The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-06-20
FANS DON I
GIVE DUE
CREDIT
By Babe Ruth

{
more I see of ball games and
ball players the more | ap-
F5reciate the work of lot OF
players who get little or no
credit. from the fans and the
newspapers.
It's funny thing how some play
ers get q lot of publicity every time
they make a good play. Others go
iout there doing good work day after
day and get nothing but jeers or 81
lence.
Take Bob Meusel. for instance. 1
figure Bob Meusel is one of the great
est outfielders who ever stepped INTO
the big league. Not the greatest
probably but certainly one OF the
best in the game today. Yet BOD
never gets much credit for being
great player. He ge.s lot OF pan
ming from fans who figure he isn't
trying. That's bunk. Bob is always
trying. It's just his manner that
makes folks think he isn't.
Charley Jameson in Cleveland,
Ossie Bluege, of the Washington
Griffmen; Bill Kamm, of the White
Sox-aH these are players who never
get all the credit they deserve. l
can't explain it. The newspaper
boys say it's because they lack color,
whatever that is.
Some people say it's because
they're not showmen. don't
know how a ball player gets to
be Snowman. | guess II must
be born i'm them. Tut ] know
this thing is true. On the big
league benches we speak Of
some fellows In the league as
being ball players ball players"
BY that we mean that we. as play
ers. can appreciate them as great
PLAYERS, even though the fans may.
not give them the credit they de.
serve The fellows l have mentioned
are that type. The fans may not
give them any credit. but ask any
ball player and he'll tell you that
they're about as good as they come.
can see why the work of some
great players isn't appreciated. Take
a man like Tony Lazzeri. for in
stance. Tony is so smooth and
graceful in everything he does that
he makes all his chances look easy.
I've seen Tony make some OF the
greatest plays j ever saw around
second base-yet he did it so grace.
fully and easily that the fans never
even gave him hand.
Eddie Collins was that way
when he was in his prime. So
was Larry Laioie. II was be-
cause they made plays 50 easily
that they were able to stay up
there so long. The fellows who
are labored In their play are
the chaps who break down and
get out of baseball early.
A chap like Tony, for instance.
ought to be up in the big leagues
for Is or 90 years without any
trouble
Pitchers are the same way. Take
a chap like Herbie Pennock, who
pitches smoothly and easily and
without effort. Herbie has been
around for Is years and he's still
good. Other fellows. with just as
much stuff. had to go long ago be-
cause they made too hard work of
pitching.
Alexander Is the same type. So
was Walter Johnson. So il Jack
Quinn. Show me a ball player who
works smoothly and easily and I'll
show you a man whose big league
career will be long. 1t always works
out. Look over the records and
you can prove it. And remember
this too. Some Of the fellows who
get few cheers during the season
and whom fans take as matter of
fact. will be up there long after
some of the "Hurrah" bays are
gone. The very thing that keeps
them from the spotlight is the thing
that will enable them to stick
around for many a long season.
copyright, 1925 by the Christy
Walsh Syndicate)