San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-10-25
T@aMa
Much Sharp Practice.
Pops Out in Racing.
Also in Semi-pro Ball.
A Case in New Jersey.
When Glaze Was Pierce.
BY Damon Runyon
Copyright. 1928, International Feature
Service, Incl


Copyright. 1925, International Feature
o. Service, lnc.)
At times ] feel somewhat depressed
by the thought of all the sharp prac-
tice that is going OIL in the world OF
sport.
! am commencing to share the
cynical view Of my famous personal
operative, TIA, that it is very diff
ficult for an honest man to get a
square rattle anywhere.
Only the other day, noted in the
public prints that couple of we'll
known boOkmakers had engaged in a
demonstration Of The Manly Art of
Scrambling Ears in the presence OF
the ladies and gentlemen collected in
the club house of the Aqueduct race
course, because one bookmaker had
accused the other bookmaker of put
ting a race sin the bag"
! but quote the language of the
bookmakers themselves. 1t seems that
putting a race sin the bag" means
to pre-arrange the outcome of the
heat. The idea, as 1 gather, of put
ting a race "in the bag" generally
is to cheat somebody. In this case,
the accusing bookmaker suspected
the accused of cheating the accuser.
More than any other circumstance
Of recent years, has this weighed
upon my mind. When bookmakers
get to cheating each other, do not
know what the world is coming to.
1 believe it comes under the head of
downright dishonesty.
Then ] picked up a New Jersey
newspaper, the Bergen Record, and
learned of strange goings-on in our
national pastime, sometimes known
as baseball.
/ learned that n club called the
Madonna Caseys, of Englewood. (and
a great name it isl had defeated the
Hackensack club by score of IL to
l with line-nup which is said to hav,
included several young men who be-
long to the New York Giants.
Mr.. r. III. Wynkoop, of the Bergen
Record, commenting on the game,
says:
"Friends of the Madonna Caseys,
Of Englewood, VINO had inside infor-
nation took away small fortune
from Hackensack when their base
ball team walked away to an easy
victory at Oritani Field yesterday.
"Not since the Westwood B. B. c.
brought Joe Jackson and some other
highly expensive baseball talent here
a few years ago have the suckers
taken a worse trimming. The Madon-
mas held their lineup off until the
last minute. and even then it did not
mean anything as the names on the
board were not those of the players
competing.
"Of course, there was a loud
squawk. The Hackensack gamblers
who got burned, some rather severe
~. walled in a high note. They did
not figure, nor did anyone else. that
the MadOnnas could get major league
players before the end of the season.
"Brown. the imported pitcher, was
supposed to be Jack Wisner Of the
Giants, was listed as the center field
er. There was new second baseman,
and new catcher, both of whom
Sparkled brilliantly. The stage was
nicely set for grand killing and
many were those who suffered.
AS a basis of comparison, how
ever. the game left much to be de-
sired. Good semi-pro- players will
never be match for good major and
minor leaguers.
IF the Madonnas can retain their
present team, and the Hackensack
club does not strengthen. the Engle-
wood team will be the favorite to win
the two remaining games necessary
10 capture the series.
"But it is certain that there will
be no Hackensack money riding along
the next time the teams go to the
post. The MadOnnas. let it be under
stood. were within their legal rights
in getting the best and paying the
top price for it, even though it kills
interest in the series. 1t merely means
that the team with the most money
will hold the county championship"
Later the officials Of the Giants
confirmed the story by announcing
that the participation of the young
Giants in the games had been sane
toned by the club.
] have always deplored this bust
ness of loading up" semi-pro clue
with professionals. | deplorcd it as
far back as the time the stockhold-
ers in the Big Six Club, of Trinidad,
Colo, wished to load up" with pro-
fessionals for the great baseball tour
nament held at Albuquerque, n. Nj.
by clubs from Arizona and New
Mexico, in which we had been in
vited to participate.
The stockholders in the Big Six
Club were the two Patrick boys. who
owned the Big Six saloon on Com
mercial street. | was only the man
ager of the club. The Patrick boys
thought it might be a strategic move
10 add few Western League play
rrs TO our lineup. but held out with
sportsmanlike fcrvor against the
idea.
I said we would not Sully the fair
name of the Big SiXers by chicanery,
so we went TO Albuquerque with our
regular lineup, plus one new man. 4
pitcher by the name of Pierce. He
was good pitcher, too. He struck
out nearly everybody in town, and
the Big Six team took second money
in the tournament. as | recollect ii.
Afterwards | believe there was
some complaint because it turned out
that my pitchers name was not
Pierce. but Ralph Glaze, of Dart
mouth. the greatest college pitcher
of his time. He subsequently pitch
ed profusely for the Boston Red Sox.
However. I thought his name was
Pierce. despite rumors that it was
Glaze. And. anyway. he was not h
professional at the time We en-
gagged him. | would never have con
scented 10 his presence with the Big