The Washington times., 1935-02-07

X
against tn q
- - SsSs"s,, New York Yam
uO KEGS at st. Pc
eersburg Fla, last March. Base
ball men sadly shook their heads
and agreed that Maranville was
Through. The fracture failed to
Rnit properly, and 1t was neces'
cary to rebreak the bone.
Every one except Maranville
aid:
''This is the end"
Charley Gelbert, ghortStop of
ae Cardinals, shot himself in the
aalf Of the leg three years ago
while hunting. The load tore
away the muscles of the limb and
the youth was forced out Of &C
tion. Surgeons and laymen alike
agreed that Colbert had flashed
ON the diamond for the last time.
Casts Dissenting Vote
Colbert cast the dissenting vote.
He Is certain he will be all right.
So these veterans, refusing to
accept defeat from time and
circumstances, will attempt to win
their way back into the lineup
Of their clubs. # they do. they
will have accomplished miracles
In physical achievement.
:. Maranville not only will be
handicapped by an injury that
might well check the career Of q
younger man, but he viii be fight
ing the most merciless opponent
of all athletes, Time. The Rabbit
came into the National League %
years ago. Save for a brief re-
turn to the minors at Rochester,
he has served continuously IS
player and manager. He was al.
ways ,colorful star.
Bill McKechnie places little de-
pendence on the Rabbit this year.
He will have half q dozen youngs-
ters in training camp. McKech-
ME has had several budding sec.
OndsackerS In camp for the past
several years. but when the open.
ing game Of the season started,
Maranville pigeontoed his way to
the plate and made his basket
catches of flies in the short
reaches of the outfield.
They tell o story of Maranville
that maybe you've heard and
maybe you haven't. Even II you
have heard 1t you can't stop me.
The Rabbits dad was q police
officer in Springfield, Mass, and
was assigned to duty at the rail.
road station. Howard Drew, the
Negro Sprinter and Olympic cham.
pion, was carrying baggage, work
ing his way through school. Mar.
anville pere had mapped out O
career as O plumber for his son,
but the Rabbit always has con.
tended that he got tired Of wait
Ing for helpers to bring along tools
tney had forgotten on the first
Trip.
'"TO think Of 1t, Howard"
SsaOaned the elder Maranville,
"'Walter is going to be o ball
player. No good will come Of it,
lad Mark my words"
But in October Of 1914 after the
Braves slaughtered the Athletics,
Maranville pere sought out How.
ord Drew and said:
'cDidnt always tell you WAL
Der would be starr"
: Terrific as the handicaps of
Maranville are, they do not sur.
pass those under which Colbert
will labor. Heralded as one of
the great stars Of the game as
he whirled about the infield Of
the Cardinals, Colbert was cut
down in his prime. He lay for
months on a hospital cot before
he could hobble slowly and pain
fully for short distances. He never
gave up, and In his reading he
Included accounts of mon wound
ed in the war who came back and
took their places In the sports
field.
Surgeons Were Wrong
He will tell you today II you ask
him, how Red" Dutton, star de-
tense man of the New York Amer.
leans in the National Hockey
League, had his thigh torn by
&hrapnel. The surgeons Of the
Princess Pats said Red would
never skate again, but he did.
Gelbert'S task is the more ter
Sific when you look at the caliber
Of opposition he will have for O
place in the St. Louis infield. Leo
Durocher, current shortstop, is
one Of the stars of the diamond.
A man thoroughly sound in limb
might ouSt him from his place.
At third base, there's John Pep
per Martin, not the greatest of
AN time, but q good third base
men.
At second there's Frankie
Frisch, still p great ball player.
Cliff Whitehead, utility infielder,