Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-06-04
By Burton Hawkins

man on the Mats only world
championship team. was a player
of distinction for q years In the
majors. He said last night, after
learning of Mike Martins death,
Nobody ever would have heard
of me if it hadn't been for Mike. y
without Judge. now Georgetown
baseball coach. the Mats probably
wouldn't have given the Capital
that hysterical afternoon and night
which followed Washington's vic
tory over the Giants in the decid-I
ing game of the 1924 World Series.
Joe was prominent figure in the
success of the Mats. but judges
major league career would have
ended in 1917 If Martin hadn't
been around as trainer for the
Mats.
HE kept me in baseball, "
Judge said. II broke my leg in
1917. They made a mistake set
ting it and I needed an operation.
My leg stayed in cast SO long
that much Of it wasted away.
Doctors told me I'd never play
again-to forget about it.
But Mike had an idea he could
bring that leg around. He con-
WINGED Griff CLARK Griffith. then
manager of the club and so 4
went to live with Mike in Cherry
dale. He was working in the
House Office Building during the
winter and he didn't get home
until $3.50 in the afternoon. Then
he went to work on another job
me.
81 lived with him four or five
weeks and every day after he got
home he'd give me heat treat
ments. massage and twist that leg
every which way-far into the
night. Mike was determined I'd
play again and during that winter
of 1918 he performed a near mir
acle with me.
"ae brought me along so well
that Griff sent Mike and me to
Augusta weeks before the team
went to spring training. Well. to-
make it brief. Mike had me in the
lineup on opening day in 1918. He
was the most conscientious fellow
! ever knew.
st told Mike at the time that
some day I'd try to show him in
some concrete way how much /
appreciated it. I couldn't give
him any money them didn't
have any. He didn't care about
that. He was happy to have me
playing again"
Didn't Forget Mike.
Judge didn't forget. The Mats
of 1924 weren't the most harmoni-
GUS group in baseball history.
They had some explosive tempers
and when they met to split World
Series shares there was faction
which insisted on keeping shares
to an absolute minimum.
There was a bitter wrangle.
Coaches Nick Altrock and AL
Schacht were voted half-shares-
later boosted to full shares by
Griffith. Judge and Bucky Harris
led the successful fight to get Mar
tin full share. TT cost me some
friends" Judge admits "but it was
the least could do for Mike"
It was ironic that one Of those
who voted against a full share for
Mike was kept in the World Series
by Martins faithful muscle ma
nipulating, Mike stayed up nights
to get the knots out Of the players
legs.
Mike had a ready laugh. JEFF
Heath former Washington OUT
fielder, loved to hear Mikes BOOM
ing laughter. On trains he'd sit
by Mike, get him chuckling. then
red-faced and roaring. If Mike
had a weakness, it was for
laughter.
Roommate Of Harris.
He was a cog in the club. as
trainer for "a years and scout for
six. He roomed with Harris for
20 years. He went to Tampa with
Bucky weeks before Harris re-
ceived the letter from Griffith tell
ing him the job Of managing the
1924 Mats was his II he'd accept it.
Mike had been sent along as
q watchdog by Gri6 to see that
got q complete rest" Bucky said.
1--WE had adjoining rooms and
when I got that letter I walked
into Mixes room and said, Hey.
look at this Mike said. You're
gonna take the job aren't you?' ]
said, Damned right"