The Washington times., 1925-09-07

subject
The first thing want to say is
gave it his o. K. The second tn
to a man in Canada this afternoo
a penalty that tops Higgins fine
What 40 I mean? Just this: Ie
and my good intentions for the I!
set myself back $25, OOO. Possl
Japanese university offered me 81
turned that figure down nat:
After that a rich sportsman ano
promoter in Canada made the DIG
Test cash offer ever received TOT
3 series of games after the season.
I told him. I'd let him know. l
did today with this wire: Have
decided to refuse all barnstorm OF
fers. Thanks"
NJ will be the first time In eight
years have not made good money
playing winter ball. But to do other
wise it wouldn't look on the square,
the way things have turned out.
Colonel Rupert has paid me in
full this year and I haven't played
much more than half the Yankee
games.
And the fans in every city have
given me continued support ana
announcement no matter what
has happened. Now for. me to
20 transforming I'm Canada, even
though need that %, 900, wouldn't
be very grateful to the Ameri.
can fans or 20 my employer.
want to do something that
shows on the surface, something
that really hurts; to prove to all
my friends that I'm on the level.
And that includes Miller Higgins.
If one believes some OF the recent
articles. we've been lifelong enemies
and have specialized in insulting
him morning, noon and night.
think Higgins himself will say
that Is terrible exaggeration, It's
NIT started the trouble. But I
think he has ended it.
/ want to make a frank state
ment Of my position and clean
breast Of the whole situation. But
4 don't think Higgins or the public
expects me to hand out a lot cf
flattery to him and humiliation to
myself. I'm sorry, not only because
I've made it tough for Higgins,
but because I've made 1t tough for
an those friends at the railroad
station last Monday. The kind who
always go to bat the minute a fell
low is in trouble.
I've made It tough for many
unknown friends who stick when
the yes-bOys got out their ham.
mefs. Finally, I'm sorry land
this IL the selfish point because
I've made It tough for myself.
And right here just a word OF
advice to young ball players, based
on my own experience. You can't
win ball game without teamwork
and the first step toward teamwork
is discipline. If your manager tells
you to bunt you should bunt. No
matter what his instructions, fol.
low them. don't mean a manager
Is always right. He may be dead
wrong, but the ball players bust.
ness is to follow instructions.
Higgins may tell me in the future
to do things against my own judg.
ment, but as long as he is man.
ager I should follow instructions
and keep my opinion to myself.
There is nothing weak about that.
It's common sense and good sports
should ever become a manager I
would run my ball club on just that
kind of discipline.
After all, the worst thing Hug
gins ever did to me was give in
structions and especially advice.
which foolishly resented. But be-
cause he has accepted my apology
doesn't mean he has forgotten the
injury. And let me say that be-
cause I am reinstated doesn't mean
have forgotten the sting. Knock
ing fifty-nine home runs was duck
soup compared to what I've gone
through since my detour to
Chicago. I'm ashamed 1 exploded.
but not ashamed to admit I am
sorry.
But I'm not crying now. And
I'm not belly-aching. All / want
Is q chance to come across. I
touched bottom In the year 1922.
j asked for another chance and
the baseball world came across.
] made some promises one night
20 q bunch OF reporters in the
Elks Club.
Some Of the boys were doubtful.
They took my promises with big
fat reservations. But what hap
pened! Look up the record books
for the following season. A COM
mittee Of baseball writer's passed on
my work after 1923 and without a
single dissenting vote called me
"the most valuable player" In the
league.
The present season is about rolled
up. II 1t were just starting, I'd be
in for a great year-because my in
tentions, my legs and my health
are just what they ought to be, for
the first time this year. The win
ter months are just around the cor
ner, and I've got my grip packed
for a rough-and-ready expedition in
the woods of Canada I'll be in the
press box at the world series, just
as / was last year, but after that,
it's back to the woods for me.
I'm thirty-one years of age. Is
anyone so foolish as to call that
''old," even for a ball player? I'm
back to normal weight. I'm back
to normal thinking. My chin is in
the air and my feet are on the
ground, and next year, If hustling
counts. I'll be the most valuable
player" on Miller Higgins ball
cub.
Copyright. 1928. by the christy
Walsh syndicate(
Aae TkpAA MaNaapaSn