Evening star., 1925-01-28

ndu pldSSu OH "lhHlhS DdShSl
seem so sweet after such news.
| knew Shannon was a second
as one OF the coming inhelders Ill
him in a trade, he couldn't consider
jolted me hard l thought it over
mind | wouldn't worry over the on
Washington. Until | drew RELEASE
whats this guy Shannon going to
do, grab your job?" Garry Schmeelk
asked me a few days later, when he
read news of the trade.
Not without knowing he's been in
q battle" 1 answered. THAT goes for
any one. I'll work my head of to
land the job"
Alta boy" Garry said. you've
had a long, hard pull to get where
YOU are. If kid can come out of the
mines build himself up the way you
have and then reach the majors, he
ought to have CUTS enough to stay
there a while, anyhow. Figure on
climbing, too. Lots of guys let them
selves get tired too soon, see? They
can't stand the gaff. Never say quit
and you'll be sitting pretty. The boy
who lands on top is the one who
never knows when he's licked"
Garry and l had played basket ball
a Tot together I knew the big fell
lows advice came from the heart L
haven't forgotten it. l went to Tampa
determined to land the job as Wash
ington's regular second baseman or
bust Jimmy O'Neill, who had been
playing in the Texas League, went
with me. He, too. was a Washingto
recruit. He was candidate for
shortstop. We had been friends since
we were little fellows.
Learning From a Sore Arm.
=
dividends Jimmy had a sore arm.
Because I wanted to prevent him
from straining it, soon became fast
on the pivot play. I can lay much of
my success in fitting in with a great
double play combination TO working
with Jimmy O'Neill in an effort to
save his arm. When a ball was hit
to him with a man on first. I always
yelled: Lets get two"
He could then toss the ball to me
at second in an attempt at a double
play. He didn't have to rife it to
first. We missed few times at the
start on close plays. Griffith encour
aged us. He seemed to like our spirit
and efforts to retire two men instead
Of one. Soon I got the knack Of
reaching the bag a stride quicker.
Then my speed at getting the ball
away increased For a time my peg
improved. l was a 20 per cent better
second baseman because OF this prac
tice.
made errors, of course. In one of
the early practice games against the
Havana Stars l was charged with two
miscues. Commenting on this, one of
the Washington base ball experts
looked better a1eld than his miscues
would lead one to believe. He ac-
cepted II other chances without a
mistake handled the ball in two
double plays and just missed another.
He can take the ball either side of
him equally well and has an arm like
a slingshot."
Found Difference In Camp.
Neither O'Neill nor / was thinking
Of double play plans when we left
Pennsylvania for Florida. Tampa and
the Washington training quarters
were in marked contrast to Waxa
hachie, where 1 had had my first big
league trial four years before with
ball squad was one Of the finest in
the South. The ball field was almost
perfect. Tampa itself was a thriving,
bustling and prosperous city.
There also was a marked difference
in my status. Four years previous I
had been a green youngster. l had
confidence in myself then, but 1t was
the confidence of ignorance. Now l
believed I would make good. The
belief was based on experience in the
New York State and International
Leagues and a month in the American
League. I wasn't the finished article
by any means. Still l was far supe-
rfor to the crude, puny kid who had
been afraid TO sleep in Pullman on
the, trip from Pittston to Waxa-
hache.
1 didn't get in the first few exhibi-
tion games. Shannon had the call
over me. Then Griffith tried me out.
For a time Shannon and l alternated.
Later 1 found myself dropped back
with the Yannigans. My rival played
second for the regulars. I didn't let
myself get discouraged, although at
times it was a job to keep from feel
ing blue and showing It.
Veterans Gave Him Tips.
Finally O'Neill and began to per-
feet our double play combination. We
succeeded in snuffing out the regulars
often enough to impress the Wash
ington manager. The baserunning g
stars, such as Rice, Milan and Roth,
were far from midseason speed, else
O'Neill and / would have had some
real trouDle on our nanos- because IL
was early in the year we looked bet
ter than we really were
Rice and Milan took a gr6 '"ter-
sBt.in me. They offered man. fuI
suggestions. Milan aided me sleatly
as O. base runner. Cobb excepted, he
was one of the best men on the paths
in the history of the American
League. He taught me how to brea k
for second when standing almost fiat
footed. Rice, another smart base run
nsr, instructed me in sliding. They
told me that I would start the season
at second base and that O'Neill would
open at shortstop several days before
] got the news from Grifith. I sent
a. special delivery letter home with
the news that I really had made good
at last.
Copyright. 1s25)