The Washington herald., 1922-03-26
Nick Amazes Fans
With his Exhibition
Of Barnyard Golf
st. Petersburg Fans Take Alt
rock Into Their Hearts
When He Rings Peg in First
Attempt at H ors esh o e
Throwing.
By RAY HELGEsEN.

TAMPA, Fla, March 20. - NICK
Altrock has been getting the big
gest play of his comedian big league
career since the Nationals spring
series with the Braves started last
Saturday. The crowds in both
cities, st. Petersburg and Tampa.
have gone hog wild over his side
line antics. and it's safe to say that
at least IS per cent of the people
who turn out for the exhibition
games between the two clubs are
drawn by a desire to see the much
talked-of comedian.
Tampa has seen Nick for three
seasons now, but his stuff never
seems to grow old with the Cracker
fans. But it's in St. Petersburg and
in small towns surrounding Tampa.
like Leesburg, where the Phillies
train. that his antics get the big
gest play.
The st. Petersburg fans have
taken Nick into their hearts.
They'll give him anything he wants.
even the Sunshine City itself IL he
wants It. And IL anyone thinks that
the Washington and Boston clubs
don't realize Nick's value to them,
let the doubling parties communi-
cate with Mister" Grifith or the
Honorable" George Washington
Grant. owner of the Braves and
one of Altrock's strongest support
ers.
"You Chase Me-" Goes Big.
Nick's Butterfly. you Chase Me-
and Swan dances got the biggest
hand on Nick's first journey to st.
Pete. But he flashed an ace in the
hole last Thursday afternoon when
he originated his horseshoe-throw-
ing contest.
In the first place, the Sunshine
City is considered and. undoubtedly
Is, the horseshoe-pit center of
the universe. All the national
championships are staged there. One
can offer to pitch for love. money or
marbles and get plenty OF takers.
The thousands of tourists who an
nually make their pilgrimage to st.
Pete are all of the horseshoe pitch
ing variety. Therefore. IL anyone
wants data on this subject, that's
the place to go.
Thursday Nick romped through
his regular stunts and every action
from his first dance to his kidding
Bob Hart. the umpire, got a big
hand. Finally Nick decided that
nave 70 pun eSpt-
cially for his friends in the stands.
Nick Claims "Champeenship."
Al Lang, former mayor of St.
Pete and a Florida political boss
was pressed into service. The two
dug up Some horseshoes and found
some wood which they stuck in the
sand in front of the grandstand for
stakes. Nick then explained to the
crowd that he was the "champeen'
horseshoe pitcher Of the world and
Tampa and invited any doubters to
meet him at his fayorite game.
First. however. he asked the fans
to watch him in action as he wanteo q
to prove that his words wee not
without a firm foundation. He then
turned around and without even
glancing at the pegs, hurled his
first horseshoe. The shoe arched
through the Florida sunshine
dropped. skidded a foot and finally
wound itself around the Seg.
The crowd went wild. Nick was
stunned. But he recovered himself
quickly and nonchalantly threw the
second shoe into the dugout, pulled
up the pegs and, throwing them
aside, asked il there were any In
.ne crowd who wished to challenge
him. There weren't.
Nick could be mayor of the Sun
shine City tomorrow.