The Washington herald., 1913-04-27
ALBANY FANS Strong
FOR TOMMY CROOKE
Local Boy Puts Up Great Game at the
Initial Station and His Work
Pleases Critics.
AN AGGRESSIVE. BALL PLAYER

Albany. n Y April 26.-Tom Crooke.
Of Washington, who will guard the hrst
sack for the Senators, is just the sort
Of A player that will become popular in
Albany He is always in the game,
ard at no time lays down. If an error
is made by another player he is al
WAYS there to encourage that player.
Never mind" he will yell when an
error has been made, 1.-The best Of them
do il: just dig in and work hard" IT
has been these encouraging remarks TO
Young players that have made Tom an
idol among these players, no matter
where he has played
Some people have said that he is
what is termed a crab in baseball; that
is a man who is always pulling to win
a game, even to the extent of calling
the umpire down. When asked about
this report, Tom said: IF wanting to
win a game gives the man the title OF
crab. / am a crab, for ever since I've
been able TO play I've always went into
A game OF ball wanting to win, and
III do the same until my days as
player are over There is no lay down
in my makeup and / think there is
only one way to play the game-that is,
fight for IT until it is over, even if the
opponent has a lead. Try and overcome
it is my motto, and I think il is
good one for all players breaking into
the game to have"
Hard Worker.
On the diamond Crooke is a hard
working, aggressive player, but when
off the field he is one Of the most con-
genial of men. He is always a gentle
man. and let's no incident that has hap
nened on the ball field interfere with
his friendship toward the players after
the battle is over. He is the pink of
neatness. and when in street clothes one
would be apt to take him for a bank
president, instead OF one of the best first
basemen in the business
Crooke has always been considered a
dangerous hitter, and at the end of the
season has stood up well in the per-
centage. Although having this reputa-
ton as a hitter, Tom SAYS he is un-
lucky with his hitting. lie gives two
cases of where he was unlucky. The
first happened in Washington when he
was playing with the Senator'S There
was about $50 worth of merchandise up
for the first home run OF the season
Tom was called upon one day as a
pinch hitter. He responded with one of
the longest hits ever made on the WASH
ington grounds but the ball stuck in the
mud of the outfield, thus stopping Tom
from getting any more than two bases
The next week another player made a
hit in identically the same spot, but the
ground was dry. and the ball went for
a home run. Many of the Washington
fans thought Crooke was entitled to half
the reward for the home run, but the
player who made il thought otherwise,
so Toms long hit went for naueht.
The second case happened in Bridge
port. An enterprising merchant had put
up a $50 suit for the man making the
greatest number of hits in the season.
Tom led the last day of the season by
one hit and although he made four hits
on that day another player made enough
to beat him out by one hit There is
a lot of luck in baseball" says Tom,
land Some people are blessed with much
OF it. but yours truly has got to play
for ali he gets, as luck don't run with
me-"
Crooke is one swell player, and the
way he swings at the ball and meets
il will certainly cause much joy to the
many fans in this city.