The Washington times., 1938-01-20

into that. MT CHpI~
However, we
read a headline in a paper
which reads: Hall Of Fame
Niche for Alex"
That must be you. Pete. Con-
gratulationS!
I have had a lot Of thrills
from sport. But I guess gloomy
Sunday afternoon at the Yam
kee Stadium in the World Sc
ries of 1926 was the top thrill
Of 'em all.
ONE MORE RIVER
The Yankees had come home
from over the Mississippi riding
high. They had won three
games to two for you and the
Rajah (Hornsby) and the Red
Birds, and there was only one
more river to cross. 1t looked
as though the river was the
Harlem. But you turned EN-
back on Saturday. when all the
checks we're down.
1t seemed that your job was
done. After all, you'd won a
pennant and two games in the
World Series.
I know you felt that way. Be
cause late that Saturday night
you were in the tavern telling
all and Sundry.
"Well, / did my bit. I won
two. My jobs done. It's up to
the rest Of the boys now"
NO REST FOR WICKED
But didn't somebody say some
thing about there being no rest
for the wicked curve across the
outside corner?
But know when it was Sun
day morning and HornSby was
counting noses in the lobby,
there was no Alexander.
Wares has told me the story
Of what happened after that a
dozen times. It seems that you
didn't answer the telephone, the
door bell, or knocking that would
have reused the dead.
WHAT BALL GAME?
A smart man, when con-
fronted with such q situation
pulls the pillow over his head,
mumbleS under his breath, GO
to -" and pretends nothing
has happened.
That's why Wares had to get
q pass-key and the house detec-
tive and finally battered his way
into your bower and said: Come
on, Pete, it's time to go to the
ball game"
And you said: What ball
game?"
And he said: you know, the
World Series"
And you said: But it's rain.
ing, Buzz"
And he said: Not much.
Besides, HornSby told me to
bring you out, rain or shine"
And you said: "But pitched
yesterday, Buzz"
And he said: yeah? This
is another ball game"
It took you a long time to
get dressed. the way Wares
tells it, and you kept going
back into the bathroom. In
time Buzz began to wonder
about your going back in there
all the time. So when you'd
come out. he'd 60 in and look
around, and peek into the medi-
cine closet, and behind the
door, and under the bathtub.
A REAL SURPRISE
He couldn't find a thing.
Still you kept finding excuses
to step back in there. Finally,
IN more or less desperation. he
kicked at q lot of dirty towels
on the floor, and what should
roll out but a half filled pint
Of red whiskey.
or Man Jess Pop" Haines
was going along fine that aft
ernoon until he rubbed a bills.
ter on his finger throwing that
knuckle ball. / can see Hornsby
yet coming into the pitchers
box in the seventh inning,
Scruffing his feet together in
that way he had, and waving
out toward the bull pen in left
field.
HALL NOW OKAY
I can also see little Bill sher
del starting in and the Rajah
waving him back and saying
with motions: mo, no, t h {
right-hander." And everybody
out there looking around as il
to say: What right-handerP'
You practically came IN by
way Of China to that pitching
ridge, Pete, and with the mas
cots cap, three sizes too small
on O head that looked almost
aS large as it must have felt.
But when you came in there
with that third strike and Laz
1eri swung and missed by a foo
-. Pete, you were all the pitch
erS that ever chucked q base
ball. I can see you yet toss
ing away your glove as yol
walked toward the bench. a.
If to say: Get me anothe
soft touch like that"
That Hall of Fame's all righ
now, Pete. It's got Alexande
the Great-and no NOR
worlds to conquer.