Evening journal., 1914-08-26
.LAJOIE WAS A WIZ
The first DAY OUT
In 1896 He Quit Driving a
Hack and Joined Fall
River Club
MAINE SCRIBE TELLS
OF HIS MAIDEN GAME

The practical retirement of Napol-
con Lajoie from the Cleveland team
marks the close OF one of the most
interesting and sensational baseball
careers in the history of the game.
And this career is particularly in
teresting to New England and to Lew
iston. Me, and Auburn because Lajoie
broke into professional ball through
the Fall River team and played some
uf his first games in Lewiston.
This was in 1896. almost the last of
New England League baseball in Port
land, the year when Bangor and Aug
usta were in the organization.
Fall River had lost two outiielders
by draft and il was believed that the
loss of these two men would weaken
the team greatly leaving only Hiram
Ladd, the old time left fielder. To re-
place these two men Manager Tom
McDermott picked up two players,
Lajoie and Geier, both unknown to
fame at that time.
i4ajoie had been driving a hack in
Woonsockot, and was known as a use
ful utility player on semi-pro teams
He was frequently called upon to tll
in upon teams in WoonsOcket. No one
ever dreamed that he would ever be-
come a famous professional player.
Tho opening game of the season in
Lewiston that year was May IL. Lew
iston had played two close games
with Fall River on It's trip away from
home. About 1000 people welcomed
the team On its arrival home.
Those who saw that game never
viii forget It and neither will they
ever forget Napoleon Lasoie The way
tho Frenchman wadod through the
game that day left an impression
which will never be effaced. lie play
ed center field, Ladd left field and
Geier right.
The files of The Lewiston Journal
OF Tuesday. May u, 1896, thus begin
the story of that game Massacre of
the Innocentsl Lewiston played Fine
Ball In the Field, but Fall River Hitsl
Long and Williams Suffer at the
Hands of the Terrors of Fall River, "
and then ensues this opening ode on
the game, which ended in a score of
IS to 8:
Fall River showed us a ball team
of athletic looking men. Their new
uniforms were rather fanciful. but
very becoming to the complexion OF
that delicate blond, Hiram Abel Ladd
and Fred -llobedanz. This team also
introduced stalwart fellow named
Laioie. who is a twin to Joe Lizotte
and who proved TO be one of the most
brilliant players we have ever seen
on any team in this city, being a fast
nolder and a tremendous hitter with
d capacity. it would seem, to hit any
kind of a ball.
Il also introduced a short and
chunky young chap named Geier who
is built like Abel Lizotte, with large
and rambling foundations on the
ground. Zach of these players look
like big timber. Every time one OF
them came to bat he seemed to swell
up and grow taller.
According to the story of the
game Long pitched very well for one
inning and then Fall River began &c
bat. Geier opened with a hit. Reilly
sacrificed. Kennedy hit. Laioie drov,
one nearly to the fence and then Ton
McDermott lined one out that scored
the fourth run for the inning. From
then on it was nothing but runs. Tn,
story says:
Fate dealt us another cruel blow
in the third in the long three-hase hi
.->'by. Laioie which sent in two meI
ahead of him and which made thl
score to 1. Then came the seventl
and such a lambasting as the Fal
Rivers gave the ball It has never beer
our lot to see Pitcher Long locke,
as if he expected a shower of brick
bats.
Seven hits. two Of them two-hag
gers. one of them by Lajoie. followei
in swift succession. Lewiston wa
chasing the ball over the outfield con
tinuously. Eight runs crossed tn
plate and then they took out Pitche
Long and Williams went in. Six hit
followed in this inning, four hits Il
the ninth. making eight runs in tw