The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-04-03

Vernon Ayan. the only Chi
neHe professional baseball play
er In tho world. arrived in Se.
attic last night and Was out
and around this morning CIV
ing Seattle the once-oyer. Yer
non will play nhortstop for ss-
attic this season. He arrived
In town on the boat last night
with Bill Lizard and 10 othar
ball tossers who will endsavor
10 land berths with the Giants
this year.
Ayau Is small chap. total
ing something like 40 pounds
in his playing toys. IL" thks
without a trace OF accent ana
has as good control OF slang
an any bleacherite. lie has
been playing the international
pastims for aimoa, nine years,
beginning with St Louis Col
lere in Honolulu. After four
collegiate years. Ayau Joined
the famous IAN Chinese club
OF Honolulu and was a member
OF that aggregation when sign
ed by Lsard last winter.
Ayau 10 making his fifth
trip To the mainland. lie was
her. four times with the All
Chinese" team.
The Chinese is confidsn, OF
making good in the profession
al baseball world. Playing with
the "AllChlnesa' team. he
batted against some OF the
greatest pitchers In the world.
inasmuch as ths club en- tour
met something like $50 teams
each year In the States. and
when At home the AN Chi
nese" tackled all sorts OF In
vaders from the All Americans
TO santa Clara team. In all OF
these games. Ayau showed an
eblIlty 10 hit all kinds OF pitch.
ing. while his fielding was 70.
markable at all times.
Ball players who have seen
him In action predict n great
future for him in the baseball
world.
Ayau ia glad TO have his
chance to make good In pro-
fesslonal ball. yet he regrets
the passing OF his first love.
the "All.Chinese" team. That
unique organization. which
toured the States four times.
has diEbanGed. Two OF the
PLAYERS -l.ai TIN end Apau Kau.
third baseman and pitcher re-
spectiyely--are In Philadelphia
working and studying at night.
Ayau Is to play with Seattle.
and Ken Van. the catcher who
came near getting a trial
with Portland. is In business
In Honolulu.
1T was certainly fine
club" Ayau sighed when asked
about his former teammates. i
never FORGET the way we came
into the public's eye. IL was
IN II or ~. ! forget which.
that the Waseda college team
came 10 the islands en- route to
the States. We asked them for
a game, and they told us 10 go
ret n reputation.
when they came back we
must have had reputation.
for they gave Us series OF
three games. We lost the first.
won the second, and the third
went 10 us by a score OF ! 10
O. on the strength OF this we
were given n chance TO tour
tho States for the first time.
The Chinese merchants OF
Honolulu financed the first
trip. After that II paid for
itself"
Ayau was asked II he
thought any of the other
Chinese players could make
good In professional balls
"Apau Kau could. He pitched
n "a game against the All
Americans when they we're in
tho islands. Lai Tin could.
too, I think. I'm sure Ken Yam.
tho catcher McCredie was
after, could get by. / think
he's waiting to see how get
along before he takes the
jump"
Ayau points with pride to
the achievements OF the Homo
lulu Chinese in the baseball
world.
when the old country
wanted to be represented in
baseball at the Manila games
they didn't have ball team.
so they asked us, the All
Chinese to represent China.
We did. End we cleaned up
everything.
you should see the way the
little boys are playing the
game. 'rhe American school.
boy has nothing on the Homo
lulu Chinese boy when II
comes TO performing on the
sand lots.
"The Chinese fellows can
hit, and that's something the
Japs can't DO. For that rea-
son think the Chinese
players will have more Of n