The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-09-29

Lonnie is the strapping young person who will pitch to-day for Chicago. The wiseacres around the Hotel Commodore said he may go so far as to win a ball game for the Cubs.
 But that is all neither here nor there. Lonnie, wilo is 22, has a reputation among the sports writ CTS for being difficult person to interview. And this correspondent chased him from a barber shop to "pitcher show and from the top of the Chrysler building to one man medicine show on Lexington avenue without so much as getting his middle name.
 Secs Pitcher Show
 'Listen," said Lonnie, when reached by telephone in his room at the Commodore. "I am a-going out now to pitcher show and so goodbye and don't bother me-"
 He stopped, however, at a barber shop in the hotel where his trail was picked up an hour later. Pete Strozzi, the man who shaved him, said he didn't care if he was quot ed.
 "The girl here," said Pete, "came up and ask him does he want a manicure. He said he didn't know a manicure from a rOastin' ear and when I told him it meant his fingernails cut off, he like to fell out of the chair and says he always did think New York would turn out to be one hell of place."
 A spell later the reporter bump ed into Al Schacht in the lobby.
 q saw him kitin' out about 20 minutes ago." Al said. "He said he was goin' to see @ picture and take in the Chrysler building. You don't need to waste time on that guy. He won't pay you any mind."
 In the press room the sports writers elaborated on the picture. And Pete the goat, one of Broad- ways notables, actually waxed rhetorical.
 "I have sawr in my life," said Pete, "I have sawr fellows that could chew tobacco. But they is not one of these individuals that can hold a chunk the size of this fel- low in his mouth. actually believe he takes cut plug for breakfast, cut plug for dinner and polishes off with cut plug for supper. l have never sawr him eat victuals.
 Being up on sportin' events, can give you all you want to know in regards to his life history. Lon- nie is from the Ozarks country from a town by the name of Mount Ider. He ran away from home when kid, or child, and went to Texas. This is the first year of the first string pitchin' class and he is the best in the Mats.
 And the only time he was ever interviewed, young man, was when a Chicago editor went up to him and asked him, just like this. asked him he says: where did you learn to pitch at?' and Lonnie he comes back: 'Plowin'. That's where l learned to pitch at And that's all they ever got out of him."
 Love Interest Shows
 Somewhat later another idle scrap of conversation picked up in the hotel led to doubts that War neke will be able to even up the series to-day. It seems that he will be opposed by one Vernon Gomez, thus bringing the love interest into the series.
 Vernon, described by the sports writers as the "Goofy Castilian." is engaged to marry Miss June Day, of the musical comedies, and Miss June Day always sits in a box and watches him perform with the pomegranite. This serves to inspire Vernon who, by reputation, is one of these young men who throw baseballs so fast that the naked eye cannot see them.
 Pete the gaot, however. seems to think that the "fadaway" which Lonnie throws, will put the Yan- kees in their place. The fadaway is a ball that comes down toward the batter and then changes its direc- ton, fooling him. Or something like that.
 At any rate. Lonnie was reported to have said, in an unguarded mos ment. while talking casually with an elevator starter, this morning:
 "I wouldn't be surprised do l beat these New Yorks to-day. That fingernail cuttin' business makes mo mad. And when git mad l am likely as not to pitch 6 win"