Evening star., 1939-03-02
From the
Press Box
Terry Receives Blast
Of Bonuru Verbiuoe
BY JOHN LARDNER,
Special Correspondent Of The Star.

Of bonuro VerbIoge
BY JOHN LARDNER,
Special Correspondent Of The Star,
NEW YORK, March 2,-Joe Nc
Carthy, on his way south, confessed
that he touted Zeke Bonura to
William Harold Terry when the
Giant manager was cropping for a
first baseman last fall. Joe recon-
mended Bonura and Terry bought
him, sight unseen. and now he must
take the consequences.
II wasn't kidding when I told
Terry that Bonura would hit for
him in the Polo Grounds" said Mr..
Mccarthy, masking grin, "but per-
hapS I forgot to mention that Zeke
also would talk his ear off day and
night. Oh, we'll, you got to take
the bitter with the sweet"
The Yankee pilots prank, if that's
what 1t was, seems to have borne
full load of fruit down Arkansas
way, where Terry first was intro
duced last week to his new pig
in a poke. According to my scouts,
Bonura greeted the boss with
few hundred thousand well-chosen
words. slapped him on the back so
cordially that Terry's liver did a
handspring and told Bill to quit
worrying about first base.
u
Ezekiel, in part.
Zeke Almost Gives Bill
Lesson in Playing Bog
Mr.. Terry finally managed to de-
tach the big banana hustler from
his ear and get to bed. The next
day. bright and early, he decided
to see what it was he had bought.
On the way to the ball park Bonura
told Bill something of the story
of his life, beginning with the inside
information on the toothache he
had in 1918. when his mother wasn't
sure whether to take him to DR..
Slutz or DR.. Follingsbee.
II was a lovable kid, Mr.. Terry,
always happy and full of fun" said
Zeke reminiscently. Did I ever
tell you about my first day in
school?"
"Yes," lied William Harold Terry
IT think you must be mistaken"
said Bonura, pounding William af-
fectionately on the shoulder. TT
was this way"
Five thousand words later, zeke
was pulling on glove and telling
Mr.. Terry about his fielding.
You may not know it," he said,
"but a first baseman has got to
protect the area to the left of the
second baseman. Now, the way
handle it-but I forgot, you were
a first baseman yourself once,
weren't you?"
YES" admitted Mr.. Terry.
"That's right, and very good
one. too," said Mr.. Bonura hand
somely. "You we're my ideal, as
a matter of fact. You certainly
could play first base, Mr.. Terry, old
man."
Thanks" said William. Nov,
I'm gonna have Snyder hit a cou-
pie down your way"
Zeke Promises Educational
Spring for Boil Players
Tell him to go right ahead" said
Zeke. Tell him to give it all he's
got. Tell him to have no fear of
hitting old zeke on the nose, ear
or throat. Jimmy Dykes used to
claim I would get myself mur-
dered by a ground ball some day.
Now, I like Dykes, he's nice fell
la"
Look out!" barked Mr.. Terry.
A ground ball skittered between
Mr.. Bonura and the bag.
Whats the matter?" said Zeke
solicitously. "Twinge of indiges-
tion?"
why didn't you handle that
one?"
Il figured that was the right field
er's ball." explained Mr. Bonura.
Couldn't go for more than a single,
anyway"
It used to get those in my pocket"
said Mr.. Terry coldly.
That's right, you were heck of
first baseman, Mr.. Terry" agreed
Zeke. "As a matter of fact, you
were my ideal. I'll never forget the
day saw you play"
There it goes!" barked Mr. Terry,
as the ball hoped swiftly past Mr..
Bonura on the other side. Mr..
Bonura turned to study the course
of the ball. He nodded.
You're right" said Zeke, there
1t went. Nice eye"
Half an hour later, Mr.. Terry in
formed the new hand that he would
have to give him very intensive
course of instruction. zeke was
agreeable.
There's nobody I would rather
learn FROM he said. You were
always my ideal around first base,
Mr.. Terry. Now, I'll tell you what
a guy told me once that used to
know Sisler. Maybe you'll pick up
few tips from this yourself, and, if
so, you're entirely welcome Now,
when there's left-handed hitter
up there at the plate, and the
pitcher-we'll call him x-pitches
low inside"
It ought to be an educational
spring all around.
(Copyright, 1939)