South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-23

SPARKS FROM THE
GLOWING EMBERS
BY "POP'' SLADE


A-hN Il IllGAANE l1EAAl.
some OF the bugs are mighty hard
20 please. Long John Watson. OF
she Boston Braves. has given up the
JOB.
/ was In Boston last August when
the Braves were going strong. and
had a fighting chance 70 win the
pennaut The players We're keyed
up % a high pitch. and the "regu-
lars" in the stands were living under
an intense strain.
Pursburg hit Bean Town for a
series Of four games. Boston fought
them 70 a standstll, winning two
games. Then everybody drew a
long breath and looked happy in
contemplation Of four games with
tho second division Chicago Cubs.
Alas. what a disaster, Instead OF
q quartet Of easy wins. the Braves
were forced 10 battle at top speed
ali the time. and only the breaks
permitted them 20 win two contests
from the Windy City outfit.
The second game was especially
pltiful Watson was selected 10 hurl,
and was in trouble all the way. In
the seventh inning ne was yanked
in favor OF Jim Scott.
Suffering France!" cried a bug.
/ I'm a box near the home dugout.
Cant go the route with a team like
/ Chicago"
I Next day Watson spotted him, and
mentally marked down all the sCath-
ing sarcasm offered by the loud
mouthed second guesser during the
series.
I'm going to show that bird
I something" Watson promised.
Philadelphia followed Chicago.
Wilhelm had yanked the dIsorgan-
lied Phiuies TO their feet and had
them noticing things in great shape.
Especially were they passing the
ball with gay abandon.
+ Before the first game Of double
header. Watson approached Mitchell
with a request to pitch both games.
"I feel fine today he said, and
can win 'em both. Everybody
knows the Fhils are the hardest hit
ting bunch in the league right now;
let me go in and show up the
chirpiu' bird back of the dugout."
Mitchell was nothing loath. His
pitchers were showing the effects Of
six strenuous weeks. with the eX-
Ception OF Watson. and the chunky
/ leader was anxious 20 nurse them
along as easily AS possible.
Tn the first game Long John let
WIlhclm's crew down with FIVE
singles. winning the game without
apparent effort. He was mighty
happy Just before taking the hill
10 start the. second game, he walked
TO one end OF the dugout and said
20 the laxative bug in the stands
Now watch me-"
CAL right" was the reply "TU
watch yoll-for about two innings"
Tn the second half of that double
BILL Watson pitched one of the best
games OF his career. Inning after
inning the Philadelphia players
paraded from the dug0ut TO the
plate and back again Boston won
the game in record time, with only
two hits marked up against the tall
pitcher
Before leaving the field Long John
stopped long enough 20 grin cheer
fully into the box seats back of the
dUEOut.
"HeU," cried the criticisinE bus
Anybody could pitch week against
. Philadelphia"
Getting a good lead. a sumner
beat Petersou's peg TO second.
atkinson Phille shorstop. took
the bail and tagged the runner after
he had -kidded past the sack. In
the duEout Peterson said:
That's the way. Park; get 'em
when they slide past"
IT got YOU Pete" replied Park
iuson. "Now if can find a way to
ta- 'em without waiting for the
ball. yOu'U be a good catcher"