The Washington times., 1929-10-28

MOSt people 1lgufe Lhe moSC
passing Of the wornout star.
don't think so. Fellows who
go into baseball seriously realize
that It's a short life, and the man
who serves his term and comes to
the end of his string steps out
gracefully and with the feeling that
he has done his job and Is entitled
to a rest. At least that was true
in my case.
Much more tragic to me than the
passing of the old veteran IL the
scene at training camp every spring
when ambitious, hopeful kids come
up full of dreams but without a
chance Of making good.
I've watched them year after
year. They were in that first
training camp in San Antonio
back in 1912. They were still
coming OH in the Yankee train
Ing camp last year.
Twice during by big league career
young feii\ws Of that type came TO
me for advice. | had watched them
working out. l knew that they did
not have a cAance in the world to
make the big league grade. And so
when they asked me for advice
gave 1t to them. And my advice
was simple.
Get out and get yourself u Job, 8"
/ told them. You haven't a chance
in baseball. You're just wasting
your time"
1t was a hard thing to say, but l
still think 1t was good advice. One
OF the boys was very angry. He
thought l was telling him the that
because I was afraid of my own
Job. The other one took the advice
kindly. Two years after he came
around and thanked me.
Il see now" he said. that
didn't have a chance. 1t was the
best advice l ever bad"
The point I'm trying to make is
just this:
Unlesl young fellow has the
ability to make good In the big
leagues he's better off out OF base
ball. Baseball at best is a short
life. The player must make his
money quickly and save 1t. And the
major leagues are the only ones that
pay salaries that are really worth
while.
Don't mtsunderstand me- l don
mean that q young fellow can
come into the big leagues right off
the bat from the sand lots with.
out serving time in the minors
Minor league experience Is valuable
a fof1 lot ha+
Off playing regularly in the minors
than sitting around doing nothing
on a big league bench. II, however
after two or three tries they re
still unable to stick In the ma jors
then they had better get out OF
baseball For it's a waste OF time.
Mike Gazelia, the little Yankee
infieIder. had the right idea.
Mike came out OF college with
the ambition and determination
to he big league ball player.
He came TO the Yankees and
when he was sent to the minors he
was happy, He figured 1t was the
real place to get experience.
Then he came up again but he
wasn't quite able TO win a regular
| berth.
Finally he was about to be sen
to the minors again.
Then Mike did something tha
takes q lot of nerve. He quit the
| game.
'If I can't play big league base
ball I'm better Off out of the game,
| he declared. I'm going to ge1
myself a job and learn a busines.
before it Is too late"
Mikes down on wall Street
now with a brokerage house. He
still loves baseball. and he's
strong for the old game. But he
don't want to waste his time.
1t all comes back to the SAM
old thing. Unless q boy has th'
stuff to make the big league grad'
baseball is a bad business. Anc
the most tragic thing is WATCHING
the young fellows come up full o
ambition and dreams-but lackins
the stuff to make good. They'r'
| just wasting their tins and tn.
quicker they get out the better fol
| them.
|