Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-01-27

papers. he was considered thrOus
around in the minors seven years
He just wouldn't stay down before
who has real courage and heart can
1 managed to get a two Dagger off
Herbert Thormahlen in the second
game. The hit figured in the scoring
of Washington only run. For the
second successive day we lost both
portions of a double header.
The losing streak was broken in
Washington on August 81. 1t was
my first game in the National Capital.
We beat the Red SoX, So. Johnson
went to Zachary's rescue in the
eighth / made two errors and didn't
get a hit. l was nervous playing be
fore home crowd. The fans ap-
plauded me several times. They
made me forget my injured hand.
We jumped from Washington to
Boston for a double-header Labor
day. There l saw Babe Ruth at his
best. He pitched in the first game
and won it with a triple The king
of the sluggers held us to one run.
L managed to get a hit off him and
considered myself lucky. but l Jared
my finger in hitting the ball
Griffith noticed 1 was in extreme pain
and Henched me for the second con-
test.
Saw Ruth In His Speciality.
There 1 saw Ruth in his role as
home run hitter. He played in the
outtield in the second game. He al
ready had made twenty-three home
runs and was close to the old record
of Buck Freeman. Thirty thousand
fans didn't worry over threatening
skies and a cold wind; they went
expecting to see him pass Freeman's
mark. Jim Shaw held him in check
until the seventh fThan Pa ha
connected with one of Shaw's fast
ones. The ball landed high up in the
right field bleaChers. Perhaps Ruth
has hit longer homers but 1 never
saw him, or any one else, drive = base
ball so far.
Base ball crowds like the Iong-dis-
lance hitter. This gathering was no
exception. Straw hats and cushions
flooded the playing field. The fans
cheered for fully five minutes Few
base ball demonstrations in my
knowledge, except al a World Series,
have equaIed it. The crowd carried
Ruth off the field at the end of the
game and followed his automobile
for blocks after he left Fenway
Park.
Ruth hit a line drive in the same
game, the equal of which | have
never seen. Judge was playing off
first base to field his position when
the Babe hit one that travelled a mile
a minute. The drive was going so
fast that the Washington first base
man didn't have a chance to put his
hands on the bail. He threw up his
arms and ducked to avoid being
knocked down. He might have been
killed mad the ball hit him.
Believe 1t or Not.
played in only two more games
my first year with Washington. Both
were with the Yankees. l went hit
less each time, orce against Mays AMI
again when facing Bob Shawkey. In
one of the contests Frank Baker hit
foul of the right-feld wall. The
ball headed for a tree with branches
full of Washington's col6red rooters
Players and spectators watched, ex
pecting the ball to hit human tar
get. One of the dusky crew caught
the ball He was almost knocked
from his perch
That's the way to grab 'em, boy"
Nick AltrOCk shouted He was near
the fence watching a pitcher warm
up. Now let's see how you can
throw" He held his hands ready to
catch.
mo, sub. Les see how yu' kin
climb, Mistuh Nick" was the retort.
1t is one of the few times any one
has ever put anything over on the
quick witted Altrock.
This famous left-hander, once of
the White Sox of hitless wonder
fame, is in many ways one of the
most unusual figures in the annals
of the game. He developed the art
of clowning on the diamond to a
point where he became a big draw
ing card in all American League
cities. His mimiCry and antics always
are good for a laugh. He can make
any crowd good natured. He is a
tonic for players, as well as specta-
tors. His jokes and horse play
helped to keep the Washington club
IN a happy frame of mind during the
hard drive for the 1924 pennant.
Moreover, he is a keen student of
base ball. a good coach and an ex-
cellent teacher in developing young
pitchers. He can be listed as one
of the Washington clubs best assets.
He Learns on the Bench.
didn't get chance to play against
any OF the Western clubs. I found it
torture to field a ball. I couldn't
grip bat. Griffith ordered an X-ray
of my injured hand. 1t showed the
long neglected finger was broken IN
three places From then until the
end OF the season I sat on the bench
ana watched chicago, Detroit, st.
Louis, Cleveland and Boston play in
Washington. My finger was in
splints. This didn't prevent me
chasing balls hit to the outfield in
batting practice. I took the exercise
to keep in condition, l wanted to be
ready should have a chance to get
into the lineup again before the
close of the campaign.
My real education as a big leage in
fielder began that Fall. Griffith held
club meetings every morning Mistakes
would be reviewed and remedies pointed
out kept my ears open and gathered
some of the strategy of inside base ball
from master. l didn't hesitate to ask
questions.
I'm glad you're not a smart Alec"
Griffith told me one day. 1.-The way to
learn is to ask questions. Only dumb
bell always tries to appear wise When
you don't know a thing, find out from
some one who does"
He pointed out the strength and
weakness of other second basement how
10 watch a base runner and what to do
on inf1eld hits. When Cleveland was
in Washington he taught me lesson
that proved of great value in the 1924
raca- The late Ray Chapman was a
fast man on the paths. If he caught
the first and second basemen playing
deep, he frequently dragged the ball
along the first base line. The orthodox
defense was for the first baseman to
field the ball and the pitcher to take
the throw at the bag. Almost invari-
chairman would heat ont the