Smyrna times., 1919-10-22
STORY OF FORMER SMYRNA BOY
George R. Price Gets Write up In
The Wilmington Sunday Star.

George II. Price GetS WEAte up Ah
The Wilmington Sunday Star.
What's in a name? Nothing. Just
because "Jack" Prices parents decid-
ed that he should be paid under the
handle of George R. Price, why it's
prefectly natural for everyone to call
him "Jack." We always thought that
Jack was an everyday way of putting
John and lately, disguise for Jake
and Jacob, so no wonder we were sur
prised when he put over the George
stuff.
And here's how it happened. There's
always pleasant little story of some
pleasant occurrence attached to nick |
name. Take "Babe" Ruth for an ex-
ample, they call him Babe because he's
nine foot, six and only big enough to |
crash out twenty-seven home runs a
season and break any number of bats,
fences and records.
"Jack" Price is called Jack because
he travelled with his father when the |
latter was on the road for the Inter-
national Harvester Machine Company
and as pops name was John, they
just naturally referred to the youngs-
ter as Little Jack, and it has clung to
him ever since. There may be one
other reason why he is Jack and not
George, he's Henry Clay Thompson's
right bower. Well let the card play
ers explain that one and take all the
risks attached to so doing.
If you have ever seen Jack cavort-
ing on the ball field and more than
holding his own with the youngsters
in the Inter-Department and other
leagues, you'd never dream that he is
"a years old, but he is, he admits it.
You'll not find many men who love
the national pastime more than Jack
Price, nor will you find many that
play as often, even in the big show.
Well venture to wager, and all our
Wagers are sure things, that Jacks
name has appeared in more ine-ups
during the past season than any other
ball players in this locality and
many other localities. For one thing
he was leading member of the Ma
terials, in the Inter-Department, then
again, he was a regular with the
Eleventh Ward in the All-Wilmington,
and last but not least, he performed
with Lorraine, independent champions
of the State. Aside from these three
clubs he was always on hand and
when another team was short a man,
you'd generally find Jack Price filling
the gap. You'll have to do some tall
hunting to find a man who likes the
game better, he's regular glutton
for punishment as the box fighting
experts would pause to murmur:
There's only one thing wrong with
Jacks baseballing. We don't know
how it has been in seasons past but
during the one now reaching its end,
Jack with all his clubs, was always
runner-up. In the Inter-Depart-
ment, the Materials were second in
the race for the second half champion
ship; Eleventh Ward took second
money in the Wilmington, and
Lorraine was beaten out in thirteen
innings for whatever it was they
played Parkside. Some runner-up.
Jack Price is one of Delaware's ma.
tive sons. Born in Smyrna, he at
tended the schools there and Later
graduated from the Wilmington Con.
ference Academy at Dover, nov
known as the Wesleyan Collegiat,
Institute. Jack began playing ball a.
soon as he had learned how to hole
on to one and it was his ball playin,
that eventually brought him to Viii
mington some ten years ago. He ha,
made quite hit down through tn
State and one of the local semi-pr
clubs procured his services. In tn
time Jack played with and agains
some of the best talent in the countr
including Frank Baker and Charli
Herzog. The big league transformer
always hit down through the Stat
and Jack got his share of the posi-
season dough that way. During hi
baseball travels he visited every tow
village or group Of houses on the De
marvia Peninsula.
One of Jacks first jobs in thel
parts was at the, Ferris Industri
School, known also as the reforms
tory. Here Jack was put in charl
of the bad boys and for a time act
as instructor. Later he became a