The daily independent., 1937-04-20
lphia Teams Triumph In Opening Games
|T&T IL IN - ~ =
g!HsZET& I 6 - s.
a. Il RE (
BY JACK CUDDY

OF the ancient IOOhie.
AS the baseball season opens
there is one player who has horse
hide pellets coursing through his
veins instead of red and white
corpuscleS. This ancient rookie"
is hoping and praying that he
makes good. And the best baseball
baiiiwick in America, Brooklyn, is
hoping and praying with him him
and saying, Alta boy, Heinie!
You show 'em-old gid"
Heinie ManuSh, who crashed
into the major Leagues IA years
ago in the same outfleid with the
Georgia Peach, Ty Cobb, and
Harry Hei.mann, is starting life
anew this season in the National
League. His fortunes with the
Dodgers will be one Of the most
Fascinating stories in the 1887 sea-
son.
Base ball is a pecu'ar sport-in
which facts and figures play an
all-important part. Yet, behind
| the scoreboard flows human in
tereSt that captivateS almost as
many fans as the black and white
! figures themselves. This is paru-
cular!y true in Brooklyn, where
the spirit is applauded more lust
lily than the records.
Right now Manush is Brooklyn'S S
hero. He was made to order for
Flatbush fanS-FanS who never
weary of cheering on a club or
players who apparently have little
| chance. Not since the days OF
pitcher Dazzy Vance has any
player been given such ovatlonS
as the grim-faCed SiX-tooteE'
/ Manush, when he appeared IN eN-
hibtion games against the Yam
KEGS at EbbetS Field.
Brooklyn has taken ManuSh 10
/ its heart. Because, at the age Oh
! IS and after IA years IN the Amer
lean circuit. Heinie says, I'm JuSt
A rookie and I'm going TO make
good with the Dodgers in the ma
tional league" And his actions
during the training season have
upheld his words.
The veteran who was given MS
unconditional release last year oy
the Boston Red SOX and made a
free AGENT chose the Brooklyn
club for his comeback because
its the best baseball town IN tht
country" After his release by
Boston. Helnic had offers from
two American hague clubs tl
| continue on the big time.
But turned them down aAc
asked Manager BWl@lgh Crime
/ If the Dodgers If he could use me
Ec said he coud. 50 l joined th'
DODGERS gladly. 7 was going me
. NV league Just like 4 rookie
All of the past meant n0lhng-aI
Of the seasons 7 put N with TN
~,rs. Browns. Senators ant
Red Sox. was fighting for jc'
again. And I knew had 70 COM
through.
The ancient rookie" made goo'
in training. at least. Hcin.e. VIM
had a grand batting average o
33l for "A seaeOnS in the Amer
can circuit. battcd around 80
for the Dodgers during the tram
ing exhibition games. This coup
led with his ability as a fly haW.
clinchcd a post in right field owe
two younger men.
Hcinic's comeback is a Strang
psvcbolcglcal dnmon5traticn. l
is uotivated Largely by the de
sire for rcngaancc-and the Low
of the game. Il want to Sho'
those Red SoX that they made
big mistake in turing no loose.
- ?r-ir;. "J"at because I hat
a hard luck year. Just because
hurt my back. had charlie Aor"
and broke my index finger. The
figured at Boston that l was a
washed Up and so I wasn't glVei
2 chance to play in the last wv
months Of the season. Hell! Tha
was silly. That was simply KICK
ing away all the knowledge l ha
gained in "A ycars-because OF
couple Of injuries.
They didn't ask about tn
condition of my body. They dldn
ask if I was young at 35. No
thew lust said, goodbye Wei
I'm a kid. Gold and exercise
during the winter have made m
legs young again. I'm as las
afoot now as l ever was. And II
| the legs that determine man
| age in baseball. Watch and see,
| I asked Grimes about ManuSI
| "surly' Burleigh, as some Of tn
| writing fellers call him, was a
| smiles when I mentioned HEINZ
| whom he had picked up for
| song "Manush!" Burleigh chuck
| led "Say-he's coming throue
| swell One of the best outtielc
| ers l ever saw. And can he SWIM
| that bat? I'm not worrying aool
| right field this season
| So-while the rest Of the bast
| hall world is going into ccstasi'
about the opening OF the seaSc
| and short standings and tigurt