The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-05-07
Still In LOve!

vi COURSE ! Wd1ltcU 10 PIOPOOC
again, I wanted to make her un-
derstand just how I felt, but my
better Judgment told me that it
would be safer to wait.
However, we had q red hot season;
part of the time the Queen Valley
outfit was far in the lead, and then
we'd come out Of our slump and
get the lead. The Avaldas were
playing better ball. This was un-
d0ubtedly due to the fact that
FoSdick wasn't butting in on the
manager, as he used to do when he
owned the team.
In one Of our hot games with the
Avaldas, Red Flanagan got a run
from me every time I pitched to
him. The result was that I asked
John Merrill to give him an in
crease in salary. The manager pro-
tested that it wasn't advisable, but
1t went through.
A few weeks later, when next I
met Red he grinned at me.
Between us, I did get q raise"
he whispered, "just because I got
wise to your curves"
That's fine, Red" I told him,
my hard luck and your gain"
He laughed as II he didn't believe
! was sincere.
But this day he didn't have such
luck. I was tossing the last five in
ningS and Red went down twice be-
fore the end Of the game. one-two-
three each time.
That made him sore again. He
accused me of being jealous and
trying to queer him.
Hey. are you coo-coo in the
cocO?" he demanded when / began
to laugh at this. whats the idea
OF givin' me the laugh? I don't see
anything funny in It."
was laughing as he walked away,
muttering to himself about me.
1t was q red-hot baseball season
that year. All the teams made good
financially, even the weaker ones.
Sam Merrill was like q kid over the
situation, and my own Avalda team
was much more than paying ex-
penseS. I didn't expect to get my
money back. but some day I might
e y 1t. or perhaps join It as q player
and manage 1t. I wasn't decided.
There were many things that I
couldn't decide that season, all on
account Of Mavis Merrill. II only I
mad g chance to win her nothing else
would have mattered. BY refusing
70 give up hope I kept my mind
right on the game and realized that
I was far better this fourth season
than ever before. / also realized
Harry had been at the outset when
he assured me that I didn't have
enough ability to warrant nv even
hoping to make the big league.
To cover the longest distance by
Keeping travelling" was q Wtsecrack
made to mt. 10 improve was to
Keep practicing. Ihad developed a
great deal physically and had the
sary in driving down q speed ball,
Then I had another idea. I GOT
hold Of the same cameraman I had
hired in Hollywood and had him set
up at a vantage point. He was sup
posed to be. taking the whole game.
And he did have two cameras, and
made some good shots with the gem
eral camera, but through all of the
seven innings that I pitched in this
particular game this calnerman took
slow motion pictures Of me. This
was far better than just hurting at
q dummy.
In, my room with my little projec-
tor ! studied All OF these pictures. I
not only could see what happened
TO the ball when I put my various
STUFF on 1t for curves, but I could
see just how the batsmen managed
TO connect now and then, and how
they were fooled. When they con.
nected 1t was, for the most part, be-
cause the curves I intended to break
out didn't behave as ] meant and
were easier to swat.
I suppose ! was secret about q lot
Of 1t, especially about my slow
motion picture studies and q lot Of
solo practice, but I felt that it wa
my Job to perfect myself but not
my job 70 let others know what I
was trying to do and how I WAS
enabling myself to do It. I had q
huTch that when next I was with
my brother ! could break out a few
freak curves that would surprise
MIN and that some Of my speed
balls might win. q few words Of
praise. Some time Harry might
pelp me to get 9 try-out for the
Dig league. but I knew that he
do that.
BY the last Of the season there
was no doubt that the contest
was between the San Guardos anal
the Avaldas. The other teams
couldn't catch up.
by Jove." John Merrill said to
me, I'm getting to be such q fan
ta:s I neglect my iruit-growing: !