The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-10-10
Boston Fans Against
Own Crack HfieLder
Hal Janvrin, Former Hub Schoolboy Star, Has Never
Overcome Hostility of Rooters-AII Around the
League HIS Is Con sidered Valuable.
By HARRY SCHUMACHER.

NEW YORK. Oct. 10.-The strangest
thing about this great battle for world
honors IL the public attitude Of Boston
toward Harold Janvrin. In many ways
the best utility player in the big leagues.
Boston fandom II pulling for him to
blow up and drop out Of sight.
No one realizes more keenly than the
average Red Sox fan that the success
or failure Of the Boston cause Is largely
dependent upon the form displayed by
Janvrtn In his attempt to understudy
the crafty Barry. yet the prejudice that
was founded years ago In a mistaken
notion OF the young mans character
still persists. Nothing that Janvrin can
do In ever right in the eyes of the Bos-
ton fanatic. and though he fields like a
Collins and hits like a Speaker in this
series. he cannot hope to reconcile the
populace to his presence in the batting
order.
ana Tor no other reason than that
Boston took a dislike to him the first
DAY he appeared in Red Sox uniform
ana has never outgrown II. A conf
oent. aggressive sort of q youngster
when the Red Sox found him playing
with local high school team some
years ago. he gave the fans the wholly
erroneous impression that he was af-
hicted with a head several times too
large for his cap-and they took to rid
Ing him.
Errors that any other infielder could
nave perpetrated with impunity brought
down upon his young head the soundest
abuse. Every failure to deliver n hit in
a pinch was used as an excuse to prong
him with singing criticism.
Whatever he did was wrong. and there
was no peace for him anywhere or any
time except when his club was on the
u 1sn SENSITIVE to a degree, he felt the
daily subjected hereabout and his play
Ing did fall off.
But only In Boston. Away from the
nome crowd and playing before people
who regarded him only as a member OF
the Red Sox encourage, he has ever
been a consistently good and very fire.
auentiy a really brilliant ball player. An
uncertain fielder and q weak batter at
home. he made himself known TO the
Ianatics OF every other city as a danger
GUS clouter and a fast and dependable
fielder. No Boston infielder has played
much better ball against the Yankees
TINS season than Janvrin. Boston, how
ever, cannot see him, and. moreover.
doesn't want to see him.
On the seasons records Janvrin Is a
.nster, iarNner-ranBing defensive player
than the man for whom he has been
substituting, and there never was
time when he could not outbat Black
Jack. Yet. In spite OF everything. Bos-
ton still persists In regarding him as
a high school boy who has absolutely
no right to be mingling with major
ieaguers. and no amount of demonstra-
ting Will convince the Hubbites that
they are in the wrong.
Only among his ball playing asso-
ciates Ii Janvrin appreciated ut his true
worth. His fellow athletes all regard
his a. one OF the most valuable mem
bers OF the Boston club. n sort OF Artie
HOFFMAN OF the American League, lack
Ing only the former Cub stars fleetness
and cunning of being his equal. Janvrin
Is not master strategist. nor Is he
wonderfully clever base runner. He fits
well In the Boston machine. however,
and Bill Carrigan will be surprised in
deed IL he does not prove to be one OF
the bright particular stars OF the series.