The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-03-03
Monte Weaver Hopes To Have
Best Season OF His Career
Starts Training For 7th. Season
With Washington Senators.
Gets Raise.

Monte Weaver, Ashe county's IA
nous baseball pitcher and the ''pro-
fessor' of the American League,
left last Friday for Orlando, Flori-
da, to start spring training for his
seventh consecutive season with the
Washington Senators.
Il hate to leave the home folks,
but with snow falling up here this
is certainly fine time to go to Flor
ida" the Senators ace hurler de-
clared just before heading south in
his car.
81 had fairly good season last
year, but this time I'm in hopes of
breaking all my former records,
Monte stated.
When questioned about his con-
tract he confessed that he hadn't
Gigned either but said he didn't an
ticipate any trouble in getting to-
gether with the club officials re-
garding salary terms. 'They offered
me raise, but I'm still holding out
for little more"
Monte, it is believed, is one Of
the few veteran baseball pitchers
in the major league who will get
raise this season. Last year the
popular Ashe county hurler won II
games and lost only 9, which was
the best record of any pitcher on
the Washington staff. Yves Terrell
and DeShong also had fairly sue
cessful seasons, but their percent
ages were not quiteaas good as Mon
ties.
Professor" Weaver is one of the
oddities n-major league ball, as
he enjoys the distinction of being
about the only professor in the lot.
In preference to living life of
a college professor, Monte chose a
baseball career. In 1880, after
teaching year at the University
of Virginia, he resigned and signed
a contract to play with Durham in
the Piedmont league.
! The next year he was sold to the
Baltimore club in the international
league and in the fall of 81 the
Washington Senators spotted him
for keeps, and he has been pitch
ing for the Senators ever since,
with the exception of a few months
in 1885 when he was transferred to
Albany.
His first year with the Capitol
Hill boys was one of his best. He
finished the season with o. victories
and 10 losses. The next year when
his team won the American League
pennant, he pitched IS games, win
ming 10 of them. In the Worlds
Series that fall with the Giants,
Monte lost heartbreaking lin
ming game by the count of 2 to l.
Besides being known as the "pro-
fessor'', Monte's habits are also re-
garded as oddities" in baseball
circles. He doesn't smoke, chew to-
bacco, drink, or cuss, and yet he is
extremely popular with all of the
players. He has quiet, modest, un-
assuming disposition and his de-
meanor is still that of the "class-
room professor.
Monte, who is the son of Mr.. and
Mrs. w. A. Weaver, was born and
raised at Lansing. After finishing
the Jefferson high school he went
to Emory and Henry where he got
his B. S. degree graduating with
high scholastic honors. Later he
finished his M. S. at the University
of Virginia and followed his grad
uation, accepted a position as math
instructor.
81 like teaching, but I love
baseball" he declared in answer to
the question as to why he .forsook
the life of university professor for
the diamond.
From the days of his early child
hood he has always played baseball
during the summer time. In 1922
and '23 he played for Lansing in
the Ashe county league.
He was a star hurler at Emory
and Henry and during vacation sea-
son he played semi-pro ball with
various clubs. One summer he
played for Lebanon, Va, the next
with team in Kentucky and later
with Valdese, N. c.
Monte has a profound affection
for his native county and spends
his vacation at home with his par
ents. Near Lansing he owns a
farm and he and his father own the
towns water plant. He also has a
real estate business in Washington.
His hobbies are hunting and fish
ing and right now he is very much
interested in the Republican party.
Playing on the Washington team,
are also three other North Carolina
men, Rick and Yves Terrell, of Gull
ford College and Buddy Lewis, Gas