Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-08-25

After being signed for try-out
with the Baltimore Intcrnationals, l
could hardly sleep at night for count
ing the minutes until the time To
report for spring training. All the
fellows in the school envicd me and
said they hated to see me go. but
wished me all sorts OF good luck.
The day arrived. however. ana [
packed my suit case before break
fast. was taking no chances on
being left. Brother Matthias shook
me by the hand and told me he knew
/ would make good. adding that /
had only to play the game" on the
| field and off.
| There were a dozen other rockies
waiting on the station platform with
the regulars and the newspaper writ
crs. who were TO accompany the club
Few Of us rockies knew one another,
but we herdcd together on the out
skirts Of the big crowd unnoticed ny
anyone. although 1 thought ! saw the
newspaper experts looking us over
the way the stock buyers look EN-
over in the Chicago yards. j don't
remember that anyone gave me so
much as the once over. | was only
kid. and to them had nothing but
size and n schoolboy reputation TO
recommend me. was nearly six
feet two and l guess / looked like
so much ivory.
We rockies knew that it was each
man for himself to win place on
the ball club, and We knew, also. tina,
before the training ended. some or
us would be playing in the trolley
league or back on the old home lot.
Still. we were friendly in our early
misery and rivalry and unanimous
In our envy of the regulars.
Roommate Snored.
The trip to Fayetteville was n great
event in the life OF boy who had
been under rather strict discipline for
twelve years. had gone to the in
stitute ut the age OF Z, you Will
remember. and here was at the age
Of 10. taking my first real railroad
journey, and a much longer one than
ever though l would take Mos,
Of the way I was busy looking out OF
the window. and il gave me quite IL
thrill to run over high trestles anc
through tunnels, because ! was only
new TO me. Likewise. the comforts o.
the hotel at Fayetteville, appealed
particularly TO me. roomcd with
another rookie. but I must say that
this boys shores at night were music
TO me; they reminded me of the DOR
mitory back at ST. Mary's.
The sport writer's Immediately start
ed their annual series Of stories about
the seasons dining-room phenom
| They criticized the rockies form at
the dinner plate. and one of them
said that If 1 could swing a bat as
well as l swung fork would punch
300 for the season. They evidently
had never before seen n healthy boy
with healthy appetite. because
don't believe l ate one bit more than
anyone else. One OF the wits said
that Babe Ruth's favoritc break fast
delicacy was planked steak smoth-
cred in pork chops.
Plays short on YnnnISnnx.
For two days Jack Dunn had us
out limbcrins up with the mildest
sort OF ball tossing. l didn't like IL.
because nad been Timber for twelve
years ana wanted i chance to show
that could put the ball clear out
or the park If they'd let me lean a
pat against it, ] was wearing the
gray uniform of the Baltimore club
ana telt that the proper thing to do
would be TO score q home run. Any
thing less than that wouldn't match
up with the suit. On the night OF
March Dunn announced that there
| wouid he "a game on the next morn
| ing. and he told me that ] was to go
! IN at shorts,op for the YanniEans
That was the time thanked my stars
| for Brother Matthias training AT
every position on ball team had
wanted TO specialize in pitching and
| catching and would not have known
how TO play short If III not been COM
PEELED TO play them all at Sain,
Mary's. 1 spearcd everything thai
came my way that day My first time
at pat was determined to show them
that ! could hit homer off n res,I,r
league pitcher | dug my spikes in
the dirt. watched the ball sailing nm
the path and swung. There was no
telling where the ball went. As soon
as hit and felt the blow singing up
the bat, tore around the bags and
scored easily. The ball had gone into
I
head. Later on In the game | pitcbcd
an inning-Dunn was trying me on
Tor fair. Well. ! wasn't any Walter
Johnson, but they didn't score apy
more runs on me.
AFTER that game I noticed that tho
regulars were more friendly 10 mo
man they had seen. Apparently
they had been hearing some com
ments by Jack Dunn
Pitched Against Athletics.
"ithin few days Dunn gave me
place on the regular squad. and
when nc arranged an exhibition
game with Connie Mack's world
champion Athletics at Wilmington.
~ C.. no told me would start the
session In the box. Gee. / was go
ing 70 work against the team that
nad turned back the Giants in the
faii OF 1913! The FIRST three men nm