Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05
COULDN'T BELIEVE
IT TRUE AT FIRST
Not Sure Betting on Horses
Was Reason, but Decides
to Quit, Anyway.
BY ROGERS HORNSBY.

r F hadn't known that sunshine al
ways follows storm I believe I
would have quit base ball that
L Winter Of 1929. when I got the
biggest shock of my career.
After that pleasant season with the
Giants in 1927, returned to my home
in st. Louis. The future looked bright.
! was happy. and Mrs. Hornsby and
began planning to buy country home,
as both of us like country life best.
While we were in the midst of our
plans st. Louis reporter called me on
the telephone one evening.
Whats this about you being traded
to the Boston BraveS?" he asked.
"Oh, they're trading me again, are
they?" replied, thinking the thing was
only a joke on the part of the reporter
Listen, Rogers, this seems to be on
the square," he answered. 1.-The an
nouncement was made officially this
afternoon in New York. We got it
straight"
but that can't be true" I exclaimed.
You're only kidding, aren't you?" I
still couldn't believe there was any
it," said, finally, realizing the reporter
was serious.
Notified by Judge Fuchs.
A few minutes later my telephone
rang again, and Judge Fuchs, president
OF the Braves, was on the other end of
the wire. Sure enough, it was true. 7
had been traded, though it seemed i'm
possible. Then was officially informed
by the New York club of the deal, and
the only explanation was that the trade
was for the best interests of the New
York team.
I tried to figure out a reason. felt
convinced hadn't been traded because
OF disappointment over my playing. I
mad had good year. had hit nearly
as we'll as ever. had driven in more
runs than any one else on the team.
couldn't believe, as some writer's
indicated, that McGraw was jealous of
me because the team had been succc-.-
full while handled 1t during his sb-
sence. ! couldn't believe for a minute
McGraw had anything to do with the
deal. We had been too friendly.
Next I thought of trouble had had
with gamblers. I don't know yet that
this had anything to do with trading
me to Boston, but want to say some
thing right here about that experience
in my life, even though I feel it had
no part in my base ball career.
did play the horses. That began
H..
club. I guess got to playing 'em Just
as hobby. You see didn't drink or
smoke. I never cared for parties and
probably / craved something as Ci-
version from base ball. Anyway, Cc1
kick out of playing the horses.
A Lesson Learned.
never dreamed Of such thing get
ting me into trouble. I never thought
of the horses when I was on the ball
field. A man I thought was a good
friend Of mine was big operator on
the tracks. My credit with ST. Louis
bcokmakers was good. ! was able to
place his money with them. Then,
later, he brought suit against me, con-
tending that money had been lent to
me. told my story to the jury. The
! jury acquitted me. That's all there
Is to the story.
I was taught lesson--that It is
wise to have nothing to do with race
tracks and gambling--and the way I
feel now, after my experiences, am
not likely to have any more dealings
with them.
AS I said before, the announcement
of my transfer to Boston was such a
surprise that 7 felt disguised with the
game and wanted to quit base ball.
But also, as said before, Mrs. Hornsby
and had been planning on that coun-
try home. and to carry out the plan
felt compelled to stay in the game
and get the money to finance 1t. SO
We bought the country home and I
went to Boston.
Next and concluding chapter-Eag2r
to play with Chicago.)
Copyright, 1929. by the North American
Newspaper Ailiance.)