t would have been easy to hit it
bard, yet | let it go Strike one the
umpire yelled, and the crowd howled
! was cool as Boston east wind. The
second ball came whiZZing up straight
over the plate with nothing on it, and
itched to hit it. yet let 1t 60 for the
second strike
Then | settled to hit. expecting a
curve ball. The curve went wide. A
fast one went high and wide. | figured
that the pitcher thought he had suck
er at bat and would curve one over
He came with a fast ball a foot high.
and swung at 1t and struck out. My
heart nearly got spiked as 1t sank into
my toes going back to the bench
That's the boy said the manager.
Wait him out Make him pitch.
II could have kissed him for those
words went to short with my nerves
steady and my system full of conf
dence. The first ball hit was a sizZler
over second. got the ball with one
hand. and there wasn't a chance to
throw the runner out II ! stopped to
straighten up. so threw without look
Ing and without waiting and plunged
forward onto my face The yell from
the crowd told me the first baseman
mad caught 1t, and as scraped the
aust out of my eyes and trotted back
10 position | felt at home
u wasn't excited nor elated. but the
confidence that had carried me through
the minor leagues came back with a
rush and all fear was gone was a
dig ieaguer-and knew It. The next
ume at bat crowded the plate. jock
eyed with the pitcher and watched He
whipped curve inside the plate.
pretended to dodge and let the ball hit
me 1t hit hard and ] squirmed. but as
tne manager bent over me | winked at
MIN and. letting him lift me. limped
uown to tirst-and stole second on the
nrst ball pitched. sliding clear around
tne oaseman. On my third trip to the
pate | cracked clean hit over second
base and. after being sacrificed to sec
oho' stole third because | figured no
one would expect recruit to do that
In the clubhouse that night the
manager said. You'll do. kid. II you
uont get sweIled.' And I replied. I've