The Washington herald., 1915-05-09

was more tnan the usual reason WHY
| must pull the team out. A chance
for business deal depended upon the
goodwill of the stockholders of the
Worcester club. On the outskirts oil
the town was little cottage that
wanted to buy, and this depended
upon the business deal My whole
future happiness depended upon the
little girl | hoped to install in that
cottage.
Coming to the Worcester Eastern
League team, | had found strong
aggregation and an enthusiastic fol-
lowing. really had team with pen
nant possibilities. Providence was a
strong rival. but | beat them three
straight in the opening series, set a
fast pace, and likewise set Worcester
baseball mad The Eastern League
clubs were pretty evenly matched;
still | continued to hold the lead until
misfortune overlook me.
Gregg smashed an umpire and had
to be laid off. Mullancy got spiked
while sliding and was out of the
game. Ashwell sprained his ankle
and Hirsch broke a finger. Radbourne,
my great pitcher, hurt his arm on a
cold day and he could not get up
his old speed. Stringer, who had bat
ted three hundred and scventy-one
and led the league the year before,
struck bad spell and could not hit
a barn door handed UP to him.
Then came the slump. The team
suddenly let down; went TO pieces;
plavcd ball that would have disgraced
an amateur nine 1t was a trying time.
Here was great team. strong every
where. \ little hard luck had dug
up a slump-and now. Day by day
tho team dropped in tho race. When
VIC reached the second division the
newspapers haycd us. Worcester
would never stand for second dIVl-
sion team. Baseball admirers, report
crS, fans-espccially the fans-are hc-
klc The admirers quit, the reporters
drilled u, and the fans. though they
stuck to the games with that barnaclc
like tcnacitv peculiar to them, made
lie miserable for all OF US. | saw the
pcnnant slowly fading. and the sue
ccssful season. and the business deal,
and the cottage. and Milly-
But when | thought OF her | just
could not see failure Something must
be done but what? | was at the end
OF my wits When Jersey City beat
ue that Saturday. eleven to two, show
ing Us down to fifth place with
only few percentage points above
the Fall River team, | grew des-
peratc. and locking my players in the
dressing room | went after them.
They had lain down on me and need
cd a jar | told them so straight and
fiat, and being bitter, | did not pick
and choose my words.
And fellows" | concluded, you've
got to brace. 4 little more OF this and
we can't pull out. tell you you're
a championship team. We had that
pcnnant cinchcd. A few cuts and
sprains and hard auckland YOU all
quit, You lay down I've been patient.
I've plugged for you. Never a man
have | fined or thrown down. But
now I'm at tho end OF my string. I'm
out to hnc YOU now and I'll release
the first man who shows the least vel
low. play no more substitutes. Grip
pied or not YOU guys have got to &c,
in the game
waited TO catch my breath and OK
pcCtcd some such outburst as man
ayers usually get from criticised play
crs But not word, Then addressed
some OF them personally.
Gregg. your lay-off ends today.
y on play Monday Mullaney, you've
drawn your salary for two weeks with |
that spiked loot. If YOU can't run on
it-wcll, all right, but put it up to
YOUR good faith. I've played the game
and know its hard to -un on a
sore loot. But YOU can do it Ashwell,
YOUR ankle is lame, know-now, can
YOU rum
Sure | can. I'm not gutter. I'm
-cady to so in.' replied Ashwell.
"Raddy, how about YOU" | said,
urning to my star twirler.
Connolly, I've seen as fast a team
n as bad rut and yet pull out" re-
urned Radbourne. Were about due
or the brace. When it comes-look
mt, As for me, we'll, my arm isn't
ight, but its acting these warm DAYS
n way that tells INC it will be soon.
IS been worked too hard Can't you
;et another pitcher? I'm not knock
ng Hcrnc or Cairns. They're good for
heir turn. but we need a new man
o help out. And he must be a crack
RACK if we're to get back to the
cad" /
Where on earth can / find such
| pitcher" l shouted, almost dis
racted
We'll, that's I'D to YOU" rcplicd