The New York herald., 1922-04-16

UP FROM OSHKOSH
WITH HEINIE GROH
Giants New Third Baseman
Has Had One of Those
Checkered Careers.
By CHARLES A. TAYLOR.

by CHARLES A. TAYLOR.
Henry Knight Groh. That's the COM
plete and dignified name with which the
new and acrobatic third baseman of the
Giants was knighted by his fond parents
a few hours after he had taken his
frst peep at the material things of this
world on September is, 1890. at Roch-
ester, n. Y. AS young Groh grew taller
his name grew shorter until all that
was left of the front part OF it was the
now familiar "Heinie."
It's long trail from Rochester to
Oshkosh, Wis, and it was much longer
in 1908, when Heinie hit 1t to take his
first job as a professional ball tosser.
Oshkosh was member Of the bushy
Wisconsin-lllinois League In those days.
and the youngster was assigned to plug
up the frightfuliy big hole that yawned
between second base and third, and
which had made the Oshkoshers yawn
with disgust many time.
Heinie put up a terrific fight against
the wicked grounder that bounced over
the rough Oshkosh diamond. Often they
knocked him down. as they still do
to-day, but it was seldom he failed to
get the old ball to first ahead OF his
man, no matter how many bruises came
his way\just as he does to-day.
Heinie Plugs the Hole.
Hcinie plugged the hole at short TO
the satisfaction of his manager and all
Oshkosh fandom. but when 1t came to
batting he was about the worst ever.
All pitchers looked alike to him, for he
couldn't hit any of them. In that debu-
tant year with Oshkosh Heinie went to
bat AIS times and made only 81 hits for
the puny average of .161.
1t seemed as though young Groh's
weak batting had sealed his doom as
an Oshkosher and what could be worse
than that? But apparently his man
ager still had faith in Heinie. for Groh
oppeared in the lineup the following
year and then he began to slam the
ball. He didn't make many long hits
but he made a lot of little ones and.
what's more to the point, they came
when most sorely needed-just as they
do to-day. The big brace Heinie took
as a clubber in his second year with
Oshkosh is indicated by the statistics.
winch show that he made 12S hits in
4Sl times at bat for an average Of .2S5.
Some scout Of the Cleveland American
League team grabbed Heinie in 1910,
only to turn him right back to Oshkosh.
where he played in hundred games and
boosted his batting average to 297. De-
spite this Improvement the cruel Osh-
koshers sold Heinie the very next year
TO the Decatur, club, and here a sleuth
from Broadway found him in the glad
some Maytime of 1911. The big league
scout watched Heinie's acrobatics around
short and his graceful pose at the plate
for few days. and before Heinie knew
it he was bought and paid for by the
Giants.
y, But the New York club happened to
have surplus of inflelders just then.
and after Heinie had slid up and down
the Giants bench for few weeks he
was shipped to the Buffalo club of the
International League. where he took part
in twenty-five games and batted .333
Watches the Other Fellows.
In 1912 Heinie was recalled to the
Polo Grounds as utility infielder. mos,
OF his time being devoted to watching
Once in great while the youngster got
q few innings workout. appearing in
twenty-seven scattered games in all and
hitting figure of .271.
Manager McGraw liked what little he
had seen OF Heinie-there is no doubt
Of that-but the exigencies of the situa-
tion demanded that the Giants secure a
veteran pitcher as quickly as possible.
so deal was launched with Manager
Joseph Tinker of the Cincinnati club
with the idea Of obtaining Pitcher Ar
thur Fromme for New York. Now, foxy
J. J. McGraw tried to hide little Heinie.
He gave him his carfare to the Aquar-
ium one day and to the Bronx Zoo an
other day just to keep him out of sight.
But Mr.. Joseph Tinker had bit of the
fox in his makeup. too. and John J.
didn't fool Joseph a particle. So when
the cards were finally put under the
x-ray they disclosed the following ulti-
matum of Mr.. Tinker: Hand over Josh
Devore. Red Ames, Cassius, Cash and
Heinie Groh."
John ]. Mac hemmed. hawed and geed.
He registered surprise. insult and in
but Mr.. Joseph T. was firm
in every eyelash. And so il was that
Heinie sorrowfuily once more bundled
up the trinkets he had collected In
Rochester. Oshkosh. Decatur. Buffalo
and Harlem and boarded the train for
the Rhineland.
Whatever tears Heinie may have been
to shed he SOON damned them
up, for Manager Tinker put him right in
the game as regular second baseman.
and young Groh knuckled down to his
first steady job as major Lacquer. And
Heinie made good. For nine long years
he performed miracles in fielding about
the keystone sack and the farthest cor
ner and hammered the ball with such
that all the rooters along the
Rhine rose time and time again to call
him blessed.
Heinie ON Auction Block.
But baseball is a feeting show ana
the hegiras of Heinie were not ended.
The world series scandal Of 1919 and
ever growing discord and dissension IN
the ranks of Pat Moran finally brought
Heinie TO the auction block last winter.
Charley Weeghman, owner OF the Chi
cago Cubs. and Charley Stoneham.
owner Of the Giants. laid their bags of
gold at the feet OF Garry Hermann.
owner of Heinie. The Cincinnati mag
mates eyes naturally glittered at so
much gelt. but, to the amazement of the
bidders. Garry cried
mot enough Toss in a few players
and we'll talk business" Now of players
Weeghman had none to give. whereas
Stoneman had stableful. And 80 Il
came TO pass that Heinie was transferred
to New York and George Burns. Miguel
Gonzales and 100000 were carted Off
TO Cincinnati