Norwich bulletin., 1917-07-20

mention Pop Anson and his remarka ble record. The fact was brought out that the famous old slugger was the only player who had ever made three thou sand hits. It seemed a staggering total was fairly swamped by it. But then and there the idea crystaliZed in my mind that some day in the far off fu- ture I, too would like to register my three thOuSandth hit.
 I will not say that I deliberately set about to accomplish that seemingly i'm possible feat. It would have been foolish to make any such mental reser- ball. But I will admit that it has been my chief ambition for a good many years to make three thousand hits. And as the passing of each season has brought me nearer the goal l have though more and more upon that par ticular afternoon to come when l would meet the ball fairly and rap out good clean drive for a complete score of thirty hundred safeties.
 Since that visionary idea came to me so far back that l can hardly re- member it clearly, two players have passed AnSons great mark One of them Hans Wagner, is tottering on the verge of his final season in the big show. The other, Nap Lajoie ,one of the greatest hitters who ever lived, has hung up a record which few can ever possibly equal and passed on to the minor leagues. And with his going I
 
 of service. in the American League, the oldest player, with the exception of Hans Wagner, in the major leagues.
 And how about that little ambition of mine which started many years ago. It is an unpleasant experience to think about that ambition now as l stand on the verge and cannot see the certainty of it's realization. It is all the more unpleasant because l have come so near it and because I feel within myself the ability to realize it.
 When l completed my seventeenth season in the big leagues I counted up and found that according to the rec ords I had made 2,869 hits. 1 needed 131 more to realize my ambition And I won't deny that as I looked at those figures l counted that record as good as won. l was in excellent condition had just played a full score of 156 games and was confident that several more good seasons lay before me. But if my plans should not materialiZe it required by one to gain my three thousand hits.
 Bear in mind that I needed but 131 hits. And for fifteen stranght years l had not failed to make more than that number of hits 8 season, The season before I had registered 1S3 and for at least 1S3. Surely it was rather simple matter for me to rap out 131 safe waIlops in what need be only fair season.
 50 IL seemed III the WlHlST Ol 11lO and 1916. But the spring brought q different story. They told me l had slowed up that l would have to begin to take my turn on the bench, that must relinquish right field at least part of the time to a younger man. Now I have always known that l would grow old sometime. I have al ways been prepared to meet the day when it arrivea and l fiatter myself with as good grace as the next man. I dxy tn n 1916.
 It is true that I am not the fastest man in the world. It is also true that am probably not as fast as l was at twenty five. But after all right field Is one place where speed does not count for as much as it should else where on the diamond and there are other slow men playing right field. l cover a fair amount of ground and stop most of the balls that come my way in right field. And l am conf dent I can hit nearly as well as l every could.
 I began this season with exactly 39 nits to go. Now there was time when | could have made 39 hits in a single l month of healthy swatting. The only 1 hing that troubles me now is whether | )r not I shall make those 39 hits in an | entire season. At my present rate I should say 1t was doubtful, but perhaps | things will break a little better before | he year is over. |
 On most accounts I have no cause | O complain. Baseball has been good | o me and I appreciate the fact Neither | nave I any criticism of the manage | nent of our club. The management | :, after results and if those results | an be better obtained by having | someone else in my shoes. why the | would be foolish not to | 'ollow the plan. I am not criticising | nor anything except the un- lsual succession of events which have | brought me so near the realization of | ny dreams and then threatened to cave me just short of its attainment. For am not through, I will admit hat I am through. I can still play he game up to major league standard.
 can still get those three thousand its if only I have the chance.
 Senahor de Castro Feito, Portuguese I6frA<zfenr tra Stockholm fx dAad