The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-03-10
/ ALKING
IT OVER
BY JOE WILLIAMS
ST. PETERSBURG. Fla,

ST. PETERSBURG. Fla,
March 10.
Ut takes a visit 10 one of the thin
L bic sized ball parks IN the south.
where the ivory capped stars of the
major leagues 20 through their
spring sweating TO bring out a
phase Of the sport that no longer
exists in the more populous centers.
Down here under the palms where
the customers view the games from
he coaching lines there Is an in
timacy in relations between the de-
mon athlete and the baseball bug,
which passed from the game in the
larger cities With the coming Of the
commercial age and the huge ampi-
taeaters.
This NAV IN part b the answer 10 What
some critics point 10 as steadily wan
inK interest In the game. The baseball hug
Il n communicable sort; be Bkes 10 feel
that be is a part Of the PLAY and be
doesn't ret this feeling when be sits In
ths biK stands many furlonks removed
from the battle Geld.
This strange behsviorisrn is brought out
rather strongly IN that part Of the ran
zee Stadium called Ruthville. There are
h...bafI hugs vho Eop't sit IN any other
nsrt Of The stadium. out there in the
short riebt field they are close enough
N their Idol 20 reach out and pat hts big
bra1rv shoulders 1henever Ne slams one
into the nsiEhborluR jurisprudences. IN
some va- or other they seem convinced
4ha, the reat man IS IN there hitting those
long s7ats FOR their special BENEFIT.
n
TINE other afternoon l sat in one
i of those semi-rural grand
stands which are built after the
specifications OF telephone oootn
and watched the world champion
athletics play their first game Of the
year. 1t was rather delightful e%-
nerience sitting there with the coat
less bugs observing their reactions
and listening TO their mites, as
they watched the game and ex-
changed pleasantries with the attn
letes.
r
You got the impression that
this was baseball as 1t ought to
he. a throwback to the old ro-
mantle days of the AnsonS, the
Keefes and the Kelleys, when civic
greatness was measured In direct
proportion TO the fame of the
home town nine.
III. Athletics we're beating the st. Louis
Cardinals. Bob Grove, the great speed ball
artist started the game for the champions
He pltehed three innings and famed seven
~ the Missourians. II vas interesting to
,ots that Grove seemed just as fast at
this earIv stage Of the season and vas
thyouinK with the same tremendous power
that marks his work In midseason. Ap-
nar.ntIy he Is one Of those pitchers who
have to move along at top speed all the
tIue. This Is the reason critics say ne
uilI not last as long some other great
pitchers Of the past.
-
Old man Jack Quinn. walking with funny
mineing steps and chewing gum With
rapid iay movement pitched the last three
innings for the champions. The mega
phone man announced that Quinn was 40
vears-ofd and the oldest pitcher 10 the
bic leagues. Quinn. truly one OF the
marvels OF the game. semes not to change
at all as the gray spreads through DIS
hair and the Years mount. The CARDINALS
could do nothing with him in three in
nines. He pitched With the same effort
less ease and minimum movement as has
been his custom for more than twenty
years and 1t was easy 20 accept the verdict
of Captain Eddie Collins that "Grsndpop
looked as good as ever"
Thts Cardinals did not look particularly
impressive In their first game and the
critics accompanying the squad do not De-
Iieve that GsbbY street. The new manager,
will make any great strides In rebuilding
abe club that won recent championships
under Rogers Bornsby and Bill McKechuie.
n
Street is 1er liked BY the PLAYERS but
the strange condition which exists on The
Cardinals IN regard to the field manager
is inevitably weakening TO the morale OF
the club. Even the bat bov knows that
the manager is mere puppet and that
the real decisions are made in the ohlce
nv Branch Hickey. Street is a veteran Of
many campaigns on the baseball field and
the veterans Of the game would like to
see him get break. but the general feel
ING seems that ne viii be lucky to last
through the season. A manager who can
do even that we'll with the Cardinals may
be said 70 have accomplished rare per
Torrance.
r FIND that none of the baseball
4 men l talk With begrudges Ruth
his new contract of 100000 for two
years. IF anybody is worth that
kind Of money it is Ruth" admits
McGillicuddy. The players slant is
slightly different. and l am afraid
tinged a bit with self consideration.
He is glad to see Ruth get a record
breaking salary because he feels this
will operate to boost the pay rolls
all along the line. 1t was Bill Bern
hardt, the old slow ball pitcher. who
made the classic comment that "a
bail player is. worth as much as he
can get" Nothing has developed
apparently in the modern breed to
change this viewpoint.
had = chin fest with Lena Blaekhurne
the ether day. Blaekhurne Is now coach
ing the ST. Louis Browns at their train
ing base Of West Palm Beach. You will
recall that Blsekburne served as a sp2rr-
.ng partner for the Great Shires last sum
rer. At that time Blaekburne vas man
eins the White SoI.
Blackburne holds no rancor
against the Great ShtreS, but he
predicts that the new manager,
DOME Bush. will have trouble
with him.
'shires isn't built to be msnssed."
gfackhurre tells You and Bush will dud