The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-04-27

the hox. regard. e 90
less of how Frank Buck" O'Neil.
popular or deserving that pitcher
might be, presages the temper OF
Boston baseball fans when things
go badly, Joe Cronin will need
more courage and fortitude than
any human since Job has pos,
sessed to live through the five.
years of his contract with Tom
YaWkey. ~
There will be times in the years
to come-even in the days to
come when Cronin will feel like
destroying his contract, tossing
his uniform and it's responsible.
ties into the Charles and going
far hence.
1t will be necessary for Cronin.
a cagy, crafty young man, to-.
make a deep study of mob,
psychology. He will have to learn
in a bitter school, that the mob
is not hooting Joe Cronin as
fiercely as it boots a quarter OF
million dollar ball player, hero
of the greatest deal in all the his
tory of baseball, Cronin will find
that his responsibilities accrue In
direct ratio to the price paid for
him. T.,
Crowd Expects Everything -
No common praise nor ordinary
censure will be his. The crowds
expecting everything will concede
nothing. That is the way OF
crowds.
He must do the things that
would be impossible Tor any other
shortstop. When and if he &C
complishes miracles, it will be no
more than he should accomplish.
Isn't that what Tom Yawkey paid
for when he bought Cronin? And
if Cronin reverts to his form Of
1884 and fields sixth among the
shortstops of the American League
his life will be made unbearable.
We had an example of that
mental deterioration of crowds
yesterday. Cronin had made a
botch of things against the Yam
KEGS on Thursday. He started yes
terday's game by muffing Ossie
Bluege's line drive in the first
inning after Myer had gone out.
Then he bungled force play and
made all hands safe. In the
second inning he kicked Myers
grounder that came right at him.
In the seventh he dropped a
throw. Two of his three errors
aided Washington to score. -.
Not Just Joe CrOnin
Now bear in mind always that
the man who made these errors
was not a mere shortstop. He
was not just Joe Cronin, the
Frisco Kid-he was the man for
whom Boston paid quarter OF
a million dollars. He is the man
who is paid IS grand for man
aging the team. He is the man
who must work miracles.
Having kicked three chances out
of a total of eight, Cronin or
dered Lefty Grove out Of the
game. The reaction of the crowd
was instantaneously hostile.
why take Grove out OF the
game after you lost it?" beloved
one fan.
"Take yourself out" roared an
other.
Then rolled across Fenway Park
such a booing as never before peat
upon the ears of any home player.
It is true that few level headed
fans tried to preserve balance by
starting a round of applause. AS
we'll they might attempt to stem
Niagara with a whiskbroom.
Cronin later hit triple and
scored, but did that appease the
crowd? It most certainly did moth
ing of the sort.
Grove Not in Form
From many angles Cronin was
entirely right in removing Grove
from the game. The lanky south
paw was not in form, fact ap-
parent in the late stages Of the
game. The Griffs hit him hard,
but the crowd knew that Crontn,
the miracle man, who had COM
mitted four errors in two days,
ordered Grove out after Cronin
himself had turned in a botch job.
There is more to this job IN
Boston for Cronin than just win
ming the pennant. He has to do
more than any other man ever
did before in the history OF
/ baseball. =.
Just across the fence is a
worn-out idol, refurbshed and
presented to the public bearing a
! label "As Good as New"
The crowd is willing to take
Ruth and make all allowances
for his record and his former
greatness. Whatever he does will
be all right.
Not so with Cronin. That