The chronicle=news., 1913-06-25


stairs"
How would you like to write that
sentence 500 timesc? Probably not
nny better than did Ray KeatinG--
the star of Frank Chances Highland
cr pitching stnff-back In 1905.
when he was attending the Sc.
Charles Parochial school In Bridge
port. Conn.
KcAtingi vas kept In the school
room until 8 o'clock one afternoon to
force him 10 write these very words
because he had run downstairs when
the dismissai bell sounded. to get TO
the ball grounds moro quickly. When
Ray refused the stunt In penmanshI?
set by the sister In charge as pun
Ishmcnt. he was expelled from
school.
That expulsion was one OF the con-
tributory causes Of Rays present
fame In the baseball world. Young
keating next was enrolled In the
Barnum public school. but his repu-
istion ms bad boy" preceded him.
and when he pinyfuiiy pushed an In.
structor over n desk he was again ex-
PEELED from the halls Of education.
With no schools courtink hiS com
pany. Keatins went To work as \
shippin. clerk for the Holmes Z Ed
wards silver shop In bridgeport. and
played on the firms team In u fac
tory baseball league. Tho experience
there acquired NJ we'll as all his In.
ciins,ions ultimately led to his adopt
Ing baseball M n profession.
Raymond Herbert Heating WAS
born In bridgeport. conn.. on July
-. 1893. and therefore Is not yet 20
years old. His parents were AmcrI-
can horn Of Irish ancestors. His
father. who has been dead for nine
years. WINS engaged In the wholesale
grocery aud liquor business. His
mother II living.
Ray played baseball from the time
he could totidic. His only fear when
expelled from the 81. Charles Psroca-
iai school was that II might deprive,
him Of his place ~ pitcher on the
81. Charles church nine. which vas t.
member Of the City league. but the
parochiai srhool did not need an un-
raiy pupil as much A. the n.ue need
rd slabmau and he hurled the team
to the City league championship In
isoS. Th~~r league kames were oi
the s~mi.pro variety aud k~stink re-
eri,~d ~ each Sunday for bis scr.
vices.
As a mrmi,rr Of the Factory league
referred to. kcasink rarn~d . rcpu.
taiion In 1893 which easc him try
out with the bridgeport professional
club In 1910. but he decided the man
ax-r was usinx him merely ~ a
strong younx husky for morning bat
ting practice. Differcace Of opiaiou
as To his ability to perform In the
afternoon led 10 bis release. A. this
tine Ray boAstcd only . curve and
fast hall.
Following his issidxeport expcs.
icnec Ray caroilcd n Niagara col
icsc. liss tuition vas 9ratis iu cx-
change for the value he might Kive
the nine. Ills course coasistcd of or
isiaal research work In bassball. A.
ter the ciu-c Of the COLLEGE season he
r'lsycd on bridgeport srm'pro cluss.
In 1911 Veteran Jim O'Rourkc.
who lives IN Bridgeport. recommend
cd Heating 20 the Lawrence club ri
tho Nc~ England league. lie signed
with Lawrence at . salary Of $50 \
month. but because Of his lack Of cx-
I'-ricncc under fire was farmcd t.
Hamilton OF the Canadian League.
I, WAS a, Haaiitoa that keaiins
laid tho foundation for his major
league career. MsnaGer 'kaosty'
Ice of the iiaspiiion club had bccn =
spi,baii pitcher sud he Impaired his
knowledge 10 the yWans recruit. who
took To the saliva delivery like o.
duck to water. - to sp~ak. Ray fin
ishcd the season with Hamilton win.
ming ~ and losing II samcs on
club which won about half It's gamer
that season.
In tho spring Of 1919 the Lawrence
club. which had signed tho youuk-
s,cr the spring before for $50 pcr
month jumped his salary 10 e3s:
rcr month. Heating won :c and lost
II samcs and through his ability aud
Willingness to work In practically ev.
cry third game was largely instri-
nicniain IN enabling 1Awreucc to win
tho New Ensiand league pcnnant.
Frank FARRELL. president Of the
Highlandcrs. sent scOnis to watch
Kcatiug's work nd purchascd the
y",nss,cr for $4,000. Heating re-
ported In scptcmbcr and lost four
. n,.~a l,rfupa Tho sx,,snu ~nA~A nan