The Washington herald., 1917-03-11
STARS OF Other DAYS
have HIT TOBOGGAN
Lajoie. Bender. Mathewson and Ruck-
er Scin6Ilated While They Lasted.

New York, March 1o.-Some years ago
q rookie pitcher, facing Larry Lajoie.
the terrible Frenchman, for the first
time. turned to the arbiter who was UNI
ptring the bases and said.
What had better throw 'imr
Put 'er in the groove. KID replied
the Jokist In the blue uniform. "and
wen both duck"
This Is Z little yarn that has often
been told. but we are telling 1t here
because Il tells the story Of an incl
,'dent the like of which there have been
many In Lajoie's major league career.
The great Frenchman has passed from
the majors. He will always be remem-
bered as one Of the greatest players in
the game, II not the greatest batsman
OF them all for Q consecutive numoer
Of years. But he will strike terror TO
the hearts of the pitchers no more.
While the major leaguers were trek
king to the Southland this year, Larry
LaJoie turned his face toward the North
for he Is to manage the Toronto CLUB
In the International League, and. al
though he may play q few games. the
chances are that he wfl stick to the
bench and the side-lines for the most
part
Lajoie. at bat in a pinch, or in any
other situation, for that matter, was
always a bugbear for the pitchers. The
veterans as well as the verdant ones
feared him. But his trusty old bat has
been hung on the wall.
The mention of LaJoie recalls the names
Of several great stars who are not num-
bered among the players basking under
Southern skies as members of major
league clubs.
Old Chief Bender has been sent upon
the trail to the minors, and Christy
Mathewson. who will lead the Cincin-
natl Reds, does not plan to pitch for
his team. Mordecai Brown. who Is to
the Columbus Club. according to a re-
cent announcement by Joe Tinker, Is
another famous landmark Of the majors
who has been swept away.
Nap Rucker whose name is immor-
talized in Brooklyn. will draw his salary
from the Dodgers this year as a scout,
and the time is drawing near when other
veterans who have starred In big league
uniforms for years will follow in his
wake.
OF the veteran stars, Eddie Plank, OF
the Browns, stands alongside OF Honus
Wagner as a sturdy oak of baseball that
still defies the ravages of time. But the
dawning of retirement for both of these
players can he seen in the offing. They
will not be major league performers for
long.
and Bender or Mathewson and Brown is
a thing Of the past. A ringing hit that
brings thousands of fans to their feet
with shout for Larry Lajoie Is now but
memory. And in the places OF these
stars are Younger and clearer-eyed ath-
letes who have been waiting a long time
for them to surrender.
The bright stars of the day. such as
Cobb. Sisler Speaker. johnson, Schalk,
Alexander. Chase and few others, have
time before them. One or all OF these
players may star in the mai jOrs for many
seasons to come. And while they are
passing through the summer OF their
stardOms. others will be breaking into
bloom to succeed them when they turn
into the road taken by LaJoie. Bender
and Matty.
Baseball has seen some turbulent times
in the past few years. Internal troubles
thave rocked the very game. but the senti-
mcnt of the fans toward their idols has
not been shaken. and the coming and
going Of the stars helps to make the
Kingdom of Old Man Swat the greatest
in spOrtdom.