Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 267, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1911 — STORY OF A BASEBALL CYNIC [ARTICLE]

STORY OF A BASEBALL CYNIC

Once Famous Pitcher Couldn’t Be Induced to Sell 1 Milk to One of New Generation. Young Warhop, the pitching sensation of the year In the American league, can now and then be coaxed Into telling stories, says a writer in the Cincinnati Tlmes-Star. One was of an early adventure, when he had reached the stage of worship for successful practitioners of the noble art of baseball, without having attained to any notable eminence himself. “One of my early heroes,” said he, “was an old pitcher. He had been a leading figure in the game in the days of its development. Then he became an umpire, but a somewhat hasty temper kept him from complete success. He finally quit the game definitely, under a rain of pdp bottles, and only now and then could be persuaded to talk of the old tricks he had once used with effect In order to five he had opened a dairy. Every morning he drove aboqt the streets and delivered milk.

“I rode with him one day. We came to a new house and the freshly laundered curtains in the window told that the owner had just moved in. The old pitcher, on the alert fdr a possible new customer, knocked at the door. A good looking young woman responded to his knock, he stated his errand, and she thanked him for his courtesy. “ ’This is our first day In our new home,’ said she, ’and I have been wondering where I could get good milk. I’ll take two bottles now.* "The old pitcher gave her two bottles, and as be truned to go she said: ‘Why, aren’t you Mr. Juggins, who used to be the famous pitcher?* “The old man said he was, very sourly. His blood used to curdle when ball playing was referred to. He wanted to know why she referred to his past “‘Oh.’ said she, ’didn’t you know? Why, my husband is a professional ball player himself.’ ‘Gimme back that milk.’ said Juggins. Giddap.’ ”