Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-08-30
EMMWCY
ERNEST STEPHENS,
BY
JEROME H. (DIZZY) DEAN

In an exhibition game during the
spring training period I beat Gin
cinnati 5-4 when / relieved another
pitcher in the fifth inning. The big
leaguers looked easy. Then I beat
the Phillies just a. easy. After these
wins / was sure az sticking.
We worked our way up north mad
played the Browns iii the city series.
/ pitch Of these games and get
beat. The change from the balmy
FLORIDA climate I'd the severe 81.
Louis weather affected my control.
Besides, Adams made a couple Of
errors.
Misses Opening Day Shot
Then came the opening Or the
season. j figured 7 should get the
opening day shot but Street called
on Flint Rhem. Rhem won hands
down. After that. every day 7 had
hopes OF getting there, but didn't.
The Card pitchers were noticing
in the papers as how the Houston
pitching staff was webbing. They
were all kidding back and forth
about who would 60 down there, but
no one mentioned me.
One day, Gabby. who seldom spoke
to me at that time, said for me to-
report 10 the office. / figured ID was
just another fine or a lecture or SER
mon or something which I was used
70 by that time. / got there and Nj.
Hickey was there. He hands me a
telegram. III reads:
Mr.. Fred Ankenman. Houston
Baseball Club. paid Dizzy Dean
will join your club Immediately.
IL took me a couple az minutes 10
get this. I was sure stunned. An
other setback, and I knew ID was
all unfair because I knew I was a
great pitcher.
THAT means I 20 back to Hous-
ton?' I asked.
Yep" said Mr.. Hickey.
That was all there was said.
Dizzy Chooses the Hard Way
I walk out OF the office. I'm mad.
but when j get mad its different
from other guys. I know I'm good.
I know, too, that all the setbacks
they give me will not keep me out
Of the big league. It's just a ques-
ton OF time and I'm Just ending up
my 18th year. I started 10 think.
There were Just two things tO do.
Either ! 20 down there and pitch
ball or quit baseball and leave the
Cards fiat. Then ID dawned on me
If 7 quit I'm beating myself out Of
a lot or dough. which doesn't amount
TO much. / am also cheating myself
out OF the chance to do what / know
/ can G0-become q great big lea
que pitcher.
went down 10 the telegraph office
and wrote out a telegram which
reads:
Fred Ankenman, President Of the
Houston Bluffs. I'm leaving here to-
day. will arrive Sunday morning.
Pitch me Sunday afternoon and it's
a cinch iii win. Dizzy Dean"
That went over biz with the Hous-
ton sports scTibes. They plaster ii ali
over the papers and when I step oil
the train ! see headlines about Dizzy
Dean promising & vic. 0ry and I'll
that. This made me forget st. Louis.
anyway, the Texas League Is Just
as fast as the big league.
Pitches Shutout in Opener.
That Sunday ! went into the box.
Wichita Falls. a ha-d-hitting bunch,
were u opponents. They tried 10
razz me about getting sent back 20
the minors. I walked over 10 the
bench and declared myself ~ 'en1
"Lissen. you BIRDS Just for that
you get only three hits. I'm gonna
shut you out and fan u or YOU"
IL was Just a breeze from then
on. MY next two games were shut
outs. Then I win one more hands
down. We breeze into Dallas and I'm
set to pitch the Sunday game. It's
just a breeze until the 9th.
You've probably read about me