The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-01-05

heartsick to see grand old stars
forced to take abuse In their de-
clining years. .a
1t was a mighty strong lesson
I got from all those kilograms
and letters. There was the awful
feeling of what might have been
a players lot after enjoying such
faith and confidence from mil
lions Of fans--Ilad he faltered 70
crafty their wishes. t' &. /.
My case seems to be an, exs
ception, for some reason that L
fail to understand. Down deep in
my heart I have a feeling, that
even had I lost the final game and
the championship itself-the baseball
public would have found some alibi
to cheer me. Just because I'm sup
posed to be an old veteran.
But what about some player less
fortunate but perhaps equally de.
serving? He's the fellow l want to
speak for now I can't tell how
many times l have thought about
his case since the excitement has
died down. The chances seemed
about even, that my first world
series would also be my last. But
the great annual event will go on
indefinitely and new names will
act the part played last October.
In this, my story of appreciation
--and possibly my last message as
a major league player-I want to
ask this single favor of baseball
fans everywhere give the other
chaps the same chance YOU gave
me: Not only in the world series
but all through the years.
My mother and my wife sat In
the grandstand and cried tears of
gratitude at the treatment re-
ceived when L was losing. My four
little children at home rejoiced
that their daddy, even when beat
en-, had the good will and respect
of all those people. Other players
may have mothers and wives look
ing on and little tots at home.
When the player out on the field
fails in the pinch, no matter how
serious or how inexcusable it may
seem from the grandstand. just
think of his mothers feeling and
the innocent little tots who think
their daddy Is the greatest man in
the world.
I don't know whose burden is
heaviest, the rookie coming with
many pages of publicity and pre-
dictions or the veteran going out
under the sting of abuse. Fortu
nately escaped both experiences.
but since last October I under
stand the case of each. And If it
takes a ballplayer eighteen years
to see that viewpoint, / can real.
lie why many thousands Of we'll
meaning people never seem to
understand.
"A ballplayer needs cheer when
he Is losing the same as anybody
else. When winning he can get
along without it. So long as he
plays clean baseball stick to him
even if he disappOints your
hopes for eighteen years as l did.
But, above all, stick by the player
who has had too much publicity.
Babe Ruth strikes out more each
year than any batter in the Ameri
can League, and still he Is the
greatest slugger in history. Dazzy
Vance. rated the best pitcher in
the National League since Matty
was in his prime, was driven to
the showers last summer by the
loWly Phillies. Remember there are
no miracle men in baseball. That's
just talk. We all get our bumps.
Broken hearts and broken spirit
are the price a ballplayer pays for
his publicity, unless his friends
stand by him in troubIe-that's the
lesson learned from my first
world series.
Copyright, 1920
Next Chapter Printed Wednesday:
THE FAMILY MINISTER
ATTENDS THE SERIES