Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-29

day. rookie named Runkel first base
fooled him than the base He'd take
his off and I'd hit him in the ribs every time BY the
time he would recover those runners had moved base
WHEN ALTROCK'S ARM was strong, pick-of motion
wasn't precisely necessary The arm felt notably good in 1905
and 1906 and Nick Al for the Chicago White Sox of
hess wonder fame plus classic 81 victory Mordaca
Finger) Brown of the Cubs the O6 World Series
Five years later he pitching City days
in the majors apparently ended CLARK Griffith moved from
Cincinnati to Washington in the Winter of 191 Nick
be land he had said time before that he would take
coach.
well, Kansas City me, was of job and
thought wired him, collect. got wire the
next day. saying: Come on.
showed the wire to Charley Carr who owned Kansas
City This time told Carr I'm going to the big leagues to
stay That was 43 years ago"
LONG AFTER ALTRoCK quit serious pitching to concen-
rate on coaching and becoming the first and perhaps the
greatest, of all diamond clowns Washington moved into
Detroit for Griffith who managing found
self short of pitchers and asked Nick if he
game against the Tigers.
II don't expect you go far" said Give all
you've got and maybe I'll figure something before day
is over"
Altrock only distance but he shut out the
Tigers to O.. III high spirits Nick changed clothes
wendell his toward tavern for brew and half dozen
hard-boiled in order to build dinner appetite
Above the bar blackboard which the bartender
had chalked the major league and the batteries Nick
relshing the moment looked up customer remarked
Beats all how baseball runs in families The board
says Atrock beat the Tigers can remember fellow named
ock pitched for Louisville about 20 years ago the
National League. This guy must be his son."
Nick guped his beer and fed
Every year when Hall Of Fame ballots collected there
few for Atrock although he unlikely day
when he elected But few ball players enjoyed
colorful.
In the beginning, Nick all pitcher clown. Once
q Detroit paper called him "the human gargoye" Nick
didn't but he petoned his fellow
Later when he learned how laugh
at him. with his coachingne pantomimng cap pulled
around until the bill pointed due South Nick strove for
cal effects
Il think was convinced pantomime for me-" Nick
ION account of day playing the Yankees
New York loud outhed got me- was
coaching at first base when he yelled
Hey, why don't you pin back your ears?'
"Why should ~ yelled back. We're still in the ball
game, amt we?'
maybe, Loud Mouth said, but there's 300 of us
wouldn't know"
FOURTEEN YEARS AGO Nick basking in the sun at
Sarasota when he spied grapefruit high which did
not belong to him. For free grapefruit
his but while climbing for it, he fell leg
so fearfully that amputation fortunately averted
recommended
Back in 1888, while at spring training camp at Biloxi
Miss doctors told Nick had trouble and sent him
home to Washington On October year. at the
of ST. Nick appeared in lineup pinch-hit against
the Athletics after the Senators had cnched
Back in 1907, which really is going back medco in
formed Nick that he had synovts finger Altrock
promptly made out his will
ut must be serious Nick reasoned because amt never
heard of synovitiS"