Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-07
WIN. LOSE OR
DRAW By FRANCIS s1Aun
Three to Remember

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla, Feb. 7-Remember Monte
Weaver, who % games in his rookie season-19S2-
for the Senator's? The prof they call him. because
he had taught school, Now he is fruit grower in Fort
Pierce, and he visiting Floridas west coast
The occasion Old Timers ball game for the
benefit of the March of Dimes Sam Rice hand and
was Heinie Manush. All three key figures on
WaShngons last pennant winner Is years ago. although
1888 was not especially big QO5) for Monte
"Sam, here, played lot Of wonderful ball." Monte
saying, but do you know what remember him for
best Of a 1t 1881 and had just been bought
Baltimore joined Washington late in the season in
Chicago and pitched my first game
"At one pont-this a close game-the White Sox
got three straight hits They all bloopers hit of the
fists, but they looked like they might beat me- Then
heard old SAM who was playing centereld, yell back to
the Chicago bench
"'What are you fellows hitting witl-cornstalks?'
at wasn't anything at all" Monte smiled, "but when
you playing first big league game. you remember
every detail"
A BYSTANDER SAID Il remember Sam best for his
socaed catch of Earl Smiths home in the rs World
Eeries SAM why don't you finally tell the truth? When you
fell back into the crowd didn't fan actually put that bali
in your glover"
Rce's eyes twinkled. ISL M
II don't recall there rhubarb," he said drily
Come off it, Sam%The Pittsburgh fans and players
wanted to draw and quarter the umpres Did you did
you not, catch that ball?"
I'm not sure who hit it." Rice hedged. at was the
Pittsburgh catcher say it Smith, guess it
"Thats no answer"
Sam just looked with faint smile.
"For 80 years you've kept the secret" the
other argued at can't hurt anybody anything now
tell Besides Washington lost the SERIES You laid
your glove on that drive"
II had it in my glove once" Rice said.
"of Smiths bat or when bleacher customer put the
ball in your hand?"
"As you suggested" he said "32 years is long time"
HE1NIE MANUsH SAID, "Hey. doesn't anybody re-
member me for anything?"
One remembers Heinie for many feats, virtually all
having to do with hitting sports reporter using dull
needle, said:
Sure Heinie. That terrible catch you made for the
last out against the Browns in 1888 to close out the
nant race"
Terrible catch That was the greatest ever made in
my life"
'You looked like drunken sailor trying to trap a
MOTH the reporter said II remember it because 33 was
my first year covering the Senators and liked the idea
of writing about winner didn't think you guys
would wrap it up"
THAT'S WHAT MEAN" Manush said. I'VE were
going lousy We kept getting beat when win here and
ST. Louis this day to cnch and have very tight
In the ninth inning the Browns started to act up.
Little old Oscar Meillo hit that ball to lefted Late
in the any other time-efted in Washington
is the worst field in the big leagues. know
played in most of the parks.
"In those days didn't have those glasses that
flip down from the cap peaks You carried em in your
pocket and had to your cap to put EN- While
Melilo at bat the from behind cloud and
blinded reached for my glasses with my bare hand
and started to yell Timel' when he hit the ball.
II thought, oh, OH here we blow another! We could
blow the pennant too took of after it with my sun
glasses in hand glove the other and not much
hope"
Monte Weaver and Sam Rice played it as if they had
rehearsed Monte silent and mpaSsve after Heinies
exuberant outburst Sam waited proper interval then
drawled
Personally, Heine thought it a routine catch.