Evening star., 1925-01-24

base now were coming easy to me
possible. / felt was coming into
We were playing a series in Bin
Buffalo catchers, called me aside. t
ington. Joe Engers here to look J
Who's he scouting for?"
Hes working for Griffith again
scouting for Washington" was the
answer. 81 hope he's a safer scout
than he was a pitcher. He was wild
as d hawk in the box. A catcher
needed real armor. They tell a story
about him pitching a game for Joe
CantiIlon in Minneapolis. Engel was
very wild and very tired. He signed
to Cantillon that he wanted to com
out No answer. Then he yelled h
demands You big stiff. you've don
everything but throw the ball owe
the fence; let's see you do that Can
tillon shouted. And Joe promptly
did. He was soon taking his bath"
Casey told me that he understood
Washington was in bad need of a
second baseman. Hal Janvrin, an in
field hero for the Red Sox In the
1916 world series with Brooklyn, was
slowing up. Work hard in there
every day." he advised. This may be
just the spot where you'll get
chance in the big show. Don't get
fiustered because you know a scout
has IliS eye Ou yous DO yOnI ACNCA
best 1t ought to be good enough.
You're a pretty sweet ball player right
now"
Line Drive Hurts His Hand.
It was a Job to keep from trying
grandstand plays. But I kept saying
over and over to myself: This Is just
a ball game. Keep your head up. Do
your best. II you make good. you
may get another chance before the
end of the season"
batted and fielded well. And
then in the last game of the series a
fast travelling line drive hit me on
the third finger of my right hand.
The finger was swollen three times
3tS natural size when ! went to bed.
7 put on a lemon poultice. The next
morning the swelling had gone down,
but the anger was tbrobbing and as
sore as boil. J strapped Il 10 the
little finger and was in the lineup
the next game in Buffalo. Meanwhile
I learned that Engel had recommend
ed by wire to Griffith that he purchase
me and that the Washington boss
would stop over in Buffalo on his
way East
With such news, I resolved to stay
in the game II my finger fell off. The
finger went from bad to worse, but
somehow I managed to play every
day. The Washington manager reach
ed Buffalo on Sunday. late in Au
gust. We were scheduled to play a
double-header with Reading.
Inspected by Grin HknseIf.
He took a box alongside our dug
out. Joe Casey pointed him out.
There's the Old Fox himself" he
whispered. I passed the box and look
Cd cir n1x II rnfa
from sharp eyes under heavy brows.
He smiled and I trotted to my posi-
tion. ! felt certain l would be Judged
fairly on my merits by one of the
Hhrewdest and smartest men in the
history of the game. I knew then
would like to work for him.
I must have outdone myself. Never
once did I think of the pain in my
hand. I was at bat eight times in the
two games. obtained six hits, a base
on balls and was hit once by the
pitcher. That gave me a percentage
Of 1000 at bat. Seldom have l had as
good day. Never have had one that
meant quite as much. 1 stole two
bases and handled IA or Is chances in
the field with one error.
Wiltse introduced me to Griffith aft
er the game. I WINGED when the
Washington manager gripped my
much swollen finger.
Whats the matter?" he asked.
Just sprained joint, I guess, Mr..
Griffith" / knew 1t was more serious
than a spraIn but I didn't know until
later the finger was broken in three
places.
How long have you been playing
with it?" he went on.
About 10 days, sir" I answered.
efWaIlf Wa1li Wollf What -
know about that" was all he said.
Sought by Three Teams.
That night Wiltse called me to his
room. 'Grih likes your work. He
wants to buy you," he said. Hes
stuck on you because he thinks
you're a game rooster to go in and
play with finger as big as a
balloon. He wants to build up a
fighting, aggressive club. He thinks
you are fast enough and have the
right spirit If you show him you've
got brains. you ought to make good
from the jump"
I could only grin. GOSH" finally
aged to say. That's great"
Wait minute" the Buffalo man.
ager continued. "I can sell you to
the Athletics. too. And I'm sure Nc
Graw will pay the price for you.
How does New York sound?"
I thought few minutes. Three
chancesi They overwhelmed me. The
Athletics were a tail end club; I dis
missed them. I realized that I prob
ably would have to sit on the bench
for a few years in New York. I
knew I could soon get in the Wash
.ngton lineup. The rest would then
be up to me. ! decided to gamble on
my confidence to make good.
TIL pick Washington" I said.
was sold to the Washington club
for $4,000 that night before 1 went
to bed. 1t was a lucky sale for me.
Copyright. 1921