Evening star., 1925-01-19


home. This time. however. | Il
short training period and the few v
)cvliu's ability and experience. kn
in all my previous career.
By a coincidence, the Buffalo clu
my international League start. was
TO Devlin. Patsy Donovan was ma
that year He was the first pitcher
game. He struck ME out.
Engel. who formerly had pitch
urged Clark Griffith to buy me after
When | became q member of the
Washington Club. l recalled to Joe
how he had struck me out in Norfolk.
Iie didn't rememh Der ever seeing me
before / reached The International
Lee guc. 7 was small potato then.
soon after arriving home l signed
"a play with the Mauch Chunk club
in q series Of simi-pro games. They
served 70 keep me in good condition
for an unexpected opportunity. This
came in July when I was pretty well
r"comciled to wait another year at
least
Acted on Tip of Friend.
Max Markus and Tom MacLachlan.
close friends Of mine. returned from
a game in Wilkes Barre with the
news that DICK Breen, the Reading
second bascmau, had had a fist f1Ght
with Red Calhoun OF wilkes Barre.
The newspapers declared Breen was
certain TO draw a suspension. They
pointed OUT that George Wiltse.
manager Of the Reading Club. would
be in bad way for 4 second base
man.
This gave me my cue. The mails
were too slow for my purpose.
telephoned Wiltse. asking for q
chance with the club. and thereby
probably changed the entire course of
my life. I remember having trouble
getting him on the wire. 1t was a
sweltering night. The telephone
booth was as hot as a steam room.
Still had to talk to him in person.
I must have been there 20 minutes
before central finally plugged the
Reading manager in. My collar was
wilted and my clothes soggy with
perspiration.
told Wiltse l had been in Norfolk
with Devlin until the Virginia League
disbauded. He didn't seem greatly
Interested still he took. my name
ana promised to let me hear from
him. Even such meager encourage
meut started me again building air
castles I told my brother. who had
quit professional base ball.
Hope you get the chance. Stan
ne said. You deserve il.
WIItse Wires TO Merle.
TWO DAYS later Merle told me he
had an offer TO get back in base ball.
He showed me a telegram addressed
10 him It read: Report to BtnG-
hamton at once" The message was
signed: "Wiltse."
I extended my hand in congratula-
ton. ..o,
Merle asked. This isn't meant for
me. It's yours. Hop to it. You
talked to Wiltse You're the man
he wants. I'm through.
When I reached Binghamton |
found Wiltse talking in the lobby
Of the hotel with Chick Hartman,
then manager of the Binghamton
club. l introduced myself.
Names Harris?'' the ex-Giant
asked in a puzzled manner, looking
me I'D and down as if l was some
thing the cat had dragged in. |
weighed just 115 pounds and couldn't
have appeared an even likely
looking prospect.
We'll go ahead and register he
directed finally. Then he resumed his
talk with Hartman. / was ignored.
Offer Intended for Brother.
After signing the register and
sending my now battered imitation
leather suitcase 10 my room, ! waited
in the lobby. | wanted TO see what
Niltse would do. | had an inkling
that he had me mixed up with Merle,
who had played several years in the
minors. When Hartman left, he eX-
anrined the register. He called me.
is there a Merle Harris down
your way?" the one time famous
pitcher asked.
Yes, sir. He's my brother" I
answered.
Il thought he was the guy who
uhoned me-" said Wiltse.
Bill Donohue. one Of nay pitchers,
playcd with a Merle Harris in the
canadian League. When l asked the
bows if they knew of any Harris,
Bill piyed up that Merle Harris could
fill in for DICK Been. You're only
big enough to fiji a boys suit"
Detroit tried mo out. | played in
AIuskegon and ! was with Arthur
Devlin until the league disbsnded,"
I explained. "AIl I want is a chance
to show you what I've got. I'll come
through
20. h" was the answer. You'll
do for couple Of days until ! can
dig somebody up
SpEnk Earned Him Opportunity.
Not much eucoura cement there.
But chance. Wiltse told me later
that my spupk and nerve earned me
my opportunity. I played my first
game against Bingha the next
day. Reading lost. ] didn't get a
hit in three trips TO the plate. I had
q good day in the field. however 1t
seemed as il that afternoon 1 found
lhe one inficld position into which I
really fitted Strangely enough.
had been tried AT second and failed
in Musk cGoH.
Wiltse was impressed enough to
oIfer me a contract. The terms called
for Sl25 month. From that day
have had no trouble getting a con-
tract to sign. My foot was on the
GIst ruuS Of The ladder leading TO
the hi2 leagues.
Confidence in my fielding ability
bred confidence in hitting powers
The day we opened in Elmira ! got
three hits in four times at bat
Garry Schmeelk. one Of the greatest
professional basket ball players in
the history OF tho. game, sent me a
telegram. Several other friends
signed it. Tho message congratu-
lated me and predicted l soon would
hc in the big leagues. 1t made me
laugh.
Copyright, l9@5.)
Tomorrow: Making Coed at Last