Evening star., 1925-01-17

She had my favorite dinner
noon. IT was the first home cooked
have ever tasted as good. In til
cigar store where the boys gathert
1 had to force myself to do so. ]
wanted to hide away. 1 was ashamed
because Of my failure with the Ty
gers. But IL any OF the crowd felt
Ike joshing me they didn't show it.
Instead, they encouraged me. l
warmed under their kind words and
announced that Detroit would keep a
string on me.
The boys wanted to know all about
the Tiger players. Few of them had
seen big leaguers in action more than
once or twice. They demanded an
inside picture of life in a training
camp. They asked how Cobb. Craw-
ford, Neach, Young, Bush. Witt, Stan
age and the other regulars talked.
what they ate. how they spent their
spare time, what the chances were
for the clubs winning the pennant
Proved n Poor Prophet
Finding myself the center of at
traction and playing the part Of an
oracle. I expanded. I predicted the
Tigers would run away with the
American League race Nothing
could stop them. They would break
their World Series jinx, l went so
far as to forecast, and rout the Ma
ttonal League winners. | was a bad
prophet. The Tigers finished third.
behind Boston and Chicago that. year.
Tho veterans were all in great
shape, I pointed out l praised Bush
in particular. / paid more attention
n i'm in rIor, Ill .,
put together. Ty Cobb reported late
and ! didn't get a chance to see him
play before leaving with the Yanni-
gans. So I had to disappoint the
boys, anxious to learn the inside story
OF the great outfielders personality
and the secret OF his success from a
Callow youngster.
Red Mckee. the catcher, was my
roommate. He and George Dauss
we're the only players who any more
than noticed me. Dauss frequently
took me with him when he went to
buy souvenirs in the Texas towns we
visited Ny purchases were confined
to postal cards. I felt important be-
ing seen in his company. The pre-
vious year he had won % games and
lost 13 for an average Of .639. He
continued to do big things in the
American League and still is in har
ness. He was a great comfort to
lonesome, homesick rookie.
In Suspense Two Weeks.
Jennings had promised to try to
place me when he ordered me home
from Chicago. Each day 1 failed to
hear from him seemed a month. Be
ing confident he would land me a
berth, didn't try to get back my job
in the mine My confidence was badly
tolted when failed to receive g. mes
sage at the end OF a week.
Meanwhile I kept in condition by
playing base ball with the schoolboys
until the mines closed and the old
crowd got together. 1 was a hero to
the youngsters. I had actually min
Elcd, what they thought were
terms OF equality, with Cobb, Veach,
Bush. Crawford, Witt, Young, Dauss
and the other regulars. ! couldn't
satisfy them with stories about the
big leaguers. | confess I didn't re-
port my status in the training camp
had been that Of the boy who is seen
and not heard.
Such hero worship did much to keep
up my courage while waiting day
after day for word from the Detroit
manager. Finally, at the end of two
weeks, a message arrived, ordering
me TO report to the Muskegon club of
the Central League. | was a bit dis
appointed at not getting in a league
Of higher rating. However, I would
have jumped at a chance in the small
est outfit in organized base ball. All
J wanted was an opportunity to learn
and receive another trial in the ma
jors-
1 stopped off in Detroit on my way
10 Muskegon to see the Tigers play
Chicago. As result, when / reached
my destination, [ was told the club
was in Evansville for the opening
game of the season. l reported there
TO Manager Bade Myers. He put me
on second base the first time / ever
played the position which | was des-
tined to fill in the big leagues.
BawIed Out by Manager.
My debut, at salary of S125 a
month, was not a startling success
I managed to get a hit in three times
at bat and to steal a base. In the
field I had few chances. In the sixth
inning I received by first real man
sgerial Calldown. I was on first,
thanks to my single, when the pitcher
Jack Compton, came to bat. Hitting
eighth in the batting order shows
how l was rated
Compton, whether consciously or
not, gave the signal for the hit and
run. was so green ! didn't know a
haserunner never acts on such sign
unless, of course, the pitcher Is
real slugger. I took a good lead and
broke for second as the ball was de-
livered Then and there I was cred
tied with my first stolen base in
organized base ball. But I had pulled
= boner. Getting away with it didn't
soften the bawling OUT l received
from Myers. Everything he said was
justified too.
Naturally. I didn't think so at the
time. That is the way OF youth.
Muskegon was beaten by a score of
to ., q ] recall Although playing
my first professional league game
with A loser, I was we'll satisfied
with my work. I knew the pace was
faster than that to which ] had been
accustomed at home. Still / felt l
had performed creditably. l had
visions of an early return to Detroit.
] little knew what was in store for
me
Copyright, 1929