Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 167, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1911 — NEEDHAM GOOD CARD PLAYER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

NEEDHAM GOOD CARD PLAYER

Big Catcher Is as Strong at Card Game as at Baseball Game— McGraw Pays Compliment. Tom Needham is an expert at both the national games and if he could “catch” as well at baseball as he can at poker, he would be a star of the country. His average on filling straights in the middle is .640, from which the average of his other catches may be judged. John McGraw paid Needham the highest compliment he ever received. Thereby hangs this tale. The Mew York club had been on the road fpr weeks and Needham was catching every other game of ball, and everything possible in the poker game. The team returned for a long stay at-the polo grounds and a young recruit from the west joined it for a tryout. The youth was extremely quiet and retiring, and seldom had a word to say to any one. Several of

the old players tried, to get friendly with him, but could not penetrate his reserve. One day one of the players called McGraw aside. “Say, Mack," he whispered, “there’s something wrong with that kid.” “What's wrong with him?" snapped McGraw. «I think he’s a bit crazy ” volunteered the player. “What makes you think so?” demanded MpGraw. “Well,” the player hesitated, 'Tro been tryin to talk to him for a week and all he’ll say is 'Good.’ ’That’s good.”’ “He ain’t crasy.” snorted McGraw: “he’s been playing poker with Needbarn.”

Tom Needham.