The Washington times., 1921-12-18
GOTHAM FANS
REGRET BURNS
LEANING GIANTS
Public Endeared to George.
Could Better Stand Departure
Of Any Other Man.

Giants viii have Heinie Groh next
season, but they have lost George
| Burns. Local fans could have
stood the departure of possibly
any other player with less regret
than that old standby, Gorgeous
GEORGE who has been one Of the
biggest fayorities Of the many that
have, worn 1 Giants' Uniform. Not
only Is he popular, but he 3 be-
loved - no other player has been
since Christy Mathewson passed
out Of the iimelight - an active
player. Burns il entitled to all
the adulation accorded hinsr He
il considered in our city the best
outfielder In the National League
and he, earned the reputation.
George Burns was the most depend
able player on the Giants. He could
always be relied on at the most crit
| ical stages. He was as steady an q
/ clock and probably did more than any
4 other man on McGraw's team to carry
the Giants to the success they have
attained.
Burns has been q Giant since 1911,
| when he was secured by the New
York club from the Utica IN. " club
! by direct purchase after AcGraw had
sent scout to closely observe the
promising youngster's work for three
successive weekG George was
catcher with the Utica club. He also
played In the infield occasionally.
mostly at third base.
l. McGraw saw that Burns had rare
capabilities as an outfielder and H.
| nally placed him permanently In left
field. No other-man ever played that
difficult sun field on the Polo
Grounds up to Burns standard and
there have been many who undertook
the Job. He was the star Of leftfield
beyond any doubt.
When Burns Flashed.
It was In the spring of 1918, down
at the Giant training camp In Wacco
| fTexasl that George blossomed into
full form. He had been warming the
| bench for tworseasons and had become
| somewhat displeased at being kept in
| retirement 30 long. He made up his
mtnd to show his manager that he
was entitled I'd place on the regular
team.
George had gained in wisdom by his
bench experience and he shrewdly
waited until he had got himself into
perfect physical form. 1t was not until
he had been training for two weeks
thar he cut loose ito show" II was in
q game between the regulars and
rockies that George decided to make
his flash, and he surely sprung q sur.
prise. His all-around playing was
really marvellous. He batted heavily,
! ran bases like q ghost and threw two
runners out at the plate In a seven.
inning game. From that day on he
was regular. .teN.
He was q real star from that time
on. He was never superseded. He
1 was placed at the top OF the batting
order as lead-off man. being both a
good waiter, fine batter and superb
base runner. He led the National
League in base stealing several years.
but last season he appeared to have
slowed up q bit.
/ George was a strong favorite with
McGraw. Probably no one regrets his
old pals retirement from the Giants
more than the manager who developed
him into the player he Is. To Burns.
McGraws system Of play h an open
book. George has known no other.
| He win become fully as popular in
Cincinnati as he has been in this city.
With the addition OF Senior Mike
Gonzales the Reds will be greatly
strengthened In their catching depart
ment. There is no better throwing
catcher than the TALL lanky Cuban.
A Burns will. of course. regret leav-
ing New York City where he has been
q resident, but he will appreciate
that the exigencies surrounding the
big deal made 1t necessary. In fact
according to reports from Buffalo.
Manager Moran absolutely refusedl to
make the. trade unless Burns was In
Il cluded.
i nGroh will Of course be welcome
back to the Giants, for his rare all
around ability Is fully appreciated by
local fans. He will strengthen the