Evening star., 1917-09-18

| Two years ago Rogers HOrnSpy, rCQ'
| necked Texas tyke, aged twenty, wa:
driving milk wagon in Fort Worth fol
! $50 a month. This season Hornsby /.
hitting himself into $3.50 month with ri.
base ball bat, writes Sheridan in the
st. Louis Globe-Democrat. II Hornsby
| learns to field a little bit this year. that
is. become an average good major league
snortstop. he will draw about $4,000 b
month for hitting base balls next season.
A million dollar ranch in Texas is the
goal of Hornsby's ambition.
Some dash to riches!
Two years ago Hornsby's annual income
was s720, If he worked full time. Now
his income is $3.50 month for six months
Next year it may be $4,000 month.
Going some with that old base ball bat
When he drove that milk wagon In
Fort Worth Hornsby had to get up at l: 80
am. and start on his Route. He was
through by 1890, or thereabouts. Then
he had to act as chambermaid to his
horse and as manicure to his wagon.
All Of which made his day twelve hours
long.
Now, Hornsby. for his $3.50 month.
sleeps in the softest down, has the finest
sheets, monogrammed pajamas. a private
bath. a valet If he wants one, arises at s.
breakfasts like prima donna, strolls out
to the ball park; hits a few in practice.
takes shower bath. lunches, returns to
the base ball park at 80, practices lit
tie more, plays game, hits couple OF
pitched balls hard, and is done for the
day.
After dining like a prince he gets
into his motor car, takes ride to cool
off retires at 1890 and sleeps until 8.
When he drove that milk wagon in
Fort Worth Hornsby wore overalls.
Now he has his clothes made by the
has OF fai in
His underwear costs more than his
suits cost three years ago, and he
spends more for tie or a pair of shoes
than he was wont to spend on a pair
of trousers.
Hornsby's Property.
Every month Hornsby puts money in
the bank. He Is a moneygetting
young batter of base balls. He Is only
twenty-three years old and has been
Off the hurricane deck of the old milk
machine only two years. but here is a
list Of his property as given by a pal:
One handsome bungalow, beautifully
furnished; value. $500.
One lot in business district Of Fort
Worth; value, $1,000.
One lot in residence district Of Fort
Worth; value, $3.50.
Seven hundred and forty acres Of land
in ives: Texas; value. $4,000. Total,
S24.750.
How did he do It of three years sal
aries which aggregated s2,50o?
1 don't know. l only know that the
above list of Hornsbys properties was
published in a ST. Louis paper some
ball salary. $125 month. with Deni-
son in 1915. The season endured but
five months. Hornsby drew salary of
$500 in st. Louis in 1916 and was
given bonus of $500 for extra good
work. Thus in two years we find
Hornsbys aggregate salary reaching
$4,000. How he managed to support
his family-his mother is a
widow-and accumulate $24,750 worth
of property in two years off salary of
$2.15O year is more than l can under
stand
No matter what Hornsby has done in
the past, he has a rare future. He
drew less than $500 salary for his base
most $4,000 for the season of 1917.
What he will draw for 1918 depends
upon himself. He can hit well enough
to draw any salary you may care to
name. If he can add to his hitting
capacity ability to field up to the major
league standard. not necessarily a star,
but a good. first-class. reliable short
stop, Hornsby should draw $4,000 for
the base ball season Of 1918.
So you see things come pretty easily
north with his base ball bat under his
arm.
Typical Red Neck.
Hornsby was a typical Texas red
neck" when he came out Of the Red
River valley. He was tall and thin
and slim, and the sun had already
etched wrinkles in his neck. He was
knock -kneed and hollow -chested. It
lid not seem that he could either field
Or hit. He sat down" at the bat, that
g, choked the implement, held it short |
over the plate and did not
seem to have strength enough to hit a
oall out of the infield. Hornsby seemed |
rooted at him. He did not look like |
much in the field. He spent a few |
weeks of the 1915 season with the Car |
finals and went back to Texas without |
laving attracted the attention of any |
me.
1t was by some sort of a fiuke that |
1ornsby turned up in the Cardinal |
raining camp the following spring. No
me gave him thought. AS matter /
# fact. the original Hornsby never did |
urn up again. Instead. there was
zig. broad -shouldered. outstanding, bold
'oung fellow, who weighed forty
'etter than the Hornsby Of the previous
autumn.
Where did you pick 1t up, Pep%
aid Manager Huggins. gazing admir-
ngly at Hornsby's new magnificence.
Must have quit giving other people
he milk and drunk it yourselfr'
sThAeb about right, CAp.s draW1ea