New-York tribune., 1916-02-05
The Nerve of Kit Kane

Kit Kane never promised 10 make Ty
Cobb look cheap, nor did he threaten
10 remain in Duluth, Mimi, If Mctsaw
failed 10 give him half the purchase
money He came 10 the Nauona.
,ague therefore almost unknown.
One Of the evening papers did men
ton the fact tina. re had stolen eighty
three bases for Dayton. but added that
the catching out that way was oil no
great account. Even on the training
trip Kane received little attention be-
cause he had no particular eccentrlci-
ties with which 20 attract the numor-
lists selected by the New York papers
TO write about the most deadly sport Of
them all. Kit pulled neither bone nor
Ladger. IL d dn't know thing about
Golf nor was he ever recruited Tor the
poker game lie stuck 20 baseball and
the fans Of New York scarcely heard
o., him until he entered the opening
game Of the season as pinch hltter
and drove q home run into the right
field stand.
There was space for Kit thereafter.
Srace and headlines as well, for at the
end of the first month he was hitting
.3Sg. And then one afternoon Grover
Cleveland Alexander pitched. hlt never
knew sidearm ball could come so fast
and he ducked too late. They sent TO-
a doctor first and later a priest. hit =
head was harder than anybody had
imagined. He rambled q good bit Tor
the first three days. The night nurse
said he kept repeating some NUMBER
over and over again. She thought l.
was 2S9 that he kept dwelling on so
insistently, but that must have been a
mistake 40 fever could have beer.
high enough 10 make Kit cut hunderd
points from his batting average.
As they say, handsome Is as hand
some does. and the night nurse didn't
know thing about baseball. Her
name, If that matters, was MISS Chrs-
tine Stevens She was a real blonde.
BY and by Kit quit talking and the
doctor said that his mind had returned.
III WAS cOnvalescent long time. In
fact, McGraw finally went down to the
hospital and told Kit that he should
yet up and report at the Polo Grounds
within a week or have his pay stopped
ale won't hit much more for US this
season." McGraw contided 20 Dick Kin
.ella. You'll ind he can't stand up 10
speed any more
But Kit did stand up TO Toney and
found him for two hits the first after
noon he returned. The next day
Kicker pitched, and Kit was hit on the
head the first time up. Everybody was
SURPRISED 10 see Kit keel over except
Nap. who pretended 70 believe that his
fast ball still had kick enough 10 in
lure the most hardy athlete. Back 10
Bellevue went k.t and again McGraw
had TO dislodge him from the hospital.
THIS time he played week and then
Babe Adams beaned him. II was mid
ding fast ball and Kit refused to come
70 until he was back in the hospital
and Miss Christine Stevens was putting
ice on his forehead.
Matty tipped McGrsw of. Matty
had been outguessing batters and bar
gamers and chess players for so many
wears that reading the mind Of Xii
was easy
"He can, dodge" was McGraw's eI-
planation.
"He don't want TO-" answered Matty
Hes in love-
"You mean to say he takes those
bean balls on purpose ," asked the man
ager
Exactly" replied the pitcher.
"lll ask him." said McGraw. And
he did But he knew what the answer
would be. There was no need for Kit
20 stammer and give away his secret
by abiect ccrfu 'on. McGraw accepteG
Matty's explanation the minute he saw
the belle OF Bellevue. Many a man
would have let Nap Rucker pitch at his
head all day for a sight Of the fair
Mss Stevens.
As soon as the nurse left the room
McGraw talked seriously 20 he player.
you've got 10 quit getting hit snc
play ball" he said. Don't you know
that If you keep up this business Of