The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-08-18
THEY PLAYED THE GAME - |Edd Roush, Last Of Place-Hitters Threw Left-Handed When He Broke Right Arm
Fifty-hrst of a series By HARRY CRIMSON
NEA Shorts Editor

Edd J Roush-he insisted on the extra "d"-was dark-complexioned, sharp looking chap with perc- ing brown eyes While he the best clothes 1t impossible for him to appear dresSy Trim at 5feet II and ITS pounds, he would be picked out of crowd as an athlete capable of making quick decisions He belonged either in farmers overals or a baseball! uniform
 Edd Roush who lit one black cigar off the butt of another, was determined man who knew precisely what he wanted and what he wanted to do. once his mind was made up 1t couldn't be changed. He has his own ideas about baseball, farming and business. He stuck to them and they paid dividends He is rich man today owns business blocks Is associated with bank.
 Roush Oakland City, Ind blow jockey, batted left handed and threw the same way. Originally he threw right-handed but when he broke his right he converted himself into an all-around southpaw.
 There never was more consistent good hitter than Roush who covered center field like greyhound for Cincinnati and the New York Giants l92l22-23 his peak years with the Reds, his average varied a single point-.352 35l 35l He left 17-year major league average of 325 led the National League in bat ting in IT with ,34l and in 'l9 with .32l. A HOLDOUT WHO MEANT IT
 Roush was repeated holdout chiefly because he wanted to spend the bulk of the spring training working on his farm
 Edd refused a $l5OOO contract from the Giants in 1880 at the age of 37, however, remained his farm content to terminate his connection with base ball, although he batted 34 the before full filling three-year contract calling for $70000 He returned to the Reds in '3l then called 1t career
 Roush the last of the place-hitters and the last of the Feds. The White Sox sent him to Lincoln Of the Western League in l3 and from there he
 
 where he became the rival of teammate. Benny Kauff.
 When peace declared, Kauff and Roush went to the Giants, kauH a regular and Roush as a bench warmer. The fires of resentment fared up in the taciturn Roush and he never forgave John Me- Graw for trading him to Cincinnati.
 For Il years Rhineander, he rose to his greatest heights opposing the Giants especially at the Polo Grounds. McGraw wished he had him back many times.
 While he distinguished himself in center feld-33 chances in eight games, eight putouts in one-Roush batted no more than PA in the World Series lk cracked the set sloughed to the Reds by the Chicago Black Sox in 19.
 UNINTERESTED IN NEW YORK
 Following his early experience, Roush was one player who did not want anything to do with New York He objected to McGraw's tactics
 When he finally returned to the Giants, McCiraw told him they'd hit it off all right but Roush replied that he wasn't at all certain they would.
 Roush fieded ground ball in center field like an intelder, lost no motion in getting the ball away and threw strikes. He superlatve baserunner went from first to third on the slightest margins.
 All other batters acknowledged the necessity of a firm stand with one foot even. they strode forward with the other. Rolsh was the exception He jumped