The Washington times., 1925-01-28

Besides many offers ana INTEREST,"
ing letters, / was honored by hav'
ing my name given in baptism tc
several dozen babies born the day
of the final game at Washington
] hope some of these little fellows
viii grow up with strong bodies
and good pitching arms. # they
follow by profession hope they
won't wait eighteen years for 9
pennant winner.
Long before the shouts Of the
fans died down. after our finai
victory, I was speeding to Roches'
ter, New York, to appear in an
exhibition game. 1 had promised
Al schact, Nick AItrock's funny
partner and couldn't disappoint
him. After that / took part In sir
other games, playing the last one
at Brea, near Fullerton, California,
where went to high school.
Babe Ruth pitched against my team
that afternoon and will tell about
It In q later chapter.
ny friends certainly rendered
me . great variety Of business
opportunities. was offered
ownership ir1 seven different
minor league ball clubs. A deal
was practically closed, whereby
would become owner Of the
Oakland. Cal. franchise hut so
Tar, my plans for 1898 have not
been decided.
Two very prominent brokerage
firms In New York City offered
flattering Inducements, while sim
liar proposal came from q firm in
Texas. didn't see where my
fast-balI would be Of any special
value in that Hne, so declined.
One Of the biggest lumber firms
In the northwest, located at Port
could succeed at selling forest
offer, as / did the proposal Of oil
companfes In Oklahor1a and Texas.
Facts are, everyone OF these of
fers were made in good faith and
carried attractive inducements. To
tell the truth, most Of them offer.
ed more than fellow could honest
lv accept. And compared to what
I earned, not SO many years ago,
&c seemed like q fortune. One offer
came right out and said, Ten
thousand dollars is yours, il you
say the word. - sat down and
laughed SIC, ,oOe? Why, the first
day I landed IN washington I
didn't have SO Of my own.
always feel q man is much
better off, sticking to his own line.
until such time az he can make
himself equally useful In some
other direction. The natural thing
for any man after eighteen years
Of major league baseball, Il to
continue In the baseball business.
When his baseball arm fails, his
baseball mind should carry him on.
selling oil, stocks or lumber, In
spite OF terms that were mighty
attractive.
For the same reason, refused
to take over q big pool room in
q large Eastern city and one in
Kansas City. Il would be nice.
standing around, exchanging
baseball stories with the boys but
whenever have time for that
kind Of story telling like to do
IL out on . farm or alongside
q mountain stream. The click Of
worries is music to some men but
/ love the music Of the hills.
The real estate people got after
me. Facts are, ] can give q pretty
good appraisal on a piece Of farm.
: ing ground, but when 1t comes to
subdivisions and the like, well ]
just better stick to baseball. Folks
down in Florida wanted me to wait
~on the tourists both in Tampa and
Punta Gorda. From Rapid City.
8. D., as well az Portland, Ore.
came the same kind of offers. And
also from Rock Fiji, 8. c.. and
Houston, Tex. But will you be-
lieve It, In Los Angeles, Of all
cities, the real estate people never
gave me q tumble!
asked q friend about IL, when
was there, and he said, ''Well. don't
feel bad Walter, we've got all the
real estators now we can make
room for" For fear some readers
might think they aren't on to theil
JOB In Los Angeles, should men
ton they approached me alright
but not for the purpose Of offering
q Job.
Anyway, 1 got other offers in Los
Angeles. And II it hadn't been fol
the sudden illness of Mrs. John
son, might have by this time
been riding cowponies in Hollywood
bullpens--considerable different from
the "bull-pens" In major league
ball parks.
Right after that, I met any mum
ber Of vaudeville representatives
but my friend Babe Ruth, ca1Ae {.
my rescue and I escaped the grind
of what they call the "two-a-day.
Babe turned actor the same week
was in Los Angeles, and / took ,
run around to se ehis show. witt
all due respect to Babe, as al
actor, still say he is better as
An player. And think 1t woul
be the same for me.
Tomorrow: More Business Offers.
TOWING