The Washington times., 1921-04-18

Jess would not strike at q ball that's
he didn't think he could soak. II he
didn't hit he would walk. He was one
Of the most dangerous batsmen that
ever faced a pitcher. He was one Of
the players who could delay a game
so long that the pitching became a
joke and the spectators grew wesry.
He could foul off balls so easily that
40 pitcher could prevent him from
getting to hrst.
Finally, the National League rule
makers provided a penalty that shut
the batsmen out OF their pet scheme
OF aggravation. The foul strike was
originated whereby every ball fouled
third attempt.
This was a sauelcher to Jess and
his fellow offenders.
GOT RAzZ FROM FANS.
Jess Burkett was the crab" play
er OF his day. Still he was within his
rights TO act as he did. And that was
10 get to first base, no matter how
he accomplished il. JeJss was a nervy
fellow and used to "set back AZ his
fan detractors as often as thew Oh
jected to his methods. He would
argue with the dissruntled fans and
then give them the laugh. Crab"
Burkett was his title all through his
career, and to tell the truth, he well
deserved IL.
He was the most aggravatins star
a winning ball player and playec
strictly within the rules.
The writer had the pride and
pleasure OF bringing Burkett out.
was manager OF the Scranton. Pa.
club in 1888 when Jack Glasscock
recommended Burken to me as being
a southpaw pitcher who had some
thing"
SAM SIGNS JESS.
I had played with "Pebbly Jack"
for come time previously, and know
ing him to be a wise old player. I
took his word and signed Jess up.
Believe me. Burkett had the some
thing" He came to me the greenest
kid that ever branched out as
rookie. How he got his idea OF base
ball is a mystery to me. But how
that younsster could pitch. I really
believe that he won every game he
worked in.
That he would eventually become
the loading batter of the country,
however, never entered my mind.
Pitchers in those days were not ex-
pected to hit. any moro than they
are now. SSill he got in his wallop
occasionally.
While the Scranton club did not win
the pennsnt OF the Atlantic League
we knocked spots out OF tho wilkes
Barre club. and that was all sufficient
to suit Scrar on folks. For the
Scranton club to put IL over Wilkes
Barre was even better than winning
the pennant.
SCRANTON CLUE POPULAR
Consequently we were probably the
most popular club Scranton ever had.
can well remember going to wilkes
Barre on a Fourth OF July morning.
cleaning up Wilkcs-Barre on their
own fed and coming back to Scranton
in the afternoon to repeat the trick.
And what crowd there was in
Scranton that afternoon! Miners were
there wearing their lamps in their
caps and willing and ready for a
scrap.
But what I want to get at is that
Jess Burkett was a member OF the
Scranton club at the time. and that
those fierce battles probably i'm
nuenced his future baseball career.
All this, though, is but leading up
to the fact that Jess Burkett played
four games in the outfeld for the
Giants second team on their trip back
to New York from San Antonio and.
according to Dick Einsells, who
managed the second stringors he hit
the ball in the same old hunming
style that made him the champion
batter OF the country for four years.
Can you beat it?