The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-09-05
The BALL PLAYER.
He Faces Many Trying 0rdeaIs
In His Early Experience.
MAKING A BIG LEAGUE CLUB.

fluctuations 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 an article entitled
'The 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,
began the game as 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 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
| veterans of the game. or his final en-.
trance into the big league he says:
| I'm 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.
"'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 III take a chance
"'You won't have any trouble with
| me- assured him. All want is
chance to show that I can play
you'll get all the chance you want
he said quietly. You're in the lineup
| tomorrow
stage fright! Did you ever snffer
it? did that night. Ny nerves were
jumping. and a thousand times fig
ured out plays-yes, and made them
In planning what would do the next
day.
1--WE were playing game against
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
awoke in the morning was nervous, Il
shaky, uncertain and scared ball play
err In practice before the game every
thing hit my way either fumbled or
threw wild. as my nerves were rags
The crowd seemed to be sorry for me
when they weren't mocking. 1t was a
relief when the game started.
II was second at bat in the lineup.
on a foreign field and with hostile
crowd roaring. The first man fied
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 it would have been easy TO hit it
hard. yet let 1t 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 II so for the
second strike.
Then | settled 10 hit. expecting a
curve ball. The curve went wide. A
fast one went high and wide. | figured
that the pitcher thought he had n snck- e.
err at bat and would curve one over.
He came with fast bali foot high.
and ! swung at it and struck out. Ny
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 si2zler
over second. | got the ball with one
hand, and there wasn't chance TO
throw the runner out II | stopped 10
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
had caught II. and as scraped the
dust out Of my eyes and trotted back
10 position felt at home
II wasn't excited nor elated, but the
confidence that had carried me through
the minor leagues came back with
rush and all fear was gone was a
big leaguer-and knew It. The next
tine at bat crowded the plate. jock
eyed with the pitcher and watched BE
whipped curve inside the plate.
pretended to dodge and let the ball hit
me. 1t hit hard and squirmed. but as
the manager bent over me winked at
him and. letting him lift me. limped
down to frst-and stole second on the
first ball pitched. sliding clear around
the baseman. On my third trip to the
plate cracked a clean hit over second
base and. after being sacrificed TO sec
ond. stole third because ] figured no
one would expect a recruit to do that
I'm the clubhouse that night the
manager said. You'll DO. kid. IL you
ID 4 rap1fo1 iva