The Washington herald., 1920-01-30
VETERAN HERO
BOOSTS SHANKS
Player Of Fifty Years Ago
A Regular Fan-Gives
Grif Suggestions.
by GEORGE L. MoRELANp.

BY GEORGE l.. MORELAND.
The Herald is in receipt OF a let
ter that shows the true spirit of
loyal supporter of the Washington
Baseball Club. The letter speaks
for itself.
We print the missive in full, and
when the contents are read, IL you
do not agree that II is from one who
SHOWS his heart is In the right SPOT,
then You or he Is wrong.
i handed the letter to President
Grinith; after reading IL he expressed
his appreciation of what this old
warrior says by turning to Secretary
and business Manager Eddie Eynon
with an order to have the best
grand-stand seat in his park mailed
10 the writer on or before the first
game of the season.
Letter Speaks for Itself.
Any man who has followed base
Dali as long as this gentleman de-
serves the best. and he is going 10
get 1t from me-" said Grifr.
mere is the letter, just as ! re-
ceived Il:
The Soldiers Home.
District Of Columbia.
January rs. 1880.
Dear Sir: I am always greatly interested
IN your baseball stories in The Herald psr-
ucniariy those having reference TO old timers
Yesterday Y saw in the Times where some
one Designated Judge Lands the worlds
greatest fan" but I do not believe the
ludge mas huch on me so far as attends rce
at games is concerned. I am a member Of
and have lived at this Home since October
lpd, ana during the succeeding seasons
nave never attended less than forty games
IN any one seasun-sixty nine in 1912 sixty
last season 'see rain checks herewith
More than fifty years ago l was pla yinr
the game in Philadelphia. in the time OF
the original Athletics. among whom were
Dick Mcbride, Al. Reach. wes. Fisler.
Johnny Seasenderfer. klinefelder. Eddie
Cuthbert. Geury. Harry Shafer and Dolerty
/ wonder il any OF them are living yet.
In those days the Athletics were classed as
the uptown club" ! was playing with
the crack downtown club-the keystones.
When ! wish the Washington ball park
do not expect TO see the home team win
every gam" they play. but I DO want to
see them play good bail, win or lose.
do not want to tell Mr.. Griffith how 10
run his team. but have often thought that.
in making up the team for the coming sea-
son. ! would vote for its outheld compost
tion: Rice, Roth and Hank sh5nks.
would say put shanks in left and keep him
there even IL he never should bat above the
go average during the season. for I firmly
believe he would, at that. drive in more runs
than Milan with his individual average of
about 800 for the entire season. Shanks. in
my opinion. is still coming-Milan Is going
and / believe Shanks would render the better
defensive play. What do you think. may
ask: Although ! am nearing my 10th year
I still have very great interest in the grand
old game. or I should not have given the
Washington team such loyal support for the
past twelve seasons.
Very sincerely.
wM. J. SAISTER.
Twenty five years in the L. S. regular army,
and now a member of its home.
Three suu Live.
For the benefit of Mr.. Sainter will
say: / received a letter last week
from A. J. Reach and he, with Sessen-
derfer and Dick Mcbride. are the only
ones he speaks of that are alive.
Reach was the first man to receive
as a professional ball player.
the Athletics securing him from a club
in Brooklyn in 1861. and he Joined the
club. where he beca me
a star and has resided in the city
since.
The gentleman says he has sent
coupons in the letter. I'll say he did.
There are forty-seven of them. the
first dated April %, which was an ex-
hibition game with the Giants In
score of II TO 9.
pitchers neatly written on the back
Of each.
The best wishes can extend is that
he "aShin1fnr nr,lA-
win the pennant. but the worlds
highest honors before the umpire calls
time on his life.
Letter from n Young Man.
Dear Sir: l think your idea in
today's paper about diamonds. is
very interesting and l hope il comes
true. 1t won't hurt any boy to have
a little diamond to play on. like
to play ball myself but am always
afraid TO throw a large ball across
the diamond for fear of hurting my
arm. If your idea is adopted then
We can play the game Just like the
larger ones. ] would get up a team
myself to play that kind of game
and we could organize a District
League for boys of the different
TEes to be played on the Moreland
Diamond. Hoping your idea works
out O. h. Yours truly.
OWEN COFFEY.
Washington, D. c.. Jan. 20.
Here Is Another.
! read in your paper yesterday
about the new diamonds for base
ball l think your idea interesting
and the way The Herald prints the
news. All the boys are interested
in the paper and always read il.
We hope you will take a kindly in
terest in the Junior League. Our
league will start its season NJ rch
90 and we will always use The
Herald. as it is the paper for the
boys. Yours very truly.
ALFRED II. BELLMAN,
Mana ger Mt. Rainier Is. b. {.
3715 33rd street northeast
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