Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 79, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 April 1917 — RESCUED BY ‘BUCK’ FREEMAN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

RESCUED BY ‘BUCK’ FREEMAN

Fred Mitchell, New Manager of Cuba, Has Soft Spot in His Heart for Old Red Sox Fielder. When Fred Mitchell, new manager of the Cubs, first broke into professional baseball, he was a pitcher for the Boston Americans of 1901, Jimmy Collins being manager at that. time. Fred’s first start as a big leaguer was against the White Sox at old Comlskey park, and this is the way he tells about it: “I was just a kid and anxious to make good, so Jimmy Collins gave me a start at old Sox park. I was scared stiff, and the first inning was awful.I was shaking with stage fright and walked two or three guys, and then someone swatted one. Freddie Parent chose that time to kick a couple of grounders. =- “The result was that when the first inning was over the White Sox had five runs and we had nothing. There was one fellow on the club at that time who was my friend, and that was

Buck Freeman. He came in from right field after the inning, and I remember Just what he said to Jimmy Collins. “ ‘You’re not going to take the kid out, are you Jim?’ he said. “ ‘Not on your life,’ answered Jim; “I went back and had my head with hiee from then on and stopped the White Sox. In the fourth inning Buck Freeman came up with one on and drove the ball over the fence. You know old Buck could hit ’em. In the eighth inning Buck came up again with two on, and once more he poled the ball out of the lot, tying the score. Before the inning was over we led, 8 to 5, and I won the game, 10 to 5. I always have remembered the part Buck Freeman played.”

Manager Fred Mitchell.