New Britain herald., 1927-10-14


 gast surprls.-aud hkeWi+" thr greatest thrill Of B season packed aith n rve-tingltng momeuts-cam" 10 Columbia Lou Gchrig just the other day whom the committee of eight sports writers rounl tAe American League circuit adludeA7 him the most valuable player to his team during the season of la2T
 Stripped to a mere hraech clott, the bulging muscles of his broad physique knotting as he s'eppeI ,ho,t ass emJllug the uniforms oL the "I.arruping Iou's' for an eNhl- hilton game at As.ury Park A' J.. the husky young first haseman or the World Champion New orh Yankees allowed that even stri'>'h5 ont with the bases full and the score tied in the ninth inning Of the final world series game hadn't stun ned him as much as receipt oI the coveted player award. StFe'cheu out In l nearby chair in the cIpo- house dressing room, Babe Futo' teacher, guide and clubbing mentor of his young teammate, took hlS ease in similar attire and 'loShed the youngster ahectionatciy Wheh- ever the opportunity offered.
 No greater contrast in tempera~ rent or physique could be found anywhere in baseball than the two batsnen who waeed a thrilling race for home run honors from sQring to fall before the veteran finally fell into his record breaking stride ana left the youth far behind The Hdhe is huge through the shoulders, p,ldgv of waist, with the legs Of uelterweight bearing his 225-pound bulk, while Lou has the build Of a four square Dutchman, wide of shoulder and hips with the legs or a. heavyweight wrestler Babe, al though loving baseball Wholeheart- edlv, is the business head Of the combination as befits his g years, while Lou plays for thrills and isn't d bit anxious to hide the fact that the national paSlime is his neat
 "Perhaps the greatest thrill of the honor came from it's uneNpCctcdnrSs. All through the year l thought that Babe would get 1t. l never even knew that he wasn't eligible because he won it in 1928. So l just play ed along through the season. doing as well as could, and the thought never once entered my mind that | might te judged the most valuable player in inc American League.
 Its a great feeling, though, and I'm sur, ir will give me confidence, make a better player of me next saason. I'll be in there swinging every minute 10 prove they were right. Maybe I won't hit more than A homers in 1928 but ] won't be lar shy eith~r.'
 About that time the Rdmh!no cut himself into the conversation.
 "T.isrcn. Kid" he said. "Yon were circh. You'd have won it anyway. even if I wasn't out Act your age and climb into that sweat shirt
 Inrerturbcd. "larruping Lou walked over to tho Babe, who hadn t moved from his easy position, and said almost accusiu@ly;
 "You know. that big hitting freak there taught me more about batting this season than all tho rest of the people that have worked on me put together. He showed me how to line q ball into right field fol two and three bases this spring atf'r Miller Huggirs t-uEht mo 10 loft pokey flies out that Way for cheap singles.
 "The Habo is ii frrab," he con rinned earnestly 'Ilr's the greatest player. the aruafest hitter, in the history of the ga ln hut hr's freak tnst in" same. look at tn" way he swngs-lg gs, lodE, arms sFoHl| .rS' even his rars go with the hat NO one else rau do tha'.
 "Hr tgi,s to tsteh m" to @"i0& free and clean like he doas but ! can't even get d foul. All l can do is stand there and ~"i"s with my arms alone. Just uy arws.'
 As Lou stretched at fUll l'rEtN a pair of forsarms that would e]ame 4 safa-mover I.lc hrs.irr~3 hi"- self pulled on q pair of stockings and then entered into the fasHinat- ing task of inserting himself back wards irto tn" pguts of his uniform.
 It was a feat worthy of special mention. First Iajr unmul tho rants lnsidg out nd Lid -hom oH the floor. lIr lrrn puIhl each trousor 1rg ou Hp to tha hoce anI left the wsdst of the garmrol dan slirrg. still inaDr ou', "rannd his anll.s. After rolling sto Ninr t"Us snd pauls knee toa tG~r yar"rs i}, or reached 3owu a@I sror~-'dIg }nr'- d the ratmnut up ataur luis awulo waist, adjusted fle bD:t, aHj truu,"d.
 "T-hare's o0a pair o' rau'- t'M don't art loose from my EtcoEt'2f in 2 hurry"
 l'uIIy dra zsr1. t,, houw l1u t#as earthly selr~t.! fa>or.to bats alf headed for tt- ..i..
 "I;.ntoluAnr. Imln." saW Lou "wGyo got to card .ralu Nnst