Evening star., 1925-01-10

his experience.
He instilled in me the thought
good habits. He pointed out cases
failed to make good when their big
proper care of themselves.
you've got to keep your head up
off the field as we'll as on" he would
say "A fellow can't go out there
and do his best If he has been bat
ting around the night before. You
need a clear head and a steady hand.
And never think you know 1t all. NO
matter how good you are, you always
can learn something"
know now such advice is just as
applicable to the game of life as 1t
is to base ball. 1t made a deep i'm
preston and steadied me many
time when ] was tempted to take
fling. There are occasions when 1t
is hard to decline certain invitations.
After the first few refusals, the others
come easy.
Began to Put ON Weight.
After Merle left to report to the
Traverse City club of the old Michi-
gan State League 1 worked hard as
shortstop on the Sunday school team.
With no night school to attend, 1 got
to bed at 10 o'clock and was up at
$50 1 began to put on a little
weight Before long 1 had chance
to make 81 by playing Sunday game
with the Hamtown club of the Subur-
ban League
wasn't Is yet. Naturally, felt
was getting somewhere with my am
bition when Hamtown sought me- All
the other players on the Grub were
older. Some of them were grown
men. It was the same with the other
clubs in the league. 1 was the young
est player in the organization, and
long way from being one of the best.
Still, was active, trying hard, ana
managed to hang on after the nrst
trial Ability didn't turn the trick.
Hamtown was short of infelders at
the time.
Two Dollars in Change.
got a lucky hit in my first money
Z game The ball hit a pebble and
bounced over the third baseman
head. I also walked twice. Being SO
small. was a hard mark for
pitcher to shoot at. In the held
handled Ave easy chances. Hamtown
won the game by a score of to 3.
When I was paid off 81 in small
change believed my foot was on the
first rung of the ladder leading to
big-league berth. / took the money
to my mother and gayly told her there
would be more where that came from
for me. I've been fortunate enough
to have added to 1t since.
NV self confidence in the future was
rudely jolted the next day when
met Tony Walsh, a miner and one OF
the best semi professionals arouho
Pittston. He was my frleno, ana
had seen me make my debut.
"Hamtown will be using rattles in
stead of bats next" he replied when
asked him how / had done II
you're going to stay in there, they
better take out an insurance policy.
You'll try to stop a fast one some
day and be carried to the outf1eld.
But when Tony went on to advise
me how to field and how to stand at
the plate so as to take fuli advantage
of my small size I felt better. -.
Get on, Stanley" he said. "A base
on balls is just as good as a hit for
a lead-off man..
Was Chary with Praise.
From then on he worked with me
freduently in the late afternoons his
coaching and advice were most help
fuI He was short on praise. when
he did offer a word of encouragement
1t meant something.
Pittston was not unlike other small
towns. Gossip travels fast in them.
] was only a tadpo1e in "a very small
a..
was playing Sunday base ball for
money. The information didn't make
q big hit with Jacob Kuschel, our
Sunday school superintendent
had been rushing from Sunday
school for several weeks to earn
few dollars in the Suburban League
games before he said anything. When
he did speak there was no mistaking
his meaning He headed me OF as l
was rushing for the door ahead of the
other boys and girls and barred my
way.
Fired from Amateur Team.
you've been playing base ball on
Sunday for money" he accused.
yes, sir" confessed, without
feeling the least bit guilty of haV-
ing committed any offense.
We'll, that bars you playing with
our club" he retorted. You'll have
to quit US"
Still he barred my path. 1 thought
he might try to convince me or the
error of my ways by physical force.
I made UP my mind that with liv-
ing to earn and an ambition to be-
come a professional there was only
one course open.
t"Hamtown for mine"' 1 cried, div
ing between his legs and racing for
the ball field.
OF course, he never intended to lay
a hand on me. The next Sunday l
was back for my Bible lesson and
continued to attend Mr.. Kuschers
school regularly. He never referred
to my decision again until l signed
with Washington. Then he and had
a good laugh over the episode. he
sent me a glowing letter OF con-
graduation when we won the PEN
nant, and with his own hands made
beautiful ring presented to me by
Pittston fans.
Copyright, 1921