Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-20

IA by silence: binding flash of
white as a base ball, travelling
at terrific speed, shot up to
the plate, then a cracking report
as it buried itself in my big glove
the world series was on,
The scene was Griffith Stadium in
Washington. The time was Saturday
afternoon, October 4, 1924. The New
York Giants, champions of the Ma
tionaI League, and the Washington
Nationals, American League f1ag-win-
nerS, were IN the field.
At the plate stood young Freddie
Lindstrom, lS-year-Old Chicago boy,
third-sacker OF McGraw's champions.
nervously swinging his bat, while his
eyes strained to watch the flight OF
the speeding horsehide.
johnson I'm the Box.
In the pitchers box stood Walter
Johnson, veteran of Is long campaigns
in the major league. Slowly. deliber-
ateiy, apparently giving the lie to the
excitement which surged through his
entire being, Barney, the Big Train
of the Nationals, drew back his
ancient. but still formidable right arm
and sent the ball hurting up to the
plate. The pitch was wide and the
eager youth at the home platter dis.
dained to move his bat, as the umpire
called a ball.
Once more came that slow, tantaliZ-
ing swing OF the old masters arm:
once more, with incredible speed,
came that ball, seeming to gather
speed as 1t travelled the 60 feet
inches from pitcher to batter. High
and close TO the batsman was this
pitch-anotfer ball.
There was a groan from the stands,
then Walter hitched impatiently at
his belt, swung his right arm as
man might snap whip and sent an
other smoking pitch up to the home
platter.
The first TWO balls had been served
with what seemed unbelievable speed.
but the thru was even faster, almost
fash OF lightning. shooting across
that expanse of air and sunlight.
l whiried to the umpire behind me,
as the ball sinacked into my catcher's
glove
what is it?" called, excitediy.
The arbiter hesitated a minute. then
he smiled, as he shook his head.
You'll have to call them Muddy,
he replied. II can't see them.
Can't See the Ball.
g For a moment I gasped: then !
chuckled. With grin on my face !
turned around and winked at the UNI
pire. Here / was in a world series
game, having all the troubles /
wanted in hanging onto the steaming
slants of the greatest speed pitcher
in the world and the Jump was laying
down on me. 1 felt like asking him IL
] didn't have bother enough. How
ever, / understood the spirit in which
th, arbiter put it up to me and called
it, 1t was u strike, and there We're
plentV of them after that.
1t is little wonder, however that the
umpire a veteran of the big show, ex-
pressed his inability to follow the
course of the ball. There are times
when I, accustomed as ! am to catch
ing the speed king, cannot do so. 1t
is sort of second nature with me In
putting my glove out for the pitches;
this and the knowledge of where the
balls ought TO come.
Walter was certainly right In this
world series game. Eighteen long
weary years he had been waiting for
this big opportunity to pitch for his
team in the big Fall classic. Faith
fully, conscientiously. he had toiled
for a team which generally finished
the season in the second division OF
the clubs. There was never a murmur
from him or a request to be traded to
another more fortunate team, even
though less skillful boxmen had had
their fling at world series participa
ton. Now had come his big chance
Ia il any wonder that his fast bal
fairly whiZzed as it came up to the
plate?
At Last a Chance!
For years he had been looking for
ward to this day and for weeks hi
had realized that a championship fo'
the Washington Nationals was within
the realm of possibility. Then, as the
American League race narrowed dowr
to the finish and we were being made
favorites for the bunting, from all ovel
the world came messages of encourage
ment and expressions of confidence To-
the great Walter Johnson. BY thu
hundreds, these letters and telegram
came in, each mail bringing fresl
supply.
The day Of the big game arrive,
and with II came crowd Of nearl.
sc. 900 people, each of whom wanted t.
see the old master win his game an
felt certain that Walter Johnson wa
going to do so. They presented Bar
ney with a beautiful automobile be
fore the start of the game and the
surrounded him with floral pieces full
at tall as himself.
Nervous at First.
Walter was plainly nervous as h
stepped into the box for the start G
the contest, but this gradually wor
off. He was nervous, not from fea
or from lack of confidence, but bt