Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-28
YOUNG PLAYERS FURNISH FUN
FOR MAJOR LEAGUE VETERANS
Ambitious to Shine in Spotlight Before Man
ayers and Public Make Them Easy
Victims of Practical Jokes.

was to be featured in word and picture.
About ten days later the pitcher re-
cefved a package containing dozen
pictures. also a bill for same that
caused him to gasp. No doubt he was
under the impression all the pictures in
the world couldn't cost that much. Be-
lieving 1t a mistake. he paid no atten-
ton to the bill. In a few days the sec
rotary of the club was appealed to for
settlement. He Investigated and real
lied the recruit had been the hoax for
some fun. The bill was paid and the
recruit notified 1t would be taken out
Of his salary. That was sad news. "A
few days later the manager used the
youngster and he came through in great
style. The game went into extra in
ninss. mainly through the good work of
the pitcher, who showed at his best in
the tenth inning. when, with the bases
filled. the score a tie and only one out,
he retired two batters ON strikes, both
good batters. The home team won in
the twelfth. and. as the pitcher passed
the manager on the way to the club
house, the manager remarked:
Saves Cost Of Pictures.
Those pictures won't cost you a cent.
I will instruct the secretary not to
deduct 1t from your salary. They may
be of some use. Some Of these re-
porters may be around looking for q
picture Of you after that exhibition OF
pitching"
That evening the pitcher disposed of
two to base ball writer's, insisting they
be returned. and also be handled with
care. The laugh was on the veterans
and not the recruit.
Several members Of the st, Louis
Browns a few years ago put over an
incident quite similar to the pho
Biography stunt. In a game in an
eastern city of the American League
a recruit inf1elder had a big day at
many times up. AS a bush Lacquer
the recruit had a great reputation as
a hitter, but he found the pitching
slightly different in the big league.
and hadn't shown much at the bat. The
four hits proved a tonic. and he was
busy around the hotel lobby that even
ing. His rapid-fire conversation caused
a few of the veterans to frame some
thing at his expense.
Another Recruit Falls.
The following morning the player
received a telephone call from a man
who purported to be the manager of
well known sporting goods store, but
who was a member Of his team. The
supposed manager made mention of his
great hitting and regretted the player
was not using the pat manufactured
by his company.
He informed the youngster many
leading players used it. and that he
hoped to shortly include him in the
list. To have him give the bats trial
the manager requested him to drop
around and he would present him with
q dozen. The player started for the
store. He introduced himself, and, be-
cause Of his work the previous day, he
was the object of much attention. He
then requested to see some of the bats.
and after examining a couple of hun
dred he selected dozen OF them and
requested they be sent to The ball park
A few weeks later it was decided the
player was not quite experienced
enough. and another year in the minors
would just about fit him for fast COM
pany. Announcement was made in the
papers. and Immediately a bill was
sent to the club for the bats. It was
rude awakening when. on getting
his check. he saw the cost Of the bats
deducted from his salary. When he
arrived at his minor league destina-
ton he discovered he boosted of more
bats than the entire club carried.
Copyright, 1917. BY ". G. Evans.)