The Washington times., 1924-10-01

II
team, Of the New York State Lea
il, which gave him his real start
Harris was born at Port Jervis
n. T., on Novsinber 8, 1895. His
father was Welsh and his mother
swiss. The family moved to Pittston.
Pa, when he was six years old, and
he received his sandlot baseball edu-
cation in this small town. His first
Detroit Tigers for tryout at Waxa.
hatchie, Tex, in the spring OF 1915.
Jennings considered him too young
and sent him to Muakegon Of the
Central League, where he played
until the middle OF the season and
was then released. The Tigers also
surrendered their option on hitn the
following winter
Jennings, who lived not far from
Ptttston, got Arthur DevIih. for.
nler Giant star, who was n1Anag-
ing Norfolk, at the Virginia
League, to give him Job, and he
started the 1917 season there aS
shOrtstOp. Previously he had called
himself third baaeman.
II was at this stage Of his career
when he mAdeN the step which led,
TO his ultimate success as 4 diamond.
lurninaFy. He learned Of the In
definite suspension Of Second Base
man Dick BreeHi by the Reading
club, Of the New York State League,
and le wired Manager George Wiltse,
asking for Q trial.
| STAINS brother, Merle, had made
quite name for himself in base
ball. Yiltse looked UP MeFle's record,
thinking the latter was the one
wanted the job-pever having heard
Of Blcky--and wired him to report
at once. Bucky did the reporting,
and Wiltse, at first. ordered Stanley
back home. but, ae he needed some
one, decided to take a chance on
him, making It very clear to the
present Nat pilot that II would
''only be for few days" But Harris
not only stuck, but starred until
the league was dlsbanded the next
season, because of the war.
In 1918, Harris answered the
caN Of Wiltse, his former Reading
boss, who was named manager Oi
/ the Buffalo team Of the Inter.
national League. He completed
that season With the BisOns and
then went to the Baltimore Dry
dock and Ship Building Company.
playing with the team there that
fall, and. WOrlking through the
winter. On the same team were
Joe Judge, Eddie Alnamlth, and
Frank Schultz. three Washington
players.
The latter recommended him TO
Griffith, but ais Buffalo wanted
$4,000 for his release, the Old Fox
, thought this vas too much money,
and refused TO buy him, 80 he re.
inclined With the Biuons In 1918,
playing there until August Of that
year when Griffith bought him for
So 900 and Harold Janvrin.
His last day with Buffalo, with
Griffith scouting him In the stands,
he was at bat eight times, was hit
once, walked once, and singled
safely six times.
He had hit his last time nm on
the previous day, and he singled
off Carl Mays his first time up
as q National, IN Boston. which
was the only time IL his career. u
either before or since. Ne had de.
hvered eight successive hits.
He started in q doubIe.header in
Washington against the Yankees.
He had two fingers bound tokethar
when he first Joined the Mats, but
made no complaint and was hit On
them in the fielding practice before
the RannAR Thu eltfh tThvntSfa !, -
amined them afterward and dis
covered that one Of his fingers was
broken In three places, and BuclIy
was laid of for the balance Of The
season.
When Griffith, in i trade with
the Red Sox, obtained another see.
ond-sacker, Maurice Shannon, Buclsy
didn't feel any better, but both re-
ported ct the training camp and,
as every one knows, Harris won the
battle, started the 1919 season and
has been there ever since.
For four years Griffith admired
Harris fight and pep. and pboalt
two years ago he reached the con-
clusion that he had all the atttibutes
needed to make successful man
ager except age. When the pilot's
berth was open at the start of this
season the Nat president still felt
that Bucky was not quite old
enough for the job, but when sew.
eral others he was after could not
be obtained he decided to give
Bucky q trial anyway. IL any ,.ne
doubts whether or not Griff thinks
he made . mistake they might Gsk
him. -