Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-23

'tSF'hS '''S'
Bill Carrigan may grab up the
reins Of a faltering Red Sox base
ball club and spur them along to
a pennant in the American League
next season and then again he may
not, but he will have the fans OF
at least one town solidly behind him
in his attempt to pull the Sox from
their lowly position down around the
Junior League cellar. Winthrop,
including every inhabitant, will sup
port him to the last ditch.
For Winthrop is the town where
Bill got his start as a professional
baseball player. Bill was and still
is a capable backstop but when he
arrived in Winthrop after starring
in that position at Holy Cross, he
found that he could not play be-
hind the bat. The directors had
ruled him out of position. So Bill
really started his professional career
as a second baseman. His play
around the middle sack and his I'M
canny ability to get hit when it
meant something made him the idol
of Winthrop fans and this admira-
ton has not faltered during his II
years absence from a Winthrop dia-
mond.
Bill left Winthrop the last part
of 1905 and finished the season with
Biddeford but his work was still
watched and admired by the Win
throp fans. His appearance on a
Winthrop team left profound In
f1uence in that town that shoulder
ed along and burst forth again in
all it's fury again when 1t was
learned that Carrigan was going to
manage the Red SoX again.
There never was before and prob
ably never will be again such BAN
quet as was staged for Winthrop's
favorite diamond pastimer. The
president of the Chamber OF Com
merce, the pastor of st. Francis
church and Senator Wadsworth all
made speeches telling of his proves
on the diamond and a song written
expressly for the occasion was sung
with harmony and enthusiasm, with
special emphasis placed on the en-
thusiasm.
Five hundred enthusiastic fans
were present at the meeting and ev-
cry one of the half thousand knows
Bill personally. He makes his sum-
mer home in Winthrop and knows
every person in town. A big Christ
mas tree, with 1000 lights was a. mi
nor feature of the entertainment.
Bills, speech was typical of the
man. Short and to the point, his
talk covered the whole situation.
This is great stuff here in Win
throp tonight, pennant stuff, maybe!
I thought summer was the time
here, but winter beats it.
"Well, the Red Sox Is good ag-
gregation, all young players. Must
be good-some of 'em mighty good.
What We'll put over nobody knows.
but with a good team, plenty of luck
and a fair bunch of breaks-well.
watch US!
1.-THE game today and 10 years ago
are might different. But It's going
back to the old real stuff, ! think.
Chicago thinks so; so do most OF
'em. The war brought in the rab-
bit, a lively ball: changed the whole
business from science to a hit and
run proposition. Ten years ago
there was mighty little Of this. Now
adayS II no bunting, anu your
pitcher pitches and ducks to save
his life. Out fielders seldom in close
enough so you can see EN-. Pitch
ers have small confidence and play
for no hit. They're coming back
to the sacrifice hit and you won't see
a wild line of relief throws to get
'em in. More science once more,
less slugger stuff. New interest in
the great American game. I'm no
talker but that's what l think.
enjoyed this .doin's here tonight,
you're a good bunch and all right
SOS the Red Sox-Goodnight."
Not a very long speech for the
man that made Babe Ruth. Very
simple, indeed, for the one and only
man in the big tent that could con-
quer the rebellious Dutch Leonard.
But that's the way Bill is. He has
confidence In his new club, conf
dence in the fans and confidence in
himself. A son ot Maine and an idol
of Winthrop, Bills going back up
ana If you don't think he is the best
manager in the world you had bet
ter stay away from Winthrop.