The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-02-04


be q lesson to young men In any
who are easily discouraged.
The first suit of clothes in which
I planned to make my baseball
bow was all but ruined. The first
professional manager who ever saw
me work said would never DO.
And, finally, after overcoming both
Of these Obstacles, along came an
eartnquake 70 heat me out or my
first job with a professional CLUB
after had signed and reported Ter
duty.
Going back to olinda days, after
finishing il the grade school
entered high school at Fullerton.
which IS close by. Following the
five-inning game, In which struck
out twelve boys, the news spread
around that Frank Johnson's kid
was showing signs OF being quite
some pitcher. The older heals
naturally considered the talk as so
much sand-lot gossip. Enthused by
my newly discovered ability con.
finued to strike out the youngsters
that played onNthe fiat, and before
long, my work caused talk m the
stores and around the derricks.
One afternoon we were hard
at it down by the stable, when
two Of our best local players APP
peared on tho flat. One was doc
Burke, as that time bO0lKkeeper
for the Santa Fe railroad and
now United States district attOr.
ney IN Los Angeles. His COM
panion was Jack Burnett, who
afterward played with me in
idaho.
The two stood behind the catcher
Tor q while, watching my pitching
with an air Of amusement. Ridicule
was not intended, but they wanted
TO find out just what I had on
the ball, IL anything. Burke asked
e would throw him q few, and
winling st Burnett, he stepped to
the plate.
Burke was a good bunter and
that's what he tried when started
pitching. He missed three In row
and then, q little embarrassed, re-
marked: .sNow III really try" and
removed his coat. But the best he
rot was q foul and after missing
three more he stepped aside for
Jack Burnett. Jack was the slug
ger type and could hit the best oe
pitchers with little trouble. was
3t1st going good and let thsm sail
right up to the plate with plenty OF
speed T used an underhand de-
livery, my natural style. and 1t
seemed to puzzle both batters. Bur
nett did no better than his partner
ana they soon departed in the di-
Yaction Of the store where baseball
vaa always the topic Of discussion.
I saw Joe Burke when I played
IN California last October and be
tween innings we had our picture
taken. Pointing over toward the
hflls he said, Walter, there's the
famous SPOT. There's the old fiat
where you showed me you could
pitch"
It's difficult saying just who
ssdiacOyeredn me MS q pitcher but
r Inusf admit Joe Burke was at
least one of the first, and one OF
the greatest boosters had In by
gone days.
1 entered Fullerton High School
and reported to the baseball squad.
The first game of the season was
AGAINST Santa Ana High School. I
pitched and took the worst beating
Of NV career. The score was 81
10 Us Q44I t430 AOl4OWtA6 AODsJ We
played them again and with Grover
Collins catching we held Santa Ana
ecoreIess for fifteen innings. I
failed to win because neither team
scored, but with a good catcher and
Smy fast ball working right, struck
out twenty-seven batters. had no
sign Of a curve in those days, rely
ing on speed. Pitching against me
was a fellow named Coleman, who
afterward joined Los Angeles.
Two Sundays later the Olinda
team was 70 play Tufts-Lyons, a
eemi-pro club from Los Angeles.
Grips and CrandalI, Olinda's pitch
ers, had both left, 50 on the
strength of my high school games,
] was now to get a chance In fast
or company. The plan was to try
me for about four innings and
finish up with "Spec" Hardness,
then q star in the Coast League. As
I managed to strike out ten Of the
"city chaps" in the first five in
n1ngs, Olinda let me finish the
game and we won 4 to 1.
That was along In 1903 and but
for the wise advice of my father
might have gone ahead too fast.
''Let the boy take his time" I
heard him say so often to friends
who wanted to see me rush into