The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-23
I'VE TALES OF THE DIAMOND & z4:= s*zz

How we'll | calculated became
matter of baseball history during tina,
last week of June. We won six
straight games, three of which fell
to the Rube's credit. His opponents
scored four runs in the three games
against the nineteen we made. Upon
July I, Radbourne beat Providence
and Cairns won the second game. We
now had a string of eight victories
Sunday we rested, and Monday was
the Fourth, with morning and aft
ernoon games with Buffalo.
Upon the morning of the Fourth,
| looked for the RUDE at the hotel
but could not find him. He did not
show up at the grounds when the
other boys did, and | began to worry.
1t was the Rube's turn to pitch and
we were neck and neck with Buffalo
for first place If we won both games
we would go ahead of our rivals. So
| was all on edge, and kept going
to the dressing-room TO see II the
Rube had arrived. He came, finally,
when all the boys were dressed, and
about to go out for practice. He had
on a new Nit. a tailor-nadc suit at
that, and he looked fine. There was
about him kind of strange radiance.
He stated simply that he had arrived
late because he had just been married
Before congratulations were out OF
our mouths, he turned to me.
Con, | want to pitch both games
today" he said.
What! Say, Whit, Buffalo is on
the card today and we are only three
PORTS behind them. IF VIC win both,
we'll be leading the league once more,
| don't know about pitching you both
games"
81 reckon we'll be in the lead to-
night then" he replied, "for I'll win
them both
| was about to reply when Dave,
the ground-kceper, called me % the
door. saying there was a man to'see
me. | went out, and there stood Nor
risey. manager of the Chicago Ameri-
can League team. We knew each
other we'll and exchanged warm
greetings.
Con. | dropped off to see you
about this new pitcher of yours, the
one they call the Rube. want to see
him work. I've heard he's pretty fast
How about it,"
"Wait-till you sec him pitch,
replied. could scarcely get that
much out, for Morrisey'S presence
meant great deal and | did not want
to betray my citation.
ANY strings on HIM" queried the
big league manager, sharply.
We'll, Morrisey. not exactly.
can Give YOU the first call You'll have
to bid Ugh. though. Just wait till you
see him work.
I'm glad to hear that My scout
was over here watching him pitch
and says he's a wonder
What luck it was that Morrlsey
should have come upon this day! |
could hardly contain myself. Almost
| began TO spend the money | would
get for selling the Rubc to the big
league manager. We took seats in
the grandstand, as Morrisey did not
want to be seen by any players, and
| STAYED there with him until the
gong sounded There was big at
tendance. looked all over the stand
for Nan. but she was lost in the gay
crowd But when | went down to the
bench I saw her up in my private box
with Milly. 1t took no second glance
to sec that Nan Brown was bride
and glorying in the fact.
Then. in the absorption OF the
game. | became oblivious to Milly
and Nan; the noisy crowd: the giant
frc-crackcrS and the smoke: to the
presence OF Morrisey: to all except
the Rubc and my team and their OPP
poncnts. Fortunately for my hopes,
the game opened with characteristic
Worcester dash. Little Mccall dou-
blcd. .Ashwell drew his base on four
wide pitches. and Stringer drove the
ball over the right-hcld fcnce-thres
runs,
Three runs were enough to win
that game. OF all the exhibitions OF
pitching with which the Rube had
favored us. this ono was the finest.
1t was perhaps not so much his mar
vicious speed and unhittable curves
that made the game one memorable
in the annals OF pitching; 1t was his
perfect control in the placing OF balls,
in the cutting of corners: in his alb
solutc implacablc mastery OF the sit.
uation. Buffalo was unable to ind
him at all The game was swift. Short,
decisive. with the score ) to IN our
favor. But the score did not tell all
OF the Rube'S work that morning.
He shut out Buffalo without hit, or
scratch. the first no-hit. no-run
game of the year. He gave no base
on balls: not Buffalo player got
to first base; only one fly went to
tho outficld.
For once forgot Milly after a
game. and | hurried to find Morrisey,
and carried him off to have dinner
with me.
Your rubc is wonder. and that's
a fact" he said to me several times:
"Whcrc on Garth did you get him!
Connolly. he's my meat. Do you I'M
derstand? Can you let me have him
right now:
NO. Morrisey, I've got the pennant
to win first. Then I'll sell him"
How much? Do you hear? how
Morrisey hammered the table
with his fist and his eyes cleaned.
Carried away as | was by his We
hemcnce, | was yet able to calcu-
late shrewdly. and | decided to name
a very high price, from which l could
come down and still make splendid
deal q.
Five thousand dollars" | replied.
and gulped when | got the words
out.
Morrisey never batted an eye.
Waiter, quick, pen and ink and pa
per-"