Evening star., 1925-01-18

Joe Evers, a brother Of Johnny, the
famous Cub star. replaced me at sec
ond base. John Covelesllie. a brother
of the American League pitcher, play
ed in the outfeld for Muskegon. Jack
Compton, a former big Lacquer, was
one of our pitchers. Paul Cobb Tvs
brother, was with Terre Haute in the
same league. Jesse Haines, who later
entered the pitchers hall of fame by
twirling a no-hit game for the Car
dinals. was Springfelds leading
pitcher. He had been tried out by
the Tigers also. They turned him
adrift as they did me He won %
games and lost only IL that year, and
was close to being the leading pitcher
In the league l don't believe I got
much more than a foul off him in the
few times l faced him.
I learned some things in such COM
paHy. My fielding improved. but I hit
4 bad batting slump at the end of
May. The harder | tried the worse /
became. Finally I struck my stride
and began to crash the ball.
Then, after a perfect day at bat
and in the field, l was released. Dow
ling, a Grand Rapids infielder, took
my place. | was out of job in mid
season and a long way from home.
Decides to Stick on S20.
odd dollars. The balance of the few
pay checks had been sent home. Ex-
penses were not high in Muskegon. |
had a nice room for So a week. l
figured l could eat breakfast for 10
cents, taking a cup of coffee and two
doughnuts; DO without a noon meal
and fill up at night on an excellent
table dhote dinner. The latter cost
SO cents
SO I made up my mind TO stick in
Muskegon, as long as funds per
mitted, and try for a job elsewhere.
I didn't want to go home a failure
again. ! wired my plight to Jen-
nings. He replied, telling me to
await word from him. The days
stretched into two weeks without "A
message from the Detroit manager.
/ spent my afternoons while waitIn &
for the big dinner at night in the
ball park. a bag of peanuts filled
me up
Bowling didn't get off to a good
start. Soon l heard the fans yelling:
Take him out. Get Harris back
II wsS music to my ears. After a
three weeks layoff. Manager Myers,
finding Bowling would not do, signed
me to another contract. In that |
was the property of the Detroit club,
/ should have first consulted Jennings.
The Central League season then
was divided into two championships,
the first race ending July and the
second on September 10. Muskegon,
making its debut In the league as
the successor of Erie, Pa, finished In
the cellar in the first half. I did my
bit in putting the club there. The
other cities in the league were Day
ton, Grand Rapids, Springfield Evans
Vile, Wheeling. Terre Haute and
South Bend.
/ went along for a month on my
second trial with Muskegon without
showing any marked Improvement
| did my best, but I was a busher
of the bushiest type. Myers finally
found a third baseman named Whalen
who could play rings around me
Then l received my walking papers
for the second time.
At bat in 80 games. I hit for the
puny average of 1855. No wonder ]
was let out! This represented 1sS
times at bat, runs, 2S hits, 9 sacri-
flee hits and 2 stolen bases, one OF
which I obtained on my first bone
headed play. My fielding was on a
par. I had 81 putouts, 81 assists and
II errors in 50 games My average
of 1872 was next to the worst in the
league.
What Youngster Taught Him.
Jennings had previously written
that he couldn't find me a berth. He
would try again next season, he said
There was nRthing for me to do but
pocket my pride and return to Pitts
ton. On the train home l made up
my mind to stick to base ball !
reached this decision while waiting
in the Wilkes Barre station for the
train to Pittston. | was discouraged
and downcast--a failure, not once
but twice, in the minors
My troubles were forgotten as my
attention was attracted by the antics
of a small boy He wasn't more than
10 years old and none too big for his
age. He was wrestling with a big
crate OF vegetables, trying to put it
on an express truck. He refused to
let any railway workers help him
He turned me down when I offered
to give him a lift.
My offer evidently was the straw
that broke the came's back with the
youngster He was barefooted and
his clothes were an armless shirt and
overalls.
Say, fellow" he greeted me, 81
told my pa l vas going TO get this
crate on a truck by myself And by
golly I'm going to, or bust. Minc
your own business"
And when that spunky kid finally
landed the crate where il belonged
[ forgot my troubles. He helped
teach me the lesson of never giving