Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-06-08
ATCHISON'S
ANGLE
The Megophone Man
BY LEWIS :. ATcHlsoN

ANYONE OLD ENOUGH to remember Grifith Stadium
1t appeared in the 1905 certainly will recall of
its most notable fixturesE Lawrence Phillips, the one
armed announcer Red-faced neatly attired In umpre's
blue Phillips would swing long megaphone to his mouth
before the start of each and below
for today's game" to open hostilities.
Now approaching 10, Phillips is critically Ill at De-
land Fla. where he retired after a long and fruit
fu career that later took him into the carnival and
ton picture theater business Most Of his crones have
long since passed Sam Rice Joe Judge osse Buege
and other members Of washngtons first pennant-winner
In 1924 remember Lawrence we'll They also remember
when balplayers talked baseball, not finances
I'VE had lot Of fun and some hardships" Judge
recalled Il remember spring training series played
with Cincinnati in l920-Philips came along the
anneuncer-when we rode the Pullmans 10 straight
nights. We fremen shirts it impossible to get
any laundry and some OF grew boards When we got
to Boston TO open the 1t showed four days and
didn't get out Of the hotel OF course it wasn't very funny
then, hut we did get some laughs out Of It," 81
IS
E. LAWRENCE who as youngster lost his left arm in
train accident accidentally fell into the role that
brought him measure of fame and many happy MEM
cries Early in the century umpres always removed their
caps before the start Of game and turning to the stands
announced the batteries II the fans didn't like them they
got the razzberry.
On this particular day Phillips recalled later, he
passing behind home plate selling scorecard when the
umpre-it was Tim Hurst Jack observation-disclosures to
him.
Here, kid" he said handing Phillips the lineups
"they won't listen to me- you the batteries"
Lawrence did such good job the late Clark Grifth
decided to put him the payroll Eventually Ban john
American League president ordered every club to
hire official 1t also paved the way to World
Series roles for Phillips the infamous Black Sox
scandal of 1919.
II met Chick Gandn Chicago first baseman) under
the stand catching quick smoke during game Phillips
said later. land when mentioned something about the
White Sox's bad luck he looked at in strange way
and threw his cigarette away We honestly thought the
team was just having run Of bad luck"
JUDGE RECALLS THAT in the 1925 World Series
which Phillips announced when the Washington team
arrived at Pttsburghs Scheney Hotel Forbes Field
the players were politely but firmly informed that the
National League had taken the premises The Sem
ators finally got bedded down about am. at apart
ment In the Squirrel Hill district miles from downtown
with four and five men to apartment.
Rice Memo Leibold and couple Of others and
were in one apartment and had Just gotten bed when
there was knock the door, Judge said Il answered
1t and stranger asks Rice and the rest In the
apartment said yes. and he said then that the
apartment ne was supposed sleep in said HI he would
and slammed the door
I'VE had just gotten to sleep" Joe went on, when
the noise from party woke up We hear this guy yell
Ing batt-reez for daaays game Well got hold
Continued Page All, Col