The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-01-20

But to hear some Of those boys
talk, you'd have thought the war
was lost the afternoon before.
Naturally they were all keyed up
about the series. Radio had flashed
the news and noise to their bed.
sides. Despite the sad surround.
ings the situation was amusing.
I was sorry for the boys and
they were sorry for me- They
hesitated talking about my lost
game as one might avoid mention.
ing some poor lads missing arm
or leg. Those who could, sat up
and asked questions. remarked,
you all seem to be roofing for
the Griffmen," and they all agreed.
One fine fellow, with much diff
.ficulty, insisted on coming the
length of the hospital corridor.
An attendant pushed him in
chair. He couldn't shake hands
because he had none. To look at
him, he really didn't seem to
have much to live for and get
his cheerfulness was greater than
that Of thousands Of Washington
fans that very night.
The last BAN game he had seen
was one I pitched in 191T--just be-
fore he went overseas. He came
from a little country town in Kan
sas and had never seen me pitch,
so in order to realize his desire he
sneaked, away from camp and near.
.ly missed his beat. In other words
A. w. o. L.
AS we left this lad at the elevator
he said, Barney, we all know how
you feel. A guys hero today and q
dud tomorrow. Cheer upt" There
was no complaint in his voice but
a good natured grin on his face ana
turning to my mother remarked.
There's the perfect loser" And /
thanked God I was ''dud," as he
had called me. at least had
health and two big hands which
was more than he had. And yet
he smiled!
But to return to my chapter sub
ject-my second loss in the series
/ can sum it up briefly by saying
that while / did get a few bad
breaks = simply wasn't entitled to
win. Tie Giants batted me hard,
getting thirteen hits, including four
timely ones by young Lindstrom and
q home run by Jack Bentley.
Bentley deserved to win his game.
His own batting was important and
his pitching was fine. Ny pitching
was below standard, my own field
ing in the eighth inning filled the
bases and three runs followed. My
base running in the third inning
after hitting what I thought was q
home run, cost us at least one run.
: ] was put out going to second and
although the next two batters hit
safely Washington failed to score.
But for my mistake we should have
scored that inning and the final re-
suit might have been different.
But the main thing Is, I didn't
have sufficient stuff on the ball, as
the players say. Meaning speed
and curves. Not near so much as
In the opening game. And that
Is the best explanation of why j
was a disappointment for second
time.
We spent that evening on the
train, returning to Washington. In
what seemed a very few minutes we
skirted past Philadelphia and neared
Baltimore. wen see a lot Of diff
ference in the crowd tonight"
George Mogridge remarked, referring
TO the reception OF ten days pre-.
vious-the day we returned from
Boston, in possession Of the pennant.
George and all Of US naturally
looked for mighty quiet return
this time, after dropping two more
to the Giants. But instead, thou.
sands were on hand at the station to
give US welcome worthy Of a
dozen pennants.
Why. as 1 recall, there were nine
redcap porters begging to carry my
one little bundle-containing only a
miniature pony for Bobbie. The
cheering made ones blood Jingle as
1t does when you are suddenly very
happy or very sad. was so
braced up by this demonstration
that loEg after midnight we drove
out to friends and picked up Bobbie,
our little boy. He doesn't worry
much about baseball yet but he was
as happy to see his daddy as the
crowd has been at the station. And
/ Rugged the little blonde rascal
with all the spirit the cheerin :
crowd had inspired.
It's human things like those tina Z.
happen off the field and after de-
feat that make a beaten ball club
go-out the next afternoon and play
like champions. That display of
loyalty at midnight totally unex.
pected and after We, had failed to
win acted like a powerful stimulant
1t was the turning point to vic
tory. The spirit of our bali club
changed overnight. We won the
next day and again on Friday ami
that was the end OF the fight. Tut
the beginning of the end was ia the
railroad station at Midnight
Tomorrow: The Eve of