The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-06-26
/ ALKING
IT Over
by JOE WILLIAMS

NEW YORK. June 26.-Usually
IN a crack on the chin means
trouble. Quite often it is the
mournful preliminary to ten and
out" But in the case of Harvey
Hendrick, late Of the Dodgers and
now Of the Cincy Reds, a slug on
the jaw was the indirect reason for
his getting the chance Of his life.
Hendrick arrived here Thursday with Dan
Howley's Cincinnati troupe. Respondent in
the regalia OF batting leader Of the Ma
tional League. Last season Gink. as he
sometimes is called. was one Of those
droopy $50 hitters who hang on in con-
slant hope Of doing better. always on the
waiver lists.
Now we ind Hendrick hitting around
$40. feared by pitchers. a pain in the neck
TO your Uncle Robbie. the subject Of an
entire leagues wonderment.
The bust on the button which led TO
Gink's chance came early in the spring
training Of the Dodgers. at that salubrious
Clearwater. Hendrick was hit on the chin
one afternoon and developed the best-look-
ing swollen Jaw the Brooklyn club had
boosted since the day when Casey Stengel
and one Of Robbies pitchers had it out
behind locked doors in a Brooklyn hotel.
Now. II there is one thing on which
Robbie insists on with the Dodgers it is
physical symmetry and aesthetic rhythm.
With swollen Jaw, Hendrick obviously
was out of the picture. He nursed that
chin Of his into a semblsnce Of normally.
and still he failed to get the call. The
addition Of Frank O'Doul to the Robinson
menage had helped to shove Gink down
among the rockies ticketed for pastures
new.
MOT so many weeks ago the Gin
IN cinnati club was in danger of
falling out of the standing of the
clubs. Sidney We'll shouted for help,
and Flatbush heard him. TAKE
Hendrick. He may be able to play
first base for you. His jaw is bet
ter" the Brooklyn front office told
Sidney.
So Gink, who had been set back by a
crack on the chin, rose resurgent, re-
splendent into an immediate batting sen
sation with the boys at the bottom. There
is a sermon in this somewhere.
Twelve years ago Hendrick was foot
bail player at Vanderbilt university. He
was extremely fast, very willing, but
awkward Old Man McGugin tried Gink
at every position, and Hendrick looked
just as bad at end as he did in the
backfleld or at tackle. Gink could do
everything, but nothing the first class way.
From Vandy he went to Memphis, and
then he showed up at Chattanooga. Great
prospect" said the experts. and yet Gink
kept on drifting!
The Red Sox had him. The Yankees
nursed him along until Miller Higgins
quit on the Dixie boy. The Indians
worked with him. 1t was the same old
story. Nobody could find out just what
position Hendrick could play best.
1t was Atlanta next and a great batting
averaGe-then Brooklyn and new chance.
But the wandering Gink began to wander
all over again. He played at first. in the
outdeld. at third. He even showed up at
second base. That noble experiment was
tried at the Polo Grounds in 1929.
In 1880 Hendrick developed rheuma-
tism and fell so low in the esteem of the
Flatbush board that it almost forgot to
send him a contract. He was on the
block all winter and was offered every
where along with Flowers.
Eowley says that Hendrick is set-that
Gink is Lady Luck's recompense for the
loss of Harry Heilmann, who may not
play again.
Hendrick says the crack on the Jaw
woke him up. Robbie says-Well. we will
let that pass.