Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-07

dllHr graduation played with Anson's Colts
ann the Gunthers, two semipro teams In
1nIcago' Before entering the university
bezdek played on the Lake High School
paH team In Chicago. He was considered
an exceptionally good player and one Of the
pest second basomen I'm the college ranks
called on Bc2dek at the Majestic yester-
day and found him In his ROOM resting
I''ef a nara nights trip He had been on
tue road Tor more than week, travelling
an tne way from Portland to sign up for
the Joo' He had seen his team lose pair
TO st. Louis on July and was an eyewit-
ness to the slaughter Thursday. when the
cards won out in eleven innings. He had
perfect right to be tired and he rested on
a couch in his room while we talked things
over
viii Work Hard
Il can't say much about managing a big
leageu ball club" he said, because I am
NOT to it yet | took charge Of the
club last Wednesday and have devoted most
or the time TO getting acquainted with the
players. They are great boys and | know
that they will do some good work in a short
time. ! know ] have a hard job on my
hands. but I'm willing to work and believe
that the players will work with me
There is one thing ] want understood"
ne continued, as he partly arose as If to
emphasize his remarks land that is that I
will play the game fairly and keep away
from umpires. I can't see anything in
arguing after "A decision has been given
when there Is no chance to have II reversed
But we will play hard all of the time and
accomplish more than II rowdy tactics were
resorted to-"
Beadek also shed some light on his deal
ing9 with Dreyfuss. For eight years the
new manager has been on the Pittsburgh
pay roll and has secuted all over the West
and in Canada for players. He performed
his duties so well and showed such a knowl.
edge of the game that Barney turned to him
in this emergency.
Discovered in 1908
It was in the spring Of 1908 that Bezdek
ing at Hot Springs Ark, and stopped off
at Little Rock to play the University ot
Arkansas. BeZdek coached that team and
his players put up such a good game and
showed such a knowledge OF inside base
ball that Fred Clark congratulated the
coach after tho contest. There were several
nrst-class men on the college team and
Clark wanted to sign them when college
closed. Dreyfuss also expressed the same
desire and went further when he said:
eff you see any promising players around
here, let me know"
Bezdek started out that summer on n
scouting trip and has been at it ever since
This year he visited the Canadian leagues
and was back only n few days when Bar
ney's message interrupted his golf match
'I was surprised when the position was
offered to me-" he said, for l never even
dreamed of being appointed manager, Now
that I have the job I'll work harder than
ever before and do my best, That's all
any one can do"
Bezdek also is a football coach of high
standing Last year he taught the Uni
versity of Oregon team the proper way to
beat Penn in the New Years Day game IN
Pasadena and before that, won the Pacific
coast championship. He has been at Oregon
for four years and will return next fall
Before this he coached the University OF
Arkansas, where he turned out three cham
pionship football elevens and four cham
pionship baseball teams.
Great Football Player
In his college days. BeZdek was star full
back on the University of Chicago team
He was called the human shell" from the
way he tore into the opposing line. Critics
say that he Is the best line plunger the
West has ever seen and that means whole
lot l remember one game In which Bezdek
played He was injured early in the first
half, but arose and kept on playing. Be-
tween the halves in the dressing room
Bezdek called the trainer and asked for
the cover off q wash boiler, which was
under the bench.
The startled trainer handed him the piece
of tin and was amazed to see Bezdek bend
It and put it under his jersey This was
before the rules prohibited metallic guards
so when the game was resumed, BezdelS
trotted out on the field with the tin shield
to protect his body. He played through
the game, but afterward 1t was discovered
that he had two cracked ribs.
Bezdek il thrty-three years old and
makes his howe in Eugine, Oregon. He
is married ana has two children.