The Washington times., 1938-02-17

al d II y Z. M
When we 49,
printed sew Bill Corum
eral months ago that Bill Terry
would sign his contract at q
big boost, it wasn't accident but
the result of weeks Of tracking
down a tip.
There are times when a re-
porter works for days and
weeks, or even months ana
years, to uncover and break an
exclusive story. For every one
that is developed by diligence
however, at least a dozen hap
pen by accident.
Here's a perfect example:
The writer had gone to Boston
to see the st. Louis Cardinals
play the Boston Braves in a
series on which depended the
outcome of the National League
pennant race. He was stop
ping at the old Brunswick Ho-
tel, which was baseball head
quarters in the Hub in those
years.
A friend from Army days who
liked to drink and eat, with
more than a slight emphasis
on the former, had stopped BY
the hotel to see him.
WILD STORY
His old buddy had a wild and
woolly story to tell about a ter
rifle baseball deal that was to
send Rogers HornSby from Bos-
ton to the Chicago Cubs.
Hornsby was then manager OF
the then Braves, now Boston
Bees.
It seemed that the writer's
guest had overheard Hornsby
himself, whom he admitted he
didn't know, tell a companion
the whole story in a restaurant
@ few nights previously. Now
you can hear ten thousand such
stories, particularly from gentle
men who have been indulging
well If not wisely, and possibly
one of the ten thousand Will
prove to have in 1t some small
grain Of truth.
The only thing that gave your
correspondent the Slig g h est
pause was that this story, while
tremendous from a sports page
standpoint, was not completely
outside the realm of possibility.
The majority of those tales are.
This one made sense. Even while
listening half-heartedly and un-
believingly, he had to admit that
1t could happen.
It was, in the baseball figures
Of those times, close to q $780,
600 deal, figuring player values.
But it balanced. Both sides
were to get enough to make 1t
ct least plausible.
LUCKY CORNER
So we eased him out into the
evening as quickly as possible
and hurried through a column.
Then, hoping to save time, we
dashed off to the telegraph
office with it, instead Of phon-
ing for a messenger. Lucky VIII,
they call US.
After depoSiting our copy with
the local Jim Hamm, we started
to walk back to the hotel and,
turning a corner fulltilt, whom
should we bump into but Mr..
and Mrs. Rogers Hornsby.
It was Just q kick in the dark,
because we had barged squarely
into the Rajah before we recog-
niZed him. So, hardly more
than by way of making con-
versation after apologizing, we
said: 81 hear you're leaving Bos-
ton, Rog?"
"Yeah?" he replied, who told
you that?"
"A friend" we replied.
"He could be right" said
Hornsby. And with that, we
practically jumped out Of our
skin.
But sometimes you can hustle
q man too much, especially
when he is standing on a windy
corner with his wife late at
night. So we tried to think
fast. And for just that once,
we flatter ourSelf, we succeeded.
SCOOPED THE COUNTRY
"It sounds like a wonderful
break for you, Rog, congratula-
tions," we said. with you in
the lineup the Cubs will have q
great chance to win the flag
next year. You were lost up
here in Boston with q tail-ender,
even though you were a mana
ger. You're the sort of fellow
who belongs with a winner. AS
matter of fact, I was just COM
ing from filing a story in which
pointed that out"
We could tell he was surprised
even before he spoke, but
couldn't be sure why.
He just stood there for a min
ute and then he said:
We'll, I don't know how on
earth that story could have
leaked out. But since it did,
I'm glad a friend Of mine got
it. III be seeing you at the
world series In Chicago next
fall"
I kept walking in the direc-
tion I'd been going until Rogers
and the Mrs were I0st tn view