Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-01

IL was al the END OF the tlrst week
in May that the National League
batting averages reported to curl
GUS and pop-eyed public that young
Paul Waner, outhelder of the Pitts
burgh Pirates-no one knew then
whether he was to be just supply
outhelder or regular-was hitting
at the prodigious rate of $50.
This guys bust" muttered de-
pressed Pittsburgh fan right in front
of Earl Smith, Pirate catcher.
If he's bust, then I'm a bust"
retorted Srlith-and when the genial
Smith retorts the air reverberates
and sound waves penetrate for miles.
you are bust" said the fan.
That, too, seemed quite proper, be-
cause Smith at that time was bat
ting just a scant 40, to be exact.
Fortunately, Smithy was so taken
aback at being called a bust" that
he had no strength to reply. Had
he done so there might have been
action physically as we'll as by
words
It is Snithy's idea that words play
a part IN base ball just as important
as the bat, as the words are care
fully selected and are equipped with
complete line of picturesque land.
scape effects.
Smith Believes I'm Words.
1.-THE bat" Smith once said, gets
onto the hide of the ball, but words
get under the hides of some of these
ball players who have skins no
thicker than a whisper
This merely goes to show how badly
Smith was stumped when he couldn't
shift his tongue from the side of his
mouth to the other side after he had
been called a bust" right to his
Arkansas teeth.
What has been the cause Of the
Pirates being able to hold their own
in this hot race when they haven't
had the same kind Of pitching this
year that they had last?" was asked
of Bill McKechnie. their tanner.
IAN the boys have been the cause
replied Bill.
That is just like Bill. He wouldn't
say anything because he plays fair
with his men, although folks who are
not with the Pittsburgh club know
that Bill in his fairness leans back
ward. The facts are that not all the
Pirates have been so foremost. as
Bill says. It is two or three Of
them who have come to the front
when they were needed to keep
Pittsburgh In the race, while three or
four others have had crossed wires.
spawned intellects and ingrowing
ideas ever since the season opened.
Admits They Are Valuable.
would you give special credit to
Smith and Waner, and hasn't it been
their increased batting which has
great deal to do with the winning OF
the Pirates?" Mckenzie was asked.
Those boys have hit well all OF
the time" said Bill
won't those two have a lot to do
with bringing in the pork II the
Pirates capture the barrel this year?"
"They sure WILL. bill beamed. Say
do you know that kid Waner is likely
to get so darned high in the National
League before the year is over that
he will win the batting championship.
Mind, am not predicting. When
predict usually am a f1zzle."
Bill is quite right, although he
didn't go far enough, Waner may lead
the league in batting. No one knows
about that And it Is an even wager
that If the Pirates win the 1926 pen.
pant, it will be Smith and the Okla
honla kid who will bring them
through.
Smith Also Has Climbed.
Old Smithy, who talked himself out
of a game I'm a world series because
he tried to emulate the wise sayings OF
a BarnegatN fisherman on a day when
the fish don't bite, has been travelling
higher and higher as batsman.
From, a skinny .270 he has landed
at 1897, just point above the Okla.
honna kid A most fitting reward for
Snaithy, who choked when. they called
Waner "bust" because now they
travel side by side as batsmen, bring.
ing joy and gladness to many a homo
in Pittsburgh.
What's the limit to this kid;
Waner?" Smithy was asked.
Great gadfiies, the sky" he
shouted IF he played until Christ.
mas / wouldn't wonder at seeing him
run so high that they amt any fig-
ures in the English language that
could. express It."