Evening star., 1923-02-08

Y Alliance,
body, though, could throw better than
Killing.
Rogers Played All Positions.
Roger had played every position
was good at ali, too
as good as that of Mathewson and
tMeGinnity He never had to be told
IWice' once we had discovered
weak spot in the opposition and had
discussed plan for attacking 1t, 1
could depend absolutely on Bresna-
nan to carry 1t out. He did not for
get: His whole mind was concen-
trated on winning that particular
game and 1t was rare that he over
looked anything.
1T is not at all uncommon for me
10 nave catchers men of perfect me-
cnanical ability, who do not remem-
the plate. For that reason j have
had to take it upon myself to give all
the signals for the pitching.
Not only was that 1905 team a
team Of fighters. They thought
they could beat anybody. and they
generally could. AS result Of. this
nshting instinct we got into much
trouble.
Hot Times In Pittsburgh.
1t was seldom that we ever went to
pittsburgh without having some kind
we did antagonize them too much but
it certainly was lot of fun. There
were not doings any time the Giants
arrived We were roundly hated.
Even the newspaper men who accom-
panied the team came in for a share
or roasting.
In those days it was not at all un-
usual Tor the papers to announce that
the rowdy Giants. accompanied by
representatives OF the yellow press,
got in town this morning."
We used to stay at the old Monon-
sahela Hotel and from there drove in
open carriages to the ball park. The
Pittsburgh park then was in Alle
sheny city, across the river. To reach
the bridge we had TO pass by the pub
lie market place. If we escaped a
shower of small stones and trash out
side of the park we were sure to get
1t as We passed the market.
Bouquets" OF Vegetables.
One afternoon, after hot game
with the Pirates. the fans started
after us while we were getting in our
carriages. Understand, we dressed at
the hotel then-not at the bali park.
or course, we were not altogether
blameless. If the fans started razzing
us we would razz right back at them
To tell the truth We sort of delighted
On this particular day we had
lodged handfuls of gravel. loose
pieces or brick, and so on, all the way
0 the bridge. Just as we crossed on
the other side one of the market men
started razzing US. We came back at
him strong. In another minute we
were greeted with a shower Of old
getables-potatoeS onions, toma-
toes and even cantaloupes.
McGinnity. always a quiet sort of
4 fn1l lryuV l..
quiet things down. He was Just about
to tell the other players to keep quiet
when he lurched forward. AS If in
concert four big tomatoes hit him
squarely In the seat of the pants.
That was one of the most lauRhable
sights I have seen. The stain stayed
there until we got back off the trip
Loved TO Lick the Pirates.
Sammy Strang. in another carriage
was hit on the side of the head with
an overripe cantaloupe. When we
hnally escaped and reached the hotel
any one to look at our carriage would
have thought that we had been haul
ing garbage. That sort of thing hap
pened frequently.
Instead Of curing US. though. il
made the players more eager to fight
and to win. They loved to lick the
Pirates-our main rivals-and then
drive by the market.
A favorite source of amusement for
the ball players. going to and from
the park. was to read the signs in
front of a store or an Office. Having
observed the name, they would begin
yelling for that particular man. Often
he would come out and bow.
In one of the minor league cities.
visited in the spring we were driving
from the grounds in a big omnibus.
We passed a residence and noticed a
sign on the window: DR. McNutt."
Hello. Doc. how are you?" the
players began to yell. Where's the
old Doc?" they asked of an old woman
hose.
In a moment the doctor, feeling
himself 4 bit honored, came to the
door.
low called out, where do you bury
your patients?"
Turned the Hose on Them.
With that the old woman on the
lawn, thoroughly indignant. turned
and leveled the hose on the bus and
let US have the full stream. It was
the floor, ordering the man to drive
fast. Before we could get out of
range. though, all Of US had a good
soaking. I know I got one shot from
the hose squarely in the chest Nc
Ginnity. sitting opposite me, had
ducked Just in time to let me have 1t.
The whole club had the spirit of
sky-larking college boys and I was
just as bad as any of them. On the
field, though, they thought like men
of affairs. Always they were on a
hair edge ready to get into row if
anybody pulled the trigger.
The more I think of it the more
realize what a picturesque ball club
that was. To protest games and make
numerous affldavits was common
thing. AT times we even figured in
Injunction cases in the courts. 1 guess
fans of this day still remember the
Hey, Barney" incident which wound
up in trial at Boston. I will have
to tell about that in a later chapter.
Copyright. 1923. United States and Canada.
by the Christy Walsh Syndicate.)