Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31

1t was open all the time. About
four hours day, to receive food; then 1t resem-
bled a coal-hole. About 10 hours night dur
ing sleep as an air-intake valve; then it re-
sembled the partly stopped-up vent of kitchen
sink And the rest of the time to talk; then
it resembled the open-front sounding box OF
secondhand radio.
Fenton came to the Blue Sox from some
semi-pro league down in Texas. ice Pinkerton,
the veteran scout of the Blue Sox, had uncov-
cred this prodigy, or rather the prodigy had
uncovered him. Joe had made side trip 10
some COW town named Rosebud Springs to
look at first baseman. 1t seems Joe had lost
a close decision in bout with Kid Booze the
first night there and missed the game the fol-
lowing day. So he had to stay over another
day to see the first baseman.
No sooner did Joe put foot on the diamond,
when up steamed Fenton, mitted Joe, and
started or well, big boy, now old you IKE
my fast one?"
1t seemed that he'd pitched the day before
and figured Joe must be all in a sweat about
his fast one. When Joe broke down and con-
fessed that he'd missed the treat, Fenton bel
lowed all over the place, and then stepped out
into the box and pitched another game all for
Joe's benefit, allowing two hits.
The kid did have fast one and no clown
ing and Joe signed him up to report the next
spring at the Blue Sox camp at Greenwater
and be looked good. Jimmy Partridge. the
Sox's star catcher, had bunion on his left
palm within two days. And within two days
Fenton firmly established as Fog Horn"
with everybody from the bat boy up.
He invited the hotel clerks and the mattresses
20 come out to the field and his fast one.
He famed Sock Smith, the clubs home-run
clouter, in a practice game, and when the
inning was over slapped the veteran on the
back and asked him how he liked his fast one.
Sock didn't like it at all.
1t was in another practice game that Fog
Horn and Skeets Heating first tangled Skeets
was the midget shortstop, and one of those un-
lucky players who are too good to discard, but
not quite championship caliber. And it was the
world championship that the Blue Sox were
aiming at that .-ason.
1t was shaI>, too, for SkeetS was the best
liked player the whole club.
He was a great little fellow, game as they
come, but he Just wasn't a great player. In
this game Fog Horn had pitched air-tight ball
for seven innings, and all the Panthers had
got off him Sprained backs swinging at
fast ore they couldn't see. Fog-Horn was
bleating all over the place and even went over
to the Panthers dugout to ask them how they
liked his fast one. Partridge dragged him
away just in time to save his life.
In the eighth, with two down, the Panther
first bsseman levered one off the handle, and
1t went curling down TO wide short. SkeetS
Heating went over fast, and the ball ran up
his arm. 1t was one of those twisting rollers,
and took bad hop at that, so the scorers had
to make it hit. Fog Horn began to jabber
and howl. But Skeets just bit his lip and
rubbed his glove and got set for the next one.
That's the way he was.
It was the only hit the Panthers got, and
after that Fog-Horn was worse than ever. BY
the time the Blue Sox left Greenwater every
man, woman child and hound dog In Palmetto
County knew all about Fog-Horn Fenton and
his fast one.
"a S though it wasn't enough for Fog-Horn
to win his first big league start and to
have money in his pocket for the first time
IN his life. he had to meet Mile
Mile westermark was the daughter OF the
club secretary, old Billy Westermark. Billy's
only regret in q life devoted to base ball was
that Mile hadn't been ayboy.s Mules only
regret was that girls couldn't make the grade