The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-01-14
Stove League
Gatherings:
BY BILLY EVANS

~
BY BILLY EVANS
JIMMY pELAHANTy. former biz
. league star who Ia to umpire IN
the American association tho COM
ng season. was always very popu'
lar as a player. Jim may find II
difficult 70 retain that popularity,
with tho athletes now that he Is a
judge OF play instead OF one OF
thcm.
During his career In the Amer
lean league Jim was much In
favor with the arbitrator. They
liked his rough but always hon.
est style.
nEI4AHANTY was In his element
~ when no could start a friendly
argument. lie had way OF work
ing up e discussion and then drop.
ping entirely out OF II when the
going became heated. Often Jim
would mildly protest some decision.
iust TO SEQ II he couldn't come out
on top tn the battle Of wits with
the umpire. In particular. Jim
liked TO pick on the late Tim Hurst.
despite the fact that tho two were
tho very best OF friends.
never will forget an episode
that took place In the old Amer
lean league park In New York.
with Hurst and Delahanty rs
the central figures.
TACK CHEsBRo. tho great spit.
q ball pitcher. thcn In his prime,
was pitching for New York. Jack
Klelnow was the catcher. Dela.
hansy. with Washington at the time.
was the batter. Chesebro had a
very deceptive spltball that broke
sharply In the last few feet Il trav.
eled. II an umpire called II too
quickly he was always In trouble.
With the count two balls and two
strikes. Chcsebro threw q splitter
that Hurst ruled a ball. A couple
OF runners were on az the time and
Chesehro and Klelnow raved NJ
Hurst for not calling Delahanty
out on strikes. which would have
retired the side. Jim was always
a dangerous hitter. Highly respected
by the American league pitchers
IN an effort to appeasc chesebro
and Kleinow. Hurst got himself into
trouble.
II say the bali was too low
said Hurst. so sure am that
am right ! will leave Il to Della
hanty. What about 1t. Jims"
IN matter-offaet way. convey
i ing the impression that he was
bored at being drawn into the argu-
ment. Delahanty replied; why.
YOU little blind bum. Il was right
thru tiSe heart OF siis plate. SIX
AlAEAlN1 hO0Nt RA4tEs AffltAttAAAAN
simply so replied 20 make Hurst
rave and he succeeded. Fright thru
the heart Of the plate. Well what
do you think OF that, Get ready.
str. Delahan;y. and take n swing ut
the next one. us q strike no matter
where II Is" Cnesebro and Rleinow.
knowing that Hurst never backed
down. took a chance and threw
hign fast ball that was a foot over
Delahnnty's head.
Delahanty started for first.
believing he had been passed.
only to hear the raucous strike
three" from Hurst. Then II was
DeIahanty's turn to raye--and
he did.
DABE RUTH was voted the most
ID valuable ball player in the
American league last year. He was
the unanimous choice Of the baseball
experts delegated to make the seIec-
ton.
As Ruth goes. so 20 the Yam.
KEGS. has long been an American
league slogan In sizing up the
New York Americans. IL worked
out very well in 1923.
DUTH, prior TO 1929. was the pre-.
It mler sIugger Of the majors. In
other departments Of play he did not
shine TO such an extent Then came
The big chance. Perfect physical con-
dition. plus a desire to come back
after an ordinary year in 1892. made
Ruth over entirely. Instead Of being
merely slugger. ne biossomed out
ntoea great ball player in all depart
nents.
Very often a certain jealousy
prevails among the stars In any
profession. II Is typical OF the
stage, and baseball Is no exeep-
ton.
TIRIs SPEAKER, famous manager
VI NttS CigFtAali lIuidNAf II llpN
that type Of a star. Speakers great
success as a manager has largely
been due TO his method Of handling
players. They all look alike to him.
He expects every man 10 DO his best
and no favors are shown the stars
Of his team.
Run out the ball Is one Of his
pet theories. He lives up to H..
for regardless Of whether his Fl.
fort Is weak tap to the pitcher
or drive off the fence he al.
ways travels at top speed.
81 Asst year Ruth was one Of the
IL greatest players Of all time.
remarked Speaker in discussing the
bome-run king. MOT only was he
marvel in the mechanical aspects Of
the game but his play was mentally
flawless. Not once during the euflra