The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-03-03

But don't want the Frenchman,"
replied Nash. II came up TO get
Geier."
sorry. but I won't split 'em. III
sell YOU the two of them, and II you
don't want 'em, somebody else VIII
take them.
and advised Reach of Marston's
terms, adding. "Lajoie can hit, but
he's pretty raw"
Reach replied: CLOSE deal for the
two of them"
And so Philadelphia acquired Napo-
leon Lajoie. one of the games great
est sluggers, as good measure IN a
deal for a pitcher who soon faded out
with Philadelphia.
Had Enough Foreigner.
Arthur Irwin was manager OF the
Giants that year. and he had been
tipped of to this smuggling cabby OF
the Fall River team. But when he
spoke to the late Andy Freedman
owner of the Giants, about buying La
joie, Freedman replied. we've got
enough foreigners already on tnts
club without getting Frenchman.
King Larry. as he later was affec-
Calltu, pioh' III ''N''
Phillies on August II, 1896. in game
played with the old Washington SEN
ators in the old Philadelphia National
ballyard.
.Lajoie had played mostly in the
outfield at Fall River, but when he
was brought to Philadelphia Billy
Shettsline, who then directed the
team, placed the young slugger on
first base.
Larry in his first major league
game got only one single in five times
at bat against Win Mercer, the WASH
ington pitcher. He handled ten
chances in the field without an error.
We read from the lead OF LaJoie's
first big league game that the youth
full Napoleon impressed the spectators
favorably:
The Philadelphia got their hits
well together here today and easily
defeated Washington by score of
to O. The ten hits OF the visitors
were scattered through eight innings,
and when they did have chance to
score they were prevented by fast
double-plays.
Impression Favorable.
'T4ajoie made his first appearance
in National League company and inn
pressed the spectators very favor
ably"
Larry saw some real fence busters
in action in that first afternoon In
the National League. NO matter
where they finished. the old Phillies
always used to have smuggling teams
and Lajoic had such mighty clubbers
as Ed Delchanty and sam thompson
batting right ahead of him. Big Ed
4 -g,>lo n
game and Sam hit a home run and q
single.
Laijoic had hit AGO in the New Eng
land League before the Phillies pluck
ed him. and he continued his hitting
in the National League. lie hnisheu
the 1896 National League season with
an average of 1881.
The story Of how Tajoio broke into
professional ball Is just as interesting
as how he broke into the majors. lie
was born on September ., 1875, In
woonsockct. II. l., the son or French
Canadian immigrants. Until Larry
won fame on the diamond nc earned
his keep by driving hack at Woon
socket. Larry used to meet all trains
in his quest for fares.
Played Between Trains.
However, the cabby used to FIND
| time to play ball in between trains
and soon got the reputation of beine
able to hit n ball harder than anyone
in woonsocket Woonsocket had ar
| independent team. and the young mus
cular Nap played with his home towr
team when he wasn't BUSY with his
cab. His fame as hitter began e
spread outside OF Woonsocket, anC
! in 1896 there came a chance to play
/ for Fall River. The rest Is history.
In 1897 the Phillies played LaJoi'
at first base and In tho outneld an,
! In 1898 he was played on second base
( the position In which he was destined
/ 10 become tho most famous star. ONLY
/ Eddie Collins has the right 10 chal
Z lengc Larry's claim TO being thu
greatest OF all second bascmcn, an'
tho only thing Eddie had on Kini
Larry ~ speed.