Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-04
JOINING GIANTS WHEN 10
HE NOW is A STAR AT q
Nothing in Annals of Game Compares With Case
of Louisiana Youth Who in Five Years Became
an Outield Wizard and a Real SIugger.

| the outfeld. He played in IS games In
! 1926 and batted 1888 He played in 81
games in 1927 and batted 1882. He won
| his place as q regular right fielder OF
the Giants in 1928, when he was just
| 10 and batted 1922. He batted 1928 In
| 1929 and came within one homer of tie
| ing Klein for the National Leagues
home-run championship. During the
season just passed he batted .349 in 148
games and made "a doubles and 70
home runs, and his fielding has been
! the best that the Polo Grounds has seen
, in right field since Ross Young was In
his prime.
Ross Young His Model.
During his first season on the Giant
bench OFT watched Ross Young like a
| hawk all Summer and undertook to
copy his style. And they will tell you,
those dyed-in-the-wool Polo Grounds
fans who have sat in the right-held
! stand for years, that OFT now fields
right up to Ross Youngs high standard.
He grabs caroms of the wall with pre-
cision, and by the time the season was
| half done few base runners dared to
take liberties with his deadly arm.
OFT does not pretend to account for
his having developed into great ball
player so young. II was large for my
| age" he says. when I was only III
years old 1 played ball nearly every day
in the year. also played basket ball
and foot ball. became very fast and
strong. Then, when I was only IL
years old used to go around good
deal with my father and uncle. They
took me with them to ball games in
New orleans and almost everywhere
they went. Being with older men so
much must have made me old for my
years. remember that spent most
of my time with them rather than with
boys Of my own age.
IT guess base ball must run in our
family. My father was a semi-pro
player in his younger days and once
had an offer from a league ball club.
My uncle also was a noted pitcher and
once pitched 10 game against Cleve-
land for a semi-pro ball club.
Melvin's Hardest Job.
1.-THE hardest job 1 ever had in base
ball, harder even than making good for
McGraw, was in getting my mothers
permission to leave home and go away
of to New York. 1t was all right with
dad. He was an old ball player and
was proud of my chance to go with the
Giants. But with mother it was differ
ent. Dad and had tough time get
ting her consent to that New York trip.
And then, besides, she did not want me
to play base ball for o living. She is
not only reconciled to 1t now, but she
is glad that I am in the game. And I
am glad, too. I had thought to go
through college, but believe that win
ming berth on big league ball club
Is about as helpful to a boy in the de-
velopment of his character, his wits and
his resources as any course in college.
I still like the game as much as I ever
did when I was kid back home, and
trust I always will"
OFT has personality that would be
credit to any college in the country.
His voice when he talks to you Is low
and deep, but his enunciation is very
clear. He has poiSe, all right, and
charm that is most natural and unas-
Stunning. He is barely 81, but he carries
himself like a man of 80. Base ball
can very well be proud of this product
from Louisiana. It is to be doubted If
finer boy ever came out Of the Louisi-
ana Purchase since Napoleon sold that
territory to Thomas Jefferson for $15,-
600. 900, more than a century ago. And
1t also is to be doubted If McGraw
would sell this wonderful fielder and
batsman for any amount of money any
ball club might offer.