Evening star., 1925-01-26

and waved the outhelders away.
Until then | handled myself we
error and figured in one double pl;
time | faced Mays | smashed the
third and MenoSky on second. | DIRE
Washington gathered two more in t
ing and four-run lead, the game al
Nice work." Johnson graduated
me when We took the field after my
hit
Thanks" was all l felt able to say
felt proud that the king of pitchers
would pay that much attention to me-
lie didn't have a word of criticism
Tor me, Milan or Rice. when we let
IN the winning run by our Alphonse-
CASTOR act in the fourteenth.
Even a recruit could see Johnson
wasn't at the top of his form that
day. He was just getting over a cold
and hadn't pitched a full game in two
weeks. For all that, the Yanks had
10 take Il innings to beat him. They
gathered 10 hits. Their bombardment
began in the fourth. 1t netted a run
Fhey tied the score in the eighth
Peckinpaugh, who was later to work
beside me in Washington, poled two
doubles and as many singles off
Johnson.
Great Even In Defeat.
OOAlLlSOl was great even IN ue1eat.
From the cheers one would have
thought him the winner. More than
1900 people were in the stands
Never had l played before such a big
crowd. The sportsmanship of the
spectators in applauding an out-of-
town pitcher surprised me. I didn't
know then that Johnson was the idol
OF American Lea que fans the circuit
over There have been few players
30 generally admired by fans as well
as fellow athletes.
thought my failure to get Lewis
ny might cause Griffith to bench me
in the second game. All he said:
Keep huStling in there and see if
You can't sock another one. The time
10 hits when men are on"
Harper, a dangerous Ieft-hander
when he was right, started the final
game for us. George Mogridge. later
member of the pennant-w winning
Washington club, twirled for New
York. 1t was a light-hitting affair
The Yanks punched their bingles in
the sixth and sewed up the game.
winning by to 3.
Let's In First Yankee Run
/ let in the first New York run in
the third inning by fumbling Frank
Bakers grounder with Peckinpaugh
on third. But l got two-bagger in
The two runs tieu the score until
Harper weakened a bit The only
error ] made in nine chances was on
Bakers grounder. ] figured in
double play with Judge.
Grittith'S coaching struck me for
chilly throughout the two games His
club wasn't in the pennant race, and
yet he fought as hard for two vic
tories as if a championship depended
up. He shouted encouragement to
US all afternoon. Washington al
ways had a chance TO win. but Grif-
nth would have been fighting just
as hard if we had been several runs
behind going into the last inning
/ felt sore that We had lost two
such close games. held myself
largely responsible for defeat in the
opener. I expected Griffith would
take his feelings out on some of the
players, myself included. Yet l heard
no harsh language. He called me
after We finished dressing
GriR Encourages Him.
You started out with a good. long
workout he said. How did it go?'
4 was trying as hard as I could,
hui kicked two away" I answered.
Well, you've got to boot some, if
yeu try for 'em ALL" he declared.
Remember this, though. The next
time you figure you can get under
one of those Texas leaguers such as
Lewis popped up today. yell that it's
your ball, and wave every one else
away. You should have stuck that
one in your pocket"
Yes, SIR I replied
You busted a few. anyhow" he
went on. Maybe We'll make a reg
u!ar big league infielder out of you
You bet" l answered.
knew then I never could play ball
for better, Squarer or more under
standing man than Clark Griffith He
had the knack of encouraging a man
when he needed encouragement most.
He was my friend and adviser from
that day. He had a great way with
Young players. OF the championship
washington club, he picked out and
was largely instrumental in develop
ing Judge, Rice, Bluege, Goslin, Zach
airy, marberry and me.
23 Innings With a Bum Hand
] WINGED while talking to my new
boss. The pain in my injured finger
was intense 1t had been struck by
had hopper in fielding practice be-
fore the opening game. Immediately
the finger began to swell and ache
INV lliiIdStu 10 HOIu d DdI, MT
safely and field my position without
half a dozen errors, ! don't know.
felt as # ! simply had to make good
so ] gritted my teeth and went
through twenty-three innings.
The excitement over l couldn't help
showing the pain. Automa tically
rubbed the backs of the fingers of
my right hand in the palm of the left
The whole hand seemed afire Griffith
grabbed me by the right wrist He
seemed to know just what was the
matter.
boy, you've got mean looking
finegr there" he said. I'll get Mike
Martin"
This capable club trainer, one of
the best conditioners in the country.
ordered the finger packed in ice.
Looks as If it might be broken to
me. I'll tell better when the swelling
goes down" he said.
He kept my hand in an ice pack all
right. Again I tossed about on my
bed. In spite of the pain, l felt happy.
I:had played two full games in the
big league. Griffith seemed satisfied
with my work What more could a
.goungster, seeing his dreams of years
about to come true, ask?
Copyright, 1929
Tomorrow: Lessons on the Bench