The New York herald., 1922-07-16

minors beckoned.
There was one open position In CEN
ter field. left vacant by the going of
George Burns to the Reds. But new
sensation by the name OF Ralph Shin
ners. purchased from Indianapolis for
s35, 900, looked like certainty for that
berth. And IL SINNERS failed there
was Billy Cunningham. likely young
man who had been bought the season
before from Seattle. Behind this pair
was Ike Boone, champion slugger OF
the Southern Association, who cost the
Giants $4,000.
Yes, Casey's task seemed hopeless. and
Casey looked beaten. There was a dis
position to assume a rather patronizing
attitude toward the veteran. Some OF
the youngsters got to joshing the old
boy--and Casey always was right there
with an apt and quick reply.
Old Casey Prophet.
SAY you bushers, III be out there
shagging them in the big fight and hit
ting my steady little old 800 when you
are rustling in the sticks was Cascy's ;
rejoinder to a few of the fresh ones on a
particularly hot afternoon toward the
end OF the stay In San Antonio. The
recruits were sitting in the welcome Ice
of the grand stand. taking life easy
while John McGraw was kept TO the
hotel by cold. Casey came in from
the field looking like parboiled lobster.
His face was burned so that 1t blistered.
His uniform was wringins wet. He was
painting from two hours of vigorous
work on hard. sunbaked field. Casey
was fighting!
While Stengel was spending the win
ter with an eye to the center field job
Boone, with the chance of his life be-
fore him, took things SO easy that he
reported about forty pounds overweight
They tried to work him hard down
there---but Boone was no Stengel. one
was supposed TO be coming along. the
other was supposed to be headed back 10
the minors. But Casey was a wise old
bird-Casey was right there with grit
and determination.
Came the return of the Giants to the
Polo Grounds, and the opening OF the
season. Boone was sent TO Toledo, he Is
now with Little Rock. SINNERS was
sent into center field, left handed hit
ter against right handed pitchers. with
Cunningham as an alternate against
southpaws. Stengel still was on the
bench, still making his wise cracks, stiu
giving some folks the impression that he
was the professional Jester OF the Me-
9faw court.
still There with the Grit.
Casey again looked beaten but good
old, wise Casey still had his grit and
his ambition--still striving. fighting
harder than ever, sill hoping.
What does McGraw want with
Stengel around?'' some of the fans be-
gan to ask Hes through--ready for
the minors again." they added. Must
be on the bench just to make the 10Y )
feel good with his Jokes and quips. Good
old boy, Casey too bad he's through =
Casey did have a fine sense of kumoI
and perhaps that saved him.
Again that old disposition TO b. rat
ronizing toward Stengei was in evidence
but Casey knew tina, Se still had the
goods He knew that II he kept himself
in tip top condition and an opportunity
came he would show them all
And then came the BE Chance! Ole
Casey the Jester became Stengel IN
Clouter Old Casey the Has Been D>
came a larrupng. rip snorung terror-s
sure fire fielder who rarged over~a wiu'
cxpanse of territory out In center ant
did mis- Job with an effectiveness whicf
put some OF the younger luminaries u
shame. Old Casey, who had teen greeted
with none too enthusiastic encourage
ment whenever he trotted UP as a pinci
hitter. got so powerful that pitchers be
gan to pass him on purpose
SINNERS Is Bcaned.
The big chance began to develop whel
SINNERS was beaned by George Smit
In a game In philadelphia. Raipn ma
not been going so well at bat ana IN
bIow on the head reduced his power oil
the attack even further. The misha
was regretted greatly. "A blow at IN
remnant chances OF the Giants, som
critics called it. but they found palm y
the fact that Cunningham was availaole
NO mention OF Stengel there. Old case
was "through"--a jester.
C,,,nninrham got his chance and b.
made the most of IL for while, Du
after a spell his hitting began to shov
"a decline. IL wasn't long before NC
Graw decided TO call the Jester from IN
bcnch-and Old Casey. who had bee
1oshed by the rockies down In san Al
tonic, who he'd been called mas pee
and been the butt OF lot or goo
IN the National League, went out ther
against right handlers and made evei
McGraw's eyes open wide In wonder
ment.
Stengel won one game with a double
He saved another with a triple. He wo
another in the tenth inning with HON
run. He saved one with fine catch
won another with still another homer
Etengel's average rose-rose beyond III
best he ever before had sported In hi
professional career in thirteen years.
Casey Hitting .4Oc.
And now for thirty-one games Steng'
shows an average OF .402--the best In IN
National League, but not officially tn
leader, because Hornsby. with .3eS. ha
played In exhty-three games. This ma
Who is whaling the leather for .402 an
has hit four valuable homers. is tn
same Casey about whom the fans la
May asked. what does McGraw wan
with him around?"
It's the same Stengel who was trade
by Brooklyn 10 the Pirates In 1918 an
was pronounced has been by tn
critics across the bridges. IL Is tn
same joshlng Casey who was traded b
Pittsburgh to the Phillles for White
in 1oi9-and Whtted Is back In tn
minors. " IL the same Casey who stag
mated with the down trodden Phillie
and finally was benched in favor of
series of younsters.
There was no Incentive with the Phi
l.R There was no appreciation Of har
c~oeA. so Casey let himself go. He too
or n lot of flesh. became slow
the field and not so keen of eye at III
plate But McGraW knew that fher