Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 220, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1918 — CIGARETTES HIS PET AVERSION [ARTICLE]

CIGARETTES HIS PET AVERSION

Late Lamented Jake Beckley Could Not Tolerate "Coffin Nail**— One Player Resentful. The late Jake Jleckley had a great aversion to cigarettes and as a minor league manager he put a strict ban on them. Sometimes his players would slip behind the bench during a game and take a puff on the sly, but Jake had a keen sense of smell and could spot the violators of the rule, and woe was their portion when found out. In hie days as an umpire Jake still hated cigarettes. On one occasion he noted the telltale stains on a player’s finger'and delayed the game while he delivered the player a lecture as he came to bat. The player was rather resentful of Jake’s well-meant advice and made some smart remark —for which Jake got even. The player made ready for the pitch. It was wide and high. “Strike one,” bellowed Beckley. The next one was almost a wild pitch, but Beckley shouted, “Strike tub.” The third pitch was even worse, but Beckley called out, “Strike three.” Then as the batter turned In angry protest, Jake how’led at him: "No use for you to be kickin’, for It won’t do you any good. I told you cigarettes would get your battin’ eye.”