The daily independent., 1937-07-19

New York, July l6.-U.P)- Old
John Heydler has become the ma
tiOn's no. baseball fan.
As sunset nears at Times Square
virtually no one is concerned with
artistic possibilities of the ap-
preaching phenomenon because
everyone is concentrating on
swimming his own course through
the boiling currents of home-go-
ing humanity. It's "eyes front and
watch your ribs"
That's how 1 happened to notice
so closely the face of one of the
men almost Shouldered into.
Recognition came to us simultan-
eously, and yelled, "Why-hel-
10, John" and he grabbed my
hand and shouted "Hello!" as we
were swept across the street with
the tide.
We ducked into a cigar store,
the elderly man with the bundle
under his arm and myself, to
avoid the sweep of human beings.
And Heydler said, I've been do
ing a bit of shopping" We stood
there in the cigar store and talk
ed. 1t was the first time I had
seen old John since that farewell
dinner the baseball writer's gave
him at the New Yorker shortly
after he resigned as president of
the National league in November,
1884.
Although nearly three years
have passed into the archives
since then, old John looked a lot
younger today than he did at that
party. He resigned in 1884 be-
cause of i'll health. And he looked
worn and feeble that night. But
today he was brisk and straighter
and some of the lines seemed to
have gone from his face. He said,
Il feel fine now. My health has
improved a hundred per cent"
What was John doing? I'm 60
ing to baseball games" he re-
piled. Il go almost every day. I
guess I've become Americas No.
/ fan. It's a lot of fun going TO
games now, when you don't have
any responsibilities on your mind.
In the old days, 1 used to sit there
and umpire every game myself.
Because of my position, thought
too much to enjoy the play"
John was president Of the Ma
tional league for l6 years, and he
was an umpire for the 20 years
preceding those. He always en-
joyed the game, but his enjoyment
was modified by his responsible
ties. Now, at the age of 68, all he
has to do is to go to the game and
have a good time He can yell,
Take that pitcher out of there"
or that umpire is as blind as q
bait" and nobody can take him to
task.
After all the baseball old John
had crammed down his throat
during his official connection with
the game, you'd naturally figure
that after his resignation as Ma
tional league preXy, he'd take up
some other advertisement as a
hobby. But, not old John. No sir
he's gone in for baseball in a
big way. And having more fun
than a sailor in a Central Park
rowboat on his day off.
Il don't just go to the major
league games" the medium sized
man in the brown hat emphasized
I've been going to games all over
4 the country. This winter 1 went
to Honolulu. And was amazed
at the good game those army and
navy teams play out there. The
two services have the game well
organized in those Hawaiian Isl
ands.
And I stayed around Califor-
MIA quite a while watching the
Pacific Coast league play. They're
certainly developing lot of tai
ent out there. Never saw so many
promising young players as in that
league.
Il drove to and from the coast
in my car. And stopped off where
ever I wanted to. Didn't get back
to New York until June. I talked
baseball to people all along the
route Arizona, Nebraska,-eVery
place. went to games in lot OF
small towns in out t-of-the-Way
places. And if you think those
folks don't know their baseball,
you're mistaken.
Il never knew before that small
town and small city people under
stood baseball so well and knew
so much about the major leagues.
The newspapers always have edu-
Gated them to the big-time game
but 1 think the radio has helped
wonderfully also in the last 10
years. Yes sir, that radio certain
ly helped lot"
Did John notice any changes
or trends in major league play this
season? Yes - the thing that
struck him was the aggressive
ness" in both National and Am
erican circuits. What caused this
aggressiveness? John figured that
maybe the players in both circuits