Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 159, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1915 — STORY OF HAP HOGAN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STORY OF HAP HOGAN

Made Futile Attempt to Pick Quarrel With “Dummy.” When He Realized He Had Been Raving at Deaf and Dumb Man He Began Earnest Conversation in Two-Handed Sign Language. Roscoe Fawcott tells this story of Hap Hogan, and it is one of the best of the flood of good ones in which the mourned manager of the Venice Tigers figures. Hogan had just been taken on as a catcher by Los Aageles. Dummy Price was catching for the Portland Beavers. Hogan had never seen Price before and did not know he was deaf and dumb. These were the days when Hogan was the fighting, clawing roughneck, kidding the opposing batters into swinging at the wide ones. When Price came to bat, Hogan inquired in his sweetest tones: “What’s your name, pal?” Price only swung his bat and faced Wheeler, who was on the mound for the Angels, with an expression of great determination stamped on his face. “Say,” yelled the now irate Hogan, “who do you think you are busher, Chief Meyers or somebody? Think you’re too good to talk to me? Watch me and I’ll show you a few things before this game is over.” Price, who of course had not heard a word that Happy had said, grounded out to first, and returned to the Beaver bench. He was the recipient of many baleful glares from Hogan before the side was retired. As he waited for his turn to bat, Hogan’s anger grew. That a man he had never seen before had the nerve to ignore him was more than Happy could understand. He stalked out to the plate when his turn came with his vials of wrath

overflowing. Turning to Price, who was kneeling behind the plate, he snarled: “Won’t speak to me, huh? Wait until this game is over and see what you think about it.” Pricp smiled and touched his right hand to his ear. Hogan then realized that he had been raving at a deaf man, and dropping his bat he began an earnest conversation with Price in the two-handed style of “dummy” sign language. Price removed bls glove and a great gabfest was soon in progress at the home plate. The fans in the grandstand and bleachers roared, “play ball.” The infield and outfield took up the cry, but Hogan was apparently as deaf as Price until the umpire touched him on the shoulder and threatened a >lO fine if he continued to interrupt the game. But there started a friendship between Hogan and Price which existed as long as life remained.

Hap Hogan.