The Washington herald., 1917-07-18
Olson, THE Fighting
SWEDE, MAKES GOOD
Shortstop Is No Longer Laughing
Stock of National League Fans.

New York. July l;.-1vsn Olson, the
Fightin' Swede, has made good.
He is no longer the laughing-stock
OF National League fans, nor a target
for the shsrnshooters Of the Hammer
Throwers' Association, for he is play
ing good ball for the Dodgers at
shortstop and Is commanding the re-
spect and admiration of the fans who
once heaped words of abuse and in
suit on his head.
Last fall, in the worlds series.
Olson's work at shortstop was bug
bear for DodCer fans. His work dur
ing the greater part of the 1915 sea-
son was anything but brilliant. but
the Dodgers couldn't get along with
out him very well, and couldn't dis
pose of him, either. So Ivan stuck.
and is still sticking like a porous
plaster.
1t takes some remarkable grit and
courage for ball player to face the
panning that was handed Olson with
out losing his nerve. But Olson has
done this very thing. and through his
indomitahle spirit has made a valuable
ball player out OF himself at last.
A writer once referred to the Swede
stortstopper as 'hatchet-faced
fightin' sonofagun." and he is all of
that. He was the goat OF the 1916
worlds series, an awkward, bow
legged ball player. and he was given
as much abuse as any player who has
ever worn major league spangles: but
he's still in there fightin' 'em. and
there Is no indication that his Job
isn't secure
When the season opened Wilbert
Robinson had Laverne Fabrique, the
Providence wonder, groomed and la
heled for the regular shortstopping
job on the Brooklyn team. Fabrique
looked like a 800. .oOo 900 at Hot Springs,
and he looked like a sure-enough.
eighteen-karat. major league phenom
/ during the first few weeks of the sea-
son. But, like so many newcomers in
the big show, he began to fade as the
| pitchers settled down. and as his hit
! ting fell OF his fielding also became
shaky. Finally he was released to
the Toledo Iron Men. and ole Ivan,
the Terrible, got his Job back.
Olson started playing ball with Mus
kogee in 1906. and he played with
| Webb City and Portland before going
to the big leagues in 1911, when Cleve-
| land claimed him through a working
| agreement with the Portland club.
In the first season with Cleveland
Olson played at short. but in 1912, Ia
| and IA he was assigned to third base.
and also played few games at first
and second base. Finally, in 1915,
| Cleveland asked for waivers on the
big Swede and Cincinnati claimed him,
| later releasing him TO the Dodgers.
Olson has never hit better than 2sl
! in the big show, and his fielding dur
ing the years he spent in a Cleveland
Uniform was not particularly brilliant
But the Olson OF today is a different
Olson from the one who made so many
| costly fozzles for Brooklyn last sea.
son. and the fans in Flatbush have
ceased to pan him.
Many a ball player accorded the
panning that has been handed Olson
| would have been shunted to the mi
nors, for the average player can't
stand being put on the griddie. and
especially in his home town. It's just
the ole fightin' spirit and determina-
! tion in Olson's makeup that has car
| ried him through. and he deserves a
huge COB Of praise for the showing he
is making now.