Evening star., 1925-01-14

Pirates turned the trick on the Tige
Going to wilkes Barre I thought
something would turn up at the last
minute to keep me from seeing the
game. / had visions of the train be
ing derailed, Of being hit by a street
car In the city, spraintng an ankle or
having a sudden shower come up out
of the clear sky.
None of these gloomy forehodinEs
came to pass. | found myself in a
25-cent seat few minutes before the
game started. In order to earn a
half days pay, ! had had to make a
close train connection. There prob
ably wasn't a happier kid anywhere
in the country that day or since.
Bush Attracted Harris.
DOME Bush, the star little short
stop of the Tigers, had a special at
traction for me. He was one of the
smallest men then playing in the
majors. I remember thinking that l
didn't have to attain an impossible
growth to measure up to his size
That was before l saw him in action,
kowever.
Before the game was half over
was spellbound. DOME roved all over
his territory. He made seemingly
impossible plays back of third base,
came in like a flash on slowly hit
plays and riled the ball across to
first base with lightning-like speed
and uncanny accuracy. He was
ball hawk If there ever was one.
Such playing was a revelation to
me. 1t showed me how very crude
and green | was. As long as that
was the standard demanded OF a big
league shortstop l felt as if l never
could make the grade. Little did l
think as l sat there, a dazed and daz
zled youngster, that l ever would be
on the same club with Bush. And
Aet within 10 years we were in
Washington together. The next sea-
son ! played under his management.
l was so interested in Bush that ]
didn't pay much attention to the
other Detroit players. He was the
first shortstop at the top of his game
ever had seen. In those days l was
playing shortstop and thought il my
natural position. so l don't suppose
1t strange that I was SO intent in
watching master hand perform. /
neglected the other players.
As a matter of fact, l don't even
remember the score of the game, al
though Detroit won. Nor does Cobb,
Veach or Crawford and their doirgs
that day stand out in my mind.
Stars as they were, the sight of Donie
Bush putting up a great exhibition
attracted all my attention. 1 was
looking upon a player L hoped some
day to emulate.
I was a strangely gloomy boy, for
one who had just seen his first big
league club in action, on the train
home. Tony Walsh found seat be-
side me.
Get your pockets picked?" he
asked after look at my face You
act as If you'd been to p funeral in
stead of a rafting good ball game
Don't tell me you bet on Wilkes
Barre
DOnie'S Work Made Him Blue.
Made me blue to see Bush work"
I answered. Il know now I've been
kidding myself thinking I'd some day
be big league shortstop. 1 didn't
know they had to be that fast to get
by. Gosh! He's wonder. I'd give
anything if 1 thought 1 ever could be
half as good. Guess I'll pay more
attention to work in the mine and
less to base ball after this"
Now, Isten," Tony interrupted
you're only baby as ball players
go. 1 don't know whether you'll
ever have the real stuff or not But
don't quit. Don't turn yellow just
because the job looks tough. Keep
plugging away. If you don't make
good, you'll have the satisfaction of
knowing that you tried and didn't lie
down"
But, Tony, I can't ever hope to be
as fast as Bush" I protested. mo
use starting when you're licked be-
forehand"
Licked, nothing!" Tony came back.
TIL bet Bush figured a few years
back just as you're figuring now
when he saw some old timer in ac-
tton. Some day a kid like you'll run
him out of his job. A guy can do
anything he sets his mind on, if he
sets it firm enough and hangs on
like a bulldog"
THAT was pretty far-fetched, per
haps, but Tony cheered me up lot.
I q certainly needed encoura cement
seldom have / been so down in the
dnmpS. Before we reached home
Tony talked me into the belief that I
might, after all, become a major
league shortstop when l grew up.
He was then, and always when
needed him, a cheerful, good-natured,
true friend. He was killed in the
Inines near Pittston before l led a
big league pennant winner. But he
lived to see me reach the majors and
FecOme manager of the washington