New Britain herald., 1926-09-28
CBY BILLY EEANS)

velop into one of those nome coming affairs.
 It is just possible that the fall classic will have the old master and the ambitious pupil flavor. | That will be the official menu when the New York Yankees meet i the St. Louis Cardinals. He won no pennants but showed enough ability to cause the owners of the New York Americans to wean him i over to their league.
 His success as leader of the | Yankees is too well known to need much comment. He has already won three pennants and one world series. He appears to be on the threshold of another pennant.
 In the fall of 1915, q mere strip of youth, reported to the Car ] dinas for a tryout. He came to the club as a shortstop. Miller Hug gins, then in charge of the St. Louis club, was impressed. However, the rookie appeared to lack the physical stamina necessary 10 stand the strain of the big league.
 That young man was Rogers ! Hornsby. He has developed into the premier second-sacker of the majors. As a manager he has shown ability on a par with his marvellous play.
 In this connection I recall a story that Miller Higgins recently told me that best gives an idea of the deter imitation possessed by Hornsby, and in measure explains the success l that has come his way. After watching Hornsby in action for l s games at shortstop. Huggins realized he possessed great ability. but was very inexperienced. It seemed he would need year or two in the minors before he was ready for the big show.
 Desiring to let Hornsby know that he was pleased with his show ing and to prepare him for a possible trip to the minors for year or two, he called him aside and whispered thusly to him:
 T regard you as a big league prospect. Hornsby, but I don't think you are quite ready. It may be necessary to send you to one of our farms for q year or two"
 It was the intention Of Higgins 10 farm him to one of the minor league clubs with which St. Louis at the time had a working agreement.
 Hornsby made no reply, but he took what Huggins said literally. He decided he wouldn't wait for 'ho St. Louis club 10 send him to any farm. He went back to Texas and got job on one himself.
 Hornsby was just 1 years of age and growing fast. A winter on a ranch with it's attendant hard work was just the thing he needed to round him out physically.
 When he reported 10 the Car dinals the following spring. Huggins hardly knew him He had put on about 20 pounds and looked. the part of the big leagucr. He pro- ceedcd to prove it at once.
 His work in spring training was so impressive that Huggins mmedi- ately gave up any thought of farm ing him out. During the season of 1916 he played 1S9 games for the Cardinals at shor'stop, second base and third base.
 Playing alongside Of Huggins he picked up many Of the fine points of second base play at which Hug gins was past master. However, as late as 1921 he played four positions for the Car dinals. three infeld positions also in the outfeld. At one time he took a whirl at first base.
 In 1922 Hornshy came into his own as second -sarkcr and since that time at that position, as well as at the, bat.
 ! Hornsby's career should he one Of inspiration 10 every player am ] bilious 10 shine in the major leagues. | His road 10 success was far from an ! easy one.
 While it isn't generally known. 1 llornSby was twice handed his re- . lcaGe from minor league ball clubs. ' These early revcrses. enough to dis courage the ordinary youngster, simply made him fight back all the | harder.
 In the spring Of 1914. Hornsby re- | ported 10 the Dallas club of the Texas league for q trial. In the large crop of rockies trying to inn press the manager of the Dallas club, Hornsby was entirely over l looked. He drew his release April
 %.
 Willing, yes anxious, to accept a chance in a league of lower c!assi-
 fication, Hornsby signeH with Hugo i Of the TeNas-O Oklahoma league. On 1 July ? of that year. Hugo passed hiu on 10 Dennison of the same or i ganization. The following year while with D"nnieon. his work at- 1 tractod the attention of one of the scouts Of the St Louis Cardinals and ho was purchased for the sum of $500.
 Just think of it. Rogers Hornsby cost only $500. In these days, play CTS of far lees ability bring % times that amount and then do not alwa"s deliver. There could he no stranger coincidence than the playing Of the world series by New York and St Louis with Higgins and Hornsby in