The Washington times., 1938-04-01


tai fists was incompatible with
the ideals and purposes of Gull
ford.
Choose your path. young
man." said the dean, "but
choose wisely. Your choice shall
be irrevocable."
The CrOssroGd
Rick looked at the finely
carved features of the man Of
learning. Before his eyes fitted
. picture of a worn-out boy,
battered and old in what should
be the flush of youth, and de-
cided to hang up his gloves. He
turned to baseball, and rose to
even greater glory and security
than he might ever have won in
the ring.
The choice was far from easy.
The golden age OF sports was
on the land. Jack Dempsey was
heavyweight champion Of the
world. The million-dollar gate
was SYNONYMOUS with his name.
Babe Ruth was home run king
Of the universe, Rick beyond
the dreams of Midas. Fame
and glory lowered at the end of
q left hook or the swing Of a
glistening baseball bat.
II had to think about the
matter" Ferrell told me this
morning as we fingered at break.
fast. "a was winning fights
with ease, and Mickey Donohue,
my coach and trainer, talked Of
the lightweight title as if it
were just a question Of getting
Leonard to sign for a match.
II was a good enough boxer, -
Rich went on. II had"a good
left and a fair right. I won
about half of my fights by
knockoutS. I had my pictures
in the papers, and I was max
ing about $500 a month. It was
real money for a kid.
~ Straight
II guess I won too easily. I
became a little bit overconfi-
dent. I agreed to fight Knock
out" Conway, who was welter-
weight champion of Fort Bragg,
an Army post.
"I don't remember anything
after that" Rick related. "They
said I fought back. but Conway
was too good, too tough, and too
big. He finally knocked me out.
IT took up baseball, and
signed with Detroit. The Tigers
shipped me around, and finally
I was declared a free agent. I
signed with the Cardinals and
was sent to Syracuse. Event
ually I went to the Browns,
thence to Boston, and finally
with Washington.
(Which sport should a young.
ster follow?" I asked Ferrell.
Baseball, by all means, !"
came the swift response. Fight.
ing teaches you something, and
every boy should know how to
box. But unless you aTe good
beyond the average. 3Sle ring
game takes frightfui teia. You
get money quickly, but you pay
for it heavily. Look at the
wrecks of men who once were
splendid specimens.
"For every boxer who retireS
wealthy and keeps his money,
there are hundreds who are
broken-down dependents upon
charity.
"No, I'll take baseball with
less money. I'm glad I changed
my sports In mid-career."
Great Year Ahead
Rick looks forward to one of
his greatest years in baseball.
His lifetime batting average is
.291. including his .244 year in
1897.
I'm really in fine condition
this year." Rick went ahead
with his chat. "I was out for
some time with injured hands,
But all ball players have years
like that occasionally.
"The batting slump of the
team is as much a puzzle to the
boys as it is to anyone else.
Bonura and Simmons are born
hitters. Stone is a great batter.
! know, I caught against them,
I worked on them with the
greatest care, but still they hit
the best pitches offered.
zone of these days those
bats are going to fire and, when
they start, it will be just too
bad for a lot of pitchers.
what about tonight'S fight
In Chicago?" I asked Rick.
He didn't even answer. Just
Gnorted.