Evening star., 1922-06-18


of Hungarian paren.age, joined the
1921. His appearance at the training
than the mere statement of the fact
reason that no member OF the club
anv OF his various AID sundry base
mon channels where such informati
Toporcer was looked upon more as
q curiosity than as rookie Tor MS
first trial in the big leagues. This
perspective resulted from the fact
that thiCk-leused spectacles adorned
his face. giving him the appearance
Of. college student out for lark
and not young athlete oent upon
base ball career.
Only Semi-Pro Experience.
To the Cardinals the sight of be-
speCtac.ed ball player was faml!!ar
one for Henry Lee Meadows had
only recently left their ranks, fact
which caused Toporcer to receive even
less notice than otherwise. But
Meadows was a pitcher. Therefore his
tor against him.
The Cardinals had acquired Sie
Syracuse club, and 1t was in the win,
ter of 1920 that Toporcer had signed
a contract with that team to make
his bow in the legitimate minor
league Imagine, For three years
rrior 10 1921 while he had played
base ball he had not even had the
benefit OF a month in class u minor
league. His entire knowledge OF the
game had been acquired Win semi
pro teams in and around New York,
There his work had attracted the
attention OF Bert Daniels. connected
with the Syracuse club. and ~hiie
even Daniels was skeptical concern
ing a player compelled to wear
glasses to see a base ball, he be-
l.eved the youth merited a trial. SO
he rendered Toporcer contract aho
wired Branch Hickey that he believed
II Toporcer were given gk S,nals .Hs sps'hf if
might aid him in the ensuing season
with the Syracuse club.
Stocks Absence Gives Chance.
Rickey ordered him TO report. and
Toporcer arrived at Orange, Tex; in
the spring of 1921. Here fate TOOK
hand in the proceedings. 1t chanced
that Milton Stock. the Cards regular
third sacker. was late in reporting
at the training camp. Hickey had
placed Eornsty at second. counting
upon Stock TO handle the Tar corner
but when the latter did not show up
ths Cardinal manager was compelleo
10 shift his inheld.
Hickey went into consultation with
the Cardinal board of strategy. They
advised putting Toporcer at third sim
ply TO fill the gap until stock re-
come through" they said, because
follow with a pair of eyes like his
rsyer will hit in the big leagues.
without his glasses he can't read a
newspaper; what chance Will be nave
TO judge curves and speed ,,,-a
But Toporcer didn't go to thiro.
Hornsby solved the problem by advis-
ing Rickey 70 put the goggled rookie
a. second and agreeing himself 10
take over stocks burdens until the
latter reported.
Then came the revelation. In the
spring training exhibition games OF
1921 Toporcer threw a monkey
wrench into the works by outhitting
the mighty Hornsby. The PLAYERS.
heads os base ball. marveled. If ne
could maintain that gait, how was he
10 be denied a regulars job? But II
he was to play regularly. where?
Finds Friend in Hornsby.
Ie was unbelievable that he could
supplant Hornsby at second or STOCK
at tthird. Yet when the season open
ed. and stock ultimately reported
Hickey was on the verge OF bench
ing Toporcer, when Hornsby inter-
posed With this statement:
Give the kid chance. l won't
forecast his future. but I'll say this:
That any one who can hit like ne mas
trial"
There was, considerable amazement
vixen Hickey opened the 1921 season
with Toporcer at second base ana
Hornsby in the outfield. The grand
stand managers were inclined TO pan
the Cardinal manager for letting
bloke with glasses dislodEe the Ia
fored Hornsby at second base. But
they didn't know the switch was mace
al Hornsby's request in order that
Toporcer might have further trial
in the big leagues.
Hornsby's outfeld expedition was
rot a success. Hickey was COM
yelled. therefore. to bring Rog. back
When the time came 70. pruninN 70
the major league limit Toporcer was
shunted back to Syracuse.
Later in the season, when Hickey
was in need OF substitute inneider.
he; recalled the youth with the -four
eyes" In stretch of some games
in 1921 Toporcer hit .261.
This batting average was not sum-
cientIy hefty to mark him as a pros
pect for q regulars berth In 19Zz,
particularly since he made only one
two base hit in the games in which
he participated in 1921.
Fills Gap at Shortstop.
But this spring he was again order
ed: TO report to Orange and another
freak OF fortune intervened in his
tayor. This time Johnny Lavan. the
Cards' regular shortstop. became i'll
on the training trip and Toporcer
was shot into the breach. Once again
his hitting was one Of the features
of. the preparatory stages OF the
Cardinals work, but still the opinion
was prevalent that Toporcer would
hold down the short field only until
such time as Layan was ready to re-
sumo play.
What followed during the drst two
months of the regular season, how
ever. served to bring Toporcer to the
front as the most likely looking
Young player Hickey has brought into
the big leagues since he uncovered
George Sisler.
In the first thirty-six games the
Cardinals played Toporcer hit more
than 400, outswatting Rogers Horns
by. the 1921 batting champion OF the
National League.
Infinitely more to the point Is the
fact that Toporcer's safeties are not
confined to the one-base variety.
Neither are they puny srounders nor
weak liners to the outfeld. His bat
has supplied the punch to the Car
dlral attack. He has driven out
6drbles. triples and home -rU.s with
precision and timeliness-
On May Is and 16 he achieved the
UNIQUE distinction -of having raped
out two triples and two home runs
in four successive trips to the plate
a feat Of consummate skill for
leather-necked veteran, to say moth
n;nlr1beeEAd sf0ur-Aved"