The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-01-02
by Harry
PLAYER AND PRESIDENT, NOR
RTS OF THE MINORS is BASE
BALL IRON MAN.


PLAYER AND PRESIDENT, NOR
RTs OF THE MINORS is BASE
BALL IRON MAN.
Henry Louis Gehrig has played In
1903 consecutive games, but John
Walter Morris LIS the real iron man
of baseball.
Morris has served In every pos
sible capacity since he hoped d.
rect from the University Of Texas
campus TO shOrtstop the old Cor
sicana club TO Texas League pen
nant in 1902. He has been a btisi-
ness manager, an owner, q promo
itonal director, and league presi-
dent. He heads three eight-club
circuits now, the East Texas, Cot
ton States. and Evangeline. He is
one OF the big men in the minors.
Morris experiences have been in
teresting and varied, but he likes
best TO talk OF that old Corsicana
outfit.
They actually were iron men,"
asserts Morris, stout and bespec-
tacled now and a cigar smoker from
way back. ELEVEN men reported
In the gpring and IL finished the
season. We had only three pitch
ers, and none ever was taken out.
We never sent a pinch -hitter TO the
plate"
Justin tNig) Clarke, the old
Cleveland catcher, was the only
member Of that Corsicana array
who went any great distance as a
performer The st. Louis Cardinals
shipped Morris to Birmingham. ir
1900, and that fall he was SEN
fenced to the minors for life when
he bought an interest In the Fort
Worth Texas League franchise.
Put Minor Loops on Feet
But, as Morris point out, the old
Corsicana aggregation was one OF
the best-balanced aggregations In
the history Of the minors.
I'VE set world record that still
stands by winning ~ consecutive
games" he beams. I'VE had won
ID straight on July 4, and were 80
far in front that they split the sea-
son on LIB. Corsicana was in the
heart OF the first Texas oil field.
Them wuz the happy days.
Morris was one OF the men called
upon to save the minors at the hig-
toric meeting in Columbus at the
height OF the Depression In 1881.
Minor league clubs were blowing I'D
like firecrackers. The little loops
had dropped from so In number TO
an even dozen.
Morris drove an automobile 1OO.-
600 miles in two years In recon-
structing the very structure OF the
sport. Among other wheels organ
lied by him, In addition TO the
three OF which he now Is president,
are tho Arkansas- : issotiri. the
Northeast Arkansas, and the Geor-
gia-F1orida. Each expanded after
being formed on six-club basis.
Building Baseball Leagues
Morris struck something besides
black gold In the East Texas fields
when he lined UP 0ladewater. Long
view, Henderson, Palestine, Marsh
all: Kilgore, Tyler, and Jackson
vile.
His Cotton States loop is com
posed OF Eldorado, IPinc Bluff, and
Helena In Arkansas, and Clarks-
dale. Cleveland. GreenvllIe, Green
wood. and jackson In Mississippi.
out OF the Evangeline parish of
southern Louisiana, he carved the
Evangelinc. with Abbeyvilie, jean
ercttc. Opelousa, New Iberia. Alex
andria. Lake Charles, Rayne, and
LAFAYETTE as It's ports OF call.
While the majors. especially the
Cardinals through Branch Hickey.
have helped, don't think they rur,
any OF the clubs In my leagues"
says Morris, with q show Of. pardon
able pride.
"Abbcvillc and Opelousas are In
dependent clubs. with the mayoru
OF the towns Oh presidents, Fine
bunch OF men at both places. New
Iberia u where the tabasco sauce
comes from. Lon Warneke came
from Alexandria when IL was In the
old Cotton States. You should see
the grand collection Of youngsters
the Detroit club b sending I'D from
Alexandria next spring, and"
John Walter Morris has lot OF
fun running his minor leagues, and
doesn't mind telling you about
them.
Organized baseball always win
thrive with men OF his CALDER and