Evening star., 1923-01-09
A Managers Troubles
With Picturesque Char
dcters--BugsR Raymond,
the SpitbaH Pitcher. and
His Trial by a. jury of
No,Dsnnnory,leu.
NetUSpapernlen.

TT has been my fortune-some
times misfortune-to harbor
some of the most picturesque
characters in base ball-men whose
names will remain in sport history
long after others of more ability
will be forgotten. Always | have
had a weakness for these odd per-
sonalities. l assure you, though,
that the spice and flavor we got
out of their presence has been offset
by worry and troubles. / doubt
if I ever will try another one.
I shall never forget Bugs Raymond.
There, by the way, was one of the
greatest natural pitchers that ever
lived. He had his odd ways of think
ing while off the field, but once in
the box he knew exactly what he
was, was doing; An Alive we had ad2.sn to 40 was as. to
though, was the thing nobody ever
succeeded in doing.
say. Nc" Chief Meyers said to
me after he had caught Raymond for
the first time. that fellow can do
more tricks with a base ball than
And he could. Raymonds long
suit. of course, was his spitball. He
could make the ball do the queerest
of stunts and never did he hesitate
to pull one of these tricks when the
team was in a hole. Even though he
soreiy tried me at times. 1 must ad-
nit that he was largely responsible
for one of our biggest seasons sue
cesses.
u'aa C'hronfc Hack xIfdcr
Every fall Bugs would promise
faithfully to go on the water wagon.
In the spring he would show up as IL
he meant what he said. In two or
three weeks he would drop right
back into his old habits. His fond
ness for companionship was his
downfall. ] think he knew every
man and boy in every little town we
ever played in, as well as in the big
league cities.
One season | tried to cure him by
cutting of his money supply. /
ing writer's not to lend him nickel
Just the same ne would manage to
get what he wanted somehow.
One day l sent him out in the bull
pen TO warm up. The pitcher in the
box seemed to be wabbly. In those
bleachers and out of sight of the
spectators.
Sold Ball for Beer Money.
4 half hour later I sent the bat
boy for Bugs. He could not f1nd him.
The trainer then took up the hunt.
Presently he returned with the in
formation that Raymond was in a
saloon down Sth avenue drinking
beer. He had taken the new ball
up and had sold it to the saloon
kAAnAr
One fall / persuaded him to take
the Kelley cure at a Chicago insti-
tute. We got encouraging reports
from week to week, but finally came
PEELED for having scared his room
mate, an old business man. almost TO
death by some rough horseplay.
Bugs was very proud Of his term
in the Keeley Institute. He even
wore a class. button and very proudly
and other souvenirs of his school
mates
Really Had Cult Drinking.
He showed up at spring train
ing camp with all these trinkets.
Though expelled, he really had quit
drinking. never saw him look bet
ter. He started like a whirlwind.
We were in Marlin, Tex, at the
sending back interesting stories of
the wonderful reform Of the Bugs,
as we always referred to him. In
about two weeks, though, I began
to see ominous signs. Bugs had
strfck up an acquaintance with some
farmers and cowboys
We went to Dallas for an ex-
hibition game and Bugs fell OFF the
wagon with a splash. In those days
they always served cocktails with
the Sunday night dinner at the old
Oriental Hotel. All these were pre-
pared in advance and placed on long
tables in the hotel pantry, Just off
the dining room.
Bugs Tosses on a DoEen.
Knowing the head steward, Bugs
decided to visit him. He left the din
ing room and started to the kitchen.
AS he stepped through the swinging
doors his eye lighted on the long
rows of cocktails-hundreds OF them
all lined up in rows. Promptly Ray
mond started right down the first
row, drinking one after another until
he had consumed more than a dozen.
That was the beginning of his
downfall. The next day 1t ralned and
we missed him. He came In after mid
night, saying that he had been out with
some old railroad friends
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