The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-06-15

i y OF high school teams battled
It out for the championship Of the
Big town over at Brooklyn Satur-
day.
They met in a typical world series
background what with the mayor Of
New York throwing out the first ball. UNI
pires from the American and National
Leagues calling the plays. Altrock and
Schacht gifted comedians Of the diamond
performing their broad pleasantrles. Gra-
ham MeNsmss br6sdeasting the picture
for the stay at homes. bands biarinR and
ell those other touches that 90 TO make
. spalding-Resch holiday.
You hear from time TO time that young
sters Of today don't 20 in for baseball.
and that the game generally is losing It's
public appeal. I don't believe this is 50.
At any rate. hope IL isn't.
With most Youngsters. baseball is the
first big adventure IN LIES emotions. the
hFst contact with personal problems and
obligations. II is on the ball field that
he first meets despair and 10y. incon-
gruous sisters. and It is on the ball field
that he first senses pride and humilia-
ton. brothers etsrnally at odds
Only the YounRster who has been picked
for the first time 10 play on sandlot.
neighborhood or school team can appre-
ciate the glorious sensation that comes
with the distinction. II is at this throb-
bling point that all Illusions Of the presi-
dency and the White house fade into petty
trivisities.
don't know precisely how Mr.. Rookie
feller felt when he got his first million.
but am pretty sure his sensation was
weak and feeble compared with the thrill
that comes to any vounRster when he
saueszes his feet into his hrst pair Of
spikes There is something about YOUR
nrst pair Of spikes that makes you feel
ike Cobb. Speaker ard a Wagner
rolled into one.
you tie them Up. sigh sit back, and
dav dream It's the ninth inning. You're
with the Giants. The stands in the Polo
Grounds boil with people. The Cubs are
leading McGraw needs this game to win
the world series. There are two men
on Three runs will settle IL. You come
up. Old Mordecai Brown looks at you and
sneers Just another rookie You tight
en- your belt. tug at your cap. and dig
your spikes into the ground.
There is whirl Of motion out there
On the mound. and a white blur comes
speeding toward the plate. You swing
In another instant the stands are roar
Ing with Pagan frenzy The ball has
cleared the fence. 1t is homer. You
have won the game and the series. And
few moments later back in the dressing
room talking TO Rice and Mercer and
Runyon from the newspaper YOU are try
ing to appear unconcerned-'O. Just say
was lucky. The old fellow happened
20 put one in my groove and I cooked
It for him
Don't tell me that youngsters aren't
like that. II they aren't. 1 wouldn't care
to hear about It, They used to be. any,
way.
A ND who but the youngster who
1 ~ has been there can appreciate
the agonizing moments, the dark
tragedies and the mockeries of fate
that a guy has to endure on his
way to established fame at the age
of Is? And still there are people
who will talk about the nerve Of
Lindbergh and the fortitude of
Byrd
Ask any youngster how. he felt when
he stood at the plate and some crooked
arm genius shot q round house curve at
him for the FIRST time. But. stop. don't
ask him. Even II he is now grown to
middle ags. it isn't likely that he can
adequately describe the startling phenom-
enon. and besides there are certain memo
Eies too poignant to be disturbed.
And what sensation Of despair and
total failure is there that can possible
rank with the first nuffed pop fly that
allows the runner from third to score with
the forty-eighth run in the third inning7
In later years. men throw themselves
from high buildings. turn on the gas and
jump of bridges when stirred by grief
much less provocative.
I don't mean to imply that kid life on
the ball field runs largely to bleakness
and Illustration. No. indeed. Even the
most subimated day dream OF future
grandeur loses much OF its glow in an
outneld catch that is completed after
the star Of the Little Tornadoes whirls
around nineteen times, loses his hat. gets
a clinker in his eyes. stumbles over
rock falls SPRAYING and. in some miracu-
lous manner clutches the ball in frenzied
outstretched fingers.
Who would want TO be a Morgan. an
Einstein or Hoover after catch like
that. / ask you?