The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-03-02

the quaint ItUle JnlngS. Mr.. HdfJ-
nett is an authority on seals. He
once caught one thrown from the
top of Washington Monument. or
am I confusing him with Top Row
and Time Supply?
The Cubs train here mainly be-
cause Philip K Wrigley, the chew
ing gum tycoon, owns the island
as we'll as the club. He inherited
1t from his late father whose body
lies in a vault not far from the
baseball camp. Some of the ir-
reverent veterans try to brighten
rockies by warning them against
the rowing wrath of the elder
Wrigley.
The island is no place for a guy
who frightens easily. There are
thousands of wild goats here. This
does not include the left-handed
pitchers. Only strangers will step
OH anything hairy resembling a
rug More often than not it proves
to be buffalo, or at the very least
Man Mountain Dean.
Grey'S Former Home
The Wrigleys have a winter home
here. Zane Grey, the author fisher
man, used to live here until the
afishj rose in massed rebellion. Grey
took so many fish out of the waters
around here there wasn't anything
left but orange peels, lunch boxes
and old newspapers. A fish gets
used to these things but he must
have company. too.
Mr.. Grey doesn't live here any
more. He used to be 6. professional
ball player himself. This was back
in what Herbert Hoover likes to
call the good old days. They say
r. Mr.. Grey got a squint at one of
the Cubs playing golf in linen
shorts on the island course and that
was too much for him
Other name" people are identi-
fled with the island. 1 was shown a
Spanish looking house said to be-
long to Tom Mix. This seemed very
doubtful. Mix couldn't get his hat
on this island. 1t is only seven
miles wide at its most expansive
point. At any rate it is interesting
and highly different as a baseball
camp.
Light Literature
Mr.. Charles Grimm, the old Sas
meter reader from Missouri, man
ages the Cubs and thinks they will
repeat. Incidentally, he is getting
up a list of light literature for me
to read. The old gas meter reader
is an authority on light literature
ne once caught a library full of
light literature thrown from the
top of Washington monument
What's that? 1t may have been
Blackjack Pershing at that.
Anyway, Mr.. Grimm believes his
Cubs can do it again, and he tells
you the st. Louis Cards and not
til New York Giants are the team
tn must beat These three
clu figure to make the race, just
as sy did last year It's not going
to b a cake walk for any team. The
leagre strength will be more even
J. distributed. The Brooklyns will
be harder to beat and so will the
Cincinnatis The Pittsburgh are
strong enough to go places if they
get the pitching, but that's big
"if."
l reminded Mr. Grimm the 'ifs"
are always big 10 the spring and
especially this spring with initiation
getting closer.
A year ago whenever Mr.. Grimm
brushed off his coat collar Ifs"
wculdI fall all over the floor and roll
off into the corners and under the
bed simpering like silly little fools
and it must have been very embar-
raising to a grown man.
Uncertain Last Spring
AT that time Mr.. Grimm had no
firm notion as to where his Cubs
were going to wind up and he
thought they'd do we'll to finish
third. What with the uncertainties
he had to contend with in the in
field and in the outfield, to say
nothing of the disturbing situation
in the Far East.
But this spring Mr.. Grimm thinks
he can look into the future with
greater clarity and confidence. He
spent more than half of last sea-
son trying to shuttle himself a
winning combination. When he
finally hit upon it. the combination
went on to win % straight games
q record Of any Cub team of all
pme-and the Championship.
The old gas meter reader still
has the combination intact with the
exception OF Freddie Lindstrorl. who
has moved on to the Brooklyns. and
since Lindstrom was purposely cut
adTift the feeling must be that he
VIII not be missed very much. if