The Washington times., 1925-03-17

Altrock and Schaffer were or oil
farent types and temperaments, ant
both were good players in thei
prime. Schaffer's work at secon,
base was highgrade and Altrock a
q, pitcher, was one or the hes
southuaws OF HIS day. World serie
records show what he did to tn,
Chicago Cubs in 1905, and he wa
one Of the best OF all fielding pitch
ors. Nick is quite proud Of thu
fact that he made forty-nine put
outs in the season Of 1904, which
still stands as the major League
record. Not only that, Altrocl
holds the major league record TO
the most assists and FOR the mos
putouts accepted in single game
The last day saw Nick in Wash
ington, he yelled as I was leavinf
s'Hey, don't forget lead the Amer
lean League in batting for 1924.
He did for q fact. He went to bal
!. once and got one hit. which gives
him an average OF 1000.
Schaffer was always cutting
funny capers on the baLlfleld.
Even I'm q close game, he was
doing something crazy to- make
the people laugh. AltrOck was
not that way. They say when
Nick was q good pitcher he was
very serious in the box. At times
4 have seen both Of them In re-
action that was. quiet and almost
depressed.
During the closing weeks Of the
exciting 1924 pennant race, Nick
AItrock was the most serious player
on the entire Washington payroll.
Nick would sit on the bench and
worry himself sick, unless we
scored about five runs every inning.
OF course on the sidelines, he was
full Of fun, but with our players he
was always afraid we were going
TO lose.
you guys get chance to sweat
and work off some Of the strain,
Nick said one day when some OF
the boys joIlied him about his wor-
ries. And Nick was right. When
you're in the game the nervous
strain Is great deal less than II
you are sitting on the bench, un-
able to help your fellow players.
Finally, in the last game Of the
season at Boston. Nick got his
chance to work off the strain and
he came through with his famous
The late Germany" Schaffer was
not only a great comedian but he
was always announcing something
IN advance that brought great
laughs when it turned out as he
predicted. 1 never saw him fail to
have q. witty answer for the grand
stand. Altrock on the other hand
sometimes got peeved at remarks
from the fans. II they called him
ssbig ears in the old days Nick
grew grouchy. Bur ne soon over
came that and today nothing hap
pens during the game that doesn't
have a funny side for Altrock.
One day germany" Schaffer
was coaching at third base when
he received orders 60 pinch-hit
for our pitcher. Up TO the seventh
inning Washington had failed to
make . hit and the score was
{ to 0 against US.
Schaffer trotted toward the bench,
smiling and talking. He selected q
bat, stepped out toward the plate
and took off his cap. Then he an
nounced "I win now demonstrate
how easy 1t Is to get hit off this
guy. I also want to say, that be-
fore the inning is over, we'n score
O half a dozen runs"
The first two balls came over
the plate with a big hook and
Schaffer missed them q foot. The
fans were in roar and yelled,
take him out" Schaeffer stepped
from the box and answered that
he had but two strikes and IL
only took one to make a hit. Then
he drove the next ball over the
ehortstop's head for a clean single
and before the inning was over
washington had scored five runs,
as Schaffer had predicted.
have often seen Schaffer go
60 bat and ask some fan in the
stands where he wanted the ball
to be hit. Nine times out of ten,
he would put the ball right to the
spot requested.
Once, in q game against the Yam
KEGS, Milan was purposely walked
20 get a chance at Germany Schaf.
fer. AS the winning run was on
second base. Schaffer didn't like
the insinuation. But he got his
usual fun out OF the situation.
Running over toward the Yankee
bench he shouted You're some
manager. Who ever heard Of
walking Milan. with a great hitter
like Schaffer coming UP"
The New York players all booed
Germany. which was just adding
fuel to the fire. Just for that"
he shouted. I'm hit the first ball
pitched over third base" And he
did so, scoring the winning run for
Washington.
The funniest recollection have
Of Germany Schaffer was the day
he appeared in rubber boots. There
had been a drizzIe all afternoon
and most OF the players wanted to
quit. Even the fans were yelling,
Call the game" But the umpires
insisted the game should go on.
AS We trotted on to the field in
the third inning, Schaffer showed
up at second base. rugged out In
hip boots and carrying an umbrella
overhead. The grandstand rolled
with laughter. Even the umpires
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