The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-11

I was playing on the school team at Truxton, N. Y., where I was born Al ways I was a left-handed hitter. The open lot on which we played was bounded on the right field side by a schoolhouse with many windows. In right center there was a church As left-handed hitter naturally hits into right field, I broke several win dow panes In addition to several threatened thrashings my father had to pay Is cents for each pane of glass broken. Other fathers in our town had to do likewise. Mighty few boys in that time or in our set, ever had that much spending money at one time.
 Economy Demanded It
 To avoid this wrath Of my old dad and to save as many Is cents as pos sible. I studied how to change my position at bat so as to hit the ball into left field. In time l got to where 1 could hit in that direction just as we'll as into right
 The mastery of that art of hitting into either field while boy is re- .snonsible, think, for my batting and run getting record in the major leagues. Often I have wished that l could devise some such compulsory method to make our present left handed hitters shift from one field to the other
 You can easily understand for in- stance what confusion Babe Ruth would cause the opposing outfield if he could bat either way. They would never know where to play for him. This ability to shift is also invaluable in working the hit and run play. Willie Keeler had the art down pat. You can readily understand. there fore, why he and I worked the hit and run play so successfully for years on the old Baltimore club. But l am getting a little ahead of my story.
 Started as Pitcher
 I started out as pitcher. This will serve as an answer to many who ! have asked why I always made pitch king my life study.
 During the worlds series one base ball writer quoted Bill Donovan as saving: "McGraw turned out to be the best pitcher in the series"
 Though intended as a pleasantly, I took that as a downright compliment. Even to this day I feel as if I could pitch, though I never did, in the big league Pitching was my first love and I have never got away from II. To me it is the most fascinating art in the world It really s an art, too; mot merely science.
 During the summer months up at tTruxton I worked as butch boy on the accommodation train. I sold glass spistols filled with candy, magazines bananas. chewing gum-all the things sthat the butch boys still handle out in sthe sticks was one of the smallest butsh boys you ever saw. I didn't weigh more than 1o5 pounds. scoffed nt Curve
 2 In those days people scoffed at the idea of anybody making baseball curve. It was but few years ago, in fact, that many sceptics were really convinced.
 In the smoking car. where l kept my stuff, there were many converse tions and arguments about baseball. Very few believed that anybody could spitch a curve.
 What are you talking aboutY said a man from my town to his com fpanion, "there"-he pointed at me lis little fellow who can pitch a 7curve."
 Bet you s10 he can't" the other came back. At least he can't prove il tto me-
 "I'd like to take a dollar of that myselr" I chimed in. l was pretty fresh in those days.
 Curved Around Stake
 The argument grew warmer and warmer until the money was finally sput up. The conductor in the mean ftime had come along and got in It.
 "Ill put up three stakes, 20 feet