The Washington times., 1935-03-26

nina WanQerS
GinO simi way down in
Dixieland, where the crack Of
hickory colliding with leather re-
sounds as hopeful rockies strive
to make major league grades.
1t was in the spring of 1925 that
the Arcadia's live-wire manager
was a rookie, cavorting over the
Giants training site at Sarasota
and doing nicely, thank you.
The year before he had main
tanned a Ala batting average to
lead the Ontario League, playing
with Quebec, and in the Sarasota
training camp he was cracking out
base hits in major league style.
It appeared likely that Washing
ton, home of much too few major
leaguers, was about to add an
other to its list.
Bats Out Four Hits
In an exhibition game against
Reading, Monk" poled out a
home run, two triples and single.
The Reading manager, i'm
pressed by his great bat work, OBJ
tanned him from McGraw. He
proceeded to bat at a 1885 pace.
One July day a telegram came
from McGraw and Monks"
heart leaped up, for he thought
it was ordering him to report to
the Giants.
Feverishly he tore it open
his face fell as he read instruc-
tions to join the Hartford Club,
the Giants farm in the Eastern
League, which was then in the
midst of a bid for the pennant.
He finished the season with
Hartford, turning in .341 batting
average, second only to Eddie
Ayers, of Boston.
In 1926 he was shipped to At
1anta in the Southern League
and was again batting great guns,
attracting major league scouts,
when blooey! his major league
hopes were shattered forever
when Guy Morton, later Cleve-
land pitcher, broke his arm. Up
to that time he had batted for
.389. He was supposed to report
to Atlanta in 1927, but lucrative
offer from John S. Blick to man
age the new Arcadia Alleys made
him forget baseball.
Scans Camp News
Now as he scans the papers for
training camp news between as
signing alleys, collecting score
sheets, advising his assistants,
"Monk" dreams of the days when
he was a major league prospect,
and a mighty good one, too.
Looking back Monk" con-
SiderS his feat of banging out
10 safe hits in 81 tries with Que
bee in 1928, as the highlight Of
his career.
BALL players were better
fighters 10 years ago." 'MOnk"
claims. "They played for keeps.
They risked injury to win.
Today it's mostly business"
Even sandlotters played harder
ball. Fraser recalls when he
played with the Rex A. c., one
of the city's leading mines around
the war period.
players would allow them
selves to get hit, just to get on
base, in hopes of scoring the
winning run. Not so now
adays."
Another change monk" has
noted is that the players are get
ting into the major league at
much Younger ages than in his
days. Now it is no novelty to see
18-year-old kids making the grade.
Ten years ago if a player made
a major league club before % or
"a he was considered marvel.
Many Nicknames
Fraser has had more nicknames
plastered on him than you can
shake a stick at, but his present
nickname, hung on him nearly
20 years ago by Mooney Lynn. an
old Schoolmate Of his, seems to
be permanent.
When Monk" was playing with
John R. Evans Agricultures which
won the District title in 1915,
Pop" dubbed him "Zeb." His
Reading teammates called him
"Chick" and with quebec he was
known as Buck"
He only bowls occasionally, but
has the satisfaction of having
rolled in the District League,
though for only a few games. in
which he averaged 109 several
years ago.
He sees an all New York series
with the Yankees winning out in
the American League and the
Giants in the National League
with you taking your choice on