Evening star., 1925-01-05

inning Of the seventh game of the
world series between the Washington
Americans and the New York Giants
in Washington. The score was 3 to >.
The game count for the series was
the same. This, then, was the CON
test upon which the world base ball
championship hung. And / Staked
my hopes-and perhaps my reputa-
tfon as mauager-upon Walter
Johnson.
Hardly person i'm that vast crowd,
from President Coolidge down to the
smallest boy. but who wanted to see
the great pitcher win. Their cheers,
in one of the most spontaneous out
bursts in the history of the game,
showed that. But some of them, 1
am sure, while hoping for the best,
feared the worst / was supremeIy
confident, however, that Walter
would hold the Giants, and that. if
We oculd get him a run, we would
win the game and the world cham
piouship.
In fact, I planned the night before
to use johnson in just such q situ-
alton, should it arise. Curly" Ogden
was slated to start the game, make
way for George Mogridge, with Fred
Alarberry in reserve and johnson
saved for the big emergency.
Cold reasoning, not sentiment, die
tated such a program. johnson was
our best pitcher, the leading twirler
In the American League. True, the
Giants had beaten him twice, but it
didn't seem in the cards that they
could turn the trick again-if he was
right. He told me he felt fine before
the game. When he warmed up L
knew he had all his stuff. The Giants
soon realized it. too.
Johnson had that vast throng in
an almost continuous uprOar as he
moved down the New York batters
When he famed George Kelly. after
purpossely passing Young in the
ninth, I felt like joining in the cheers.
Again in the eleventh he repeated
the performance. Then | knew nv
confidence had not been misplaced. /
saw TIE world championship within
our grasp.
At the End of Five Years.
Muddy" Ruel carried the base ball
title over the plate in the next inning
on Earl McNeeiy's two bagger. Then
the Griffith stadium became a bedlam.
Cheers crashed over the field. Hats.
coats and cushions rained about me
when I met Ruel as he crossed the
plate. We raced to the clubhouse
with & jubilant pack of fans al our
heels. There the boys were singing
and shouting, l was 50 dazed I don't
remember wns ther ] joined them or
not. Probably l did. Realization
that I had led club to victory in
what has been called the greatest
world series in the history of the
game hadn't struck home yet.
Not once that afternoon had
thought of tie prestige or money that
would go to the victors. 1t was just
a ball game to me-a contest for
which TO fight every inch of the way
and to win, if that were possible
This was the attitude of ali our
players while on the field in the
championship series and the Ameri-
can League campaign, too. From the
opening of the season l had preached
that our JOB was to do each days
work to the hest of our ability and
To let tomorrow and yesterday take
care of themselves. If we lost a
game we did.tt worry and hold use
less post-mOrtems. We tried to profit
by our miSta lles and let it go at that
And now the season was over and [
was manager of the world champions
at - years of age. Even with the
Washington players rejoicing the
congratulations and the shouts OF the
JoS-maddeued mob outside, ] couldn't
realize my good fortune. Six years
before ] had been working in a coal
mine. Only five years previous I had
ii
green major league recruit
left the clubhouse still in a near
daZe and went to my hotel Friends |
dragged me to the lobby. There a
seethiug crowd was celebrating
Washington's victory. 1t began to !
dawn on me just how much the !
triumph meant to the people of |
Washington. \ young boy i'm the
crowd shouted: "Hurrah for Bucky'w' |
When the cheer was taken up I had
TO blink my eyes and rub the back of
my hand across them. 1t came away
wet.
Later l went 10 pay my respects to
Judge Lands, the ruler of organized (
base ball. Looking down Penusyl- !
yauia avenue from q window of his
rooms. all Washington seemed TO be
celebrating. Newspaper men who had
seen the Armistice day jubilation in
the National Capital, in other great
American cities and in Paris said this !
was the greatest demonstration of
our day. The display of carnival
spirit awed me For the first time |
realized what a truly wonderful hold
base ball has on the people Of this
country. Before my eyes l saw a city
gone mad over our victory. And from
the messages of congratulation that be
gan coming in from all over the country
! knew Washington's joy was shared
elsewhere.
when He Finally Grnspcd 1t.
Still l didn't quite grasp what is
meant to be the leader of Il world
championship club. had been
checred, and took that as part of the
days work, just as when ieers greeted
d bad play. soon after leaving Judge
lands suite my standing as a per-
son Of real Importance in Washing
ton was driven home
Accompanied by several friends, I
got in a taNicab to join the parade of
triumph BY Il coincidence, there was
a sticker which read "Bucky," pasted
on the windshield. No one in the
crowd recognized me by this. for there
were hunrdeds Of other taxis so la
belled. Finally we were held up by
a traffic policeman who declared no
autos could pass. Our driver argued
the matter.
here!' the cop declared as if to wind up
the argument.
Man, l got 'Bucky' Harris in this
bus" the driver came back.
why didn't you say so at tirst?"
the traffic man protested. "On your
way" And he let US through. Then
L knew 1 had reached the top in the
base ball world.
Copyright, 1925, in United States and Can
ada, by North American Newspaper Alliance.
All rights reserved.)
TomorrOw--AnOtber Side of the
Picture.