Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-11
IRA YNOR, A STAR, HAS
ONE BIG WEAKNESS
His Grazing for Apple Pie
Has Earned Him the So.
briquet of 'Pie": Is Big
Factor in Pirates Great
Comeback
CARDS GAIN on GIANTS
BY JOSEPH T. LABRUM

TNfiEl call him "Pie' TraynOr be-
l. cause he eats as much Of the luscious
pastry ns Walter Schmidt does of
watermelon. The young man is the star
third sacker Of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
battling for place in the sunlight Of
baseball. His only weakness is that he
cannot get enough apple pie.
Last week. when the Pirates were
meeting the Braves. the entire town of
Somcrville, Mass. turned out to do
honor to one of its best citizens. Before
giving the hero of the hour watch
chain and knife. which is customary
when a town honors one in the limelight,
the Mayor walked toward the home
plate with big box all tied Wild pretty
/ ribbon.
a chest of SILVER" yelled Rabbit
Mnranvile. "Iou're a lucky stiff.
Guess its Il new glove. opined
another Of Traynor's teammates.
"Naw. it's new set of Dishes said
another with distorted sense OF humor.
A couple of others intcriected remarks
concerning the contents of the box.
After every one had enjoyed good
laugh and Traynor had stood blushing
and twirling his cap. the Mayor united
the package, pulled off several layers
of mink tissue paper and uncovered Il
n,ce hiq ample pie. Was Traynor de-
lighted? He was. He could hardly wait
untiI Uizzoner handed him the package
Tenderly he lifted the product of the
has, cook in Somervile, took q bite
from one end. smacked his lips and
M ssed II around ia his fellow players.
Thon came the watch. chain and knife.
Started Young
When kid some twelve years ago
Traynor. instead of rushing to the cor
ncr candy store for Toll ypop or some
sour halls. would beat il to the nearest
bakery and buy an apple pie. While
Tho mouths Of his playmates watered.
Trovnor would eat mcrrily of his favor
Since that time he has been known
nc .pie." although his name il Harold.
When he joined the Pirates the name
CHING TO him like lecch. He ordered
nie in the morning. pie at lunch and
,hn same thing at dinner. In between
times when the club trainer WASH
lookinr. he would sneak around to the
kitchen and beg piece from the cook.
That was on the training trip.
According +" Charles Doyle. the
Pirate scribe. he THINKS NOR" OF pie
and nlnying third base than OF anything
al
NOT he ms good third basemnn rs he is
rated. Instead of making meal of
nIe as he was wont TO do In his
younger days. Traynor now gets dou-
Lln order for dessert at each meal.
Tr.ynor has Developed into such Il
star in II few short months that Pitts
hurgh wouldn't part with him today
for less than six figures. Matter of fact.
'.Biil" McKechnie, manager Of the fast
fying Buccaneers. says that he hasn't
n price. lie is invaluable.
Star at Birmingham
Last wear, with Birmingham, Traynor
mir tho horsehidr for the munihcpnt
average of 1896. That made ii easy for
him TO get into the fast set, and Bar
ney" preyfus, who has n lien on every
thing in birmingham, quickly offered
the Young man big league berth.
His work during the training season
won him the permanent berth at the
hot corner. lie has been playing there
ever since except for two weeks. when
he was on the Sidclines with sprained
ankle. During that period of inac-
tivty the Pirates went hooie, losing so
many games that Traynor had to lump
back into harness much before the club
physician was ready to permit him TO,
His work In the series with the Phil
lies stamps him as one of the future
greats of the game. lie has q remark
able pair of hands for an ipfedcr, can
scoop up groundcrs and race TO all
sections for dies and can hit with the
best of them. According to the aver
ages of week ago. Traynor is hitting
$50 and going strong enough TO get up
in the select class before many weeks.
In the series with the Phillies Tray
nor got a double and single In the first
game. . pair ~ ons.base blows and a