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About The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 1924)
% IT HAS been my good fortune to have won the American Ama teur Championship four times—a lent which to date has not been equalled by any other golfer—but It i* a fact that in none of the tourna ments which brought me a national idle did I make a single play which mands out in my memory as remark able. lien a man wins the biggest of 'll amateur golf contests in America I' Is a safe bet that he is playing in his best form. There will b« excep tions, of course, but in most cases the successful striver after titular honors 'oust, of necessity, play a game min us, in the nluin, of blunders. If lie doesn't play sound golf, the contes tant doesn't reach bis goal. The. sparkling incidents of play " I'ich the memory retains for all time are apt to turn up in ordinary Play or in matches which have no permanent importance. The most unusual play 1 ever made "as in a special best tall foursome at the Merlon Cricket club, Philadelphia, during the first visit to this country of tleorge Duncan am] Abo Mitchell, the great British professionals. Max Marston. the present amateur cham pion, and I were pitted against the Britons. We succeeded in adminis tering the first defeat they suffered ^•ring their tour. r The play turned up at the ninth hole, a 175-ynrd affair, when I pushed my iron tee shot to the right of the green nnd into the brook that flanked it. (in coming up to my liall I found It resting upon the top of s little nest of twigs which had been washed down stream and had lodged in some rocks. This unexpected lucky lie offered i chance In get to the green without penalty, although I would have to shoot over a built-up mound in order to do so. T waded into tlie brook and took my stance, which, unfortunately, had to be on the upstream side of the bail. Tlte current was deflected just enough to dislodge the twigs .support ing the ball. They floated gaily away while the pellet dropped mis erably to the bottom of tile stream, nestling obstinately In the midst of the rocks, at least eight inches be neath the surface. If 1 hadn’t already soaked my fe< t. I never would have tried to play that ball nut. but would have my caddie pick it up. However, "as long as I’m in, 1 might as well take a shot at it.” ! told myself, and proceeded to do so, using a niblick and chopping down with all my strength. Here i.x the unusual and laughable part of the play. After aiming to hit .tust back of the bail. I closed my eyes in as to keep out water and flying pebbles. Before I could open them. I heard tremendous applause from the yatlery. Disengaging myself from the brook ttul climbing to the green. 1 found that I had laid my ball within ten •ss^?ret of the cup. 1 sank It for a par three, halving the hole with Duncan. This one a play which I hadn't seen! Thinking it over afterward. I reached the conclusion that I must have hit the bail exactly light. At first. I thought I must have struck it cn the top. caroming it off a rock. But when we examined it. we couldn't find the slightest cut in it.s surface. Halving the hole was vital, since Marston and I ultimately won by only three up and two to play. My Best Pinch Play. As I have said, when one is teall> a contender for a title, one's game is more apt to be orthodox than un ' usual. But this is not always true. I think the best play I ever made in a crisis came during the finals of a championship tournament. Tills, if memory serves me. was in the Metropolitan Amateur enmpeti- j lion of BBO. when, for the moment, defeat depended upon a single stroke. It was at Baltusrol and my opponent was Charlie Seeley. Coming to the 3«tli tee. we were all even. Seeley got a good drive, licit, to mV chagrin. 1, hooked my 1 all to the left an(l some five yards deep into thr i woods that skirts the fairway on that side. Seeley seemed certain to negotiate the 310-yard hole in par four. From where I lay it would be difficult even to get near the green on my second •hot. I had to play beneath low hanging boughs, and the only openin’; fi-om the woods did not give rne a direct line to any part of the green. was about ISO yards from the flag X think I have a right to be proud of the play which followed, because it was deliberately planned and executed. To make It possible, the tournament officials hail to move back the gallery and completely clear the fairway. '1 hen, using a mashie. 1 hooked a low ball under and around the trees. It curved beautifully and when it ended Its flight was resting on the green in position for an easy par four. Tills halved the hole and the match. But it saved the day only temporarily. Seeley finally captured the title on the »8th green. A Green Play Tiiat iiequireci .muiick, ; Midiron anil Putter. Tn this same match n play came up which would lie Impossible today, and whlrh probably will npppnr freakish to the preseot rrop of golfer*. It Involved the use of three differ ent clubs—a niblick, a midiron and » putter—while on the green. Incidentally, the play was arrom panied by some hard luck which I be lieve cost me the Metropolitan chum pionahlp that day—this without any desire to depredate the wonderful game put up by my opponent, < 'barley iipqley, who performed like a chani plon and deserved his victory. Nowadays the rules provide Hint If tho green has been softened by con tinuous rain the Imll can lie placed without penally In a fair lie not nearer the cup, if, after being pitched up, It burlaa Itself In the sod. Also It can ba wiped elean. But In those days the halt had to he played from where It lay; anil If there wan mud on It, It couldn't be removed. On the 35th hole Charley'* second wa* short of the green, making It likely that he would require five strokes. My drive had been a good on# and reaching the green In two seemed easy. The ground wa* w*l*r logged from I hr** days' rsln, however, and great rare wa* nec#»**ry In executing my pitch shot. A high ball wa* certain to bury itself. So I tried for a low mashie. Notwithstanding that I got almost the exact shot I was after, when 1 got up to the green I found the ball so deeply imbedded I could only sec the top of it. Although it lay only 10 feet from the hole, there was only one thing to do—use a niblick nnd take a full wallop. The stroke chop ped out a piece of sod that would fill your two hands, hut it-dislodged the ball. A putt was still impossible, (hough, for a hunk of mud twice as, large as the hall clung to it. This time I play ed a midiron, lofting the hall and its extra burden to within a foot of the cup. 1 went down in five, halving the hole. If fate had been kind to me I should have had that hole in an easy four. Thnt would have put me one up on Seeley, with only one to go. And, ns I halved the next hole, the title would have eoine to me. Hut perhaps this would not have been just to him. After being six down at the end of the morning round he had made a wonderful recovery, fighting his way to even terms, lie deserved his eventual victory. (Copyright, ltt?4.) Travis Jac kson Lands Regular Job With Giants Recruit al Short Makes tircat Strides During 1923 Season — Mtdiraw Had Faith in Him. New York, Feb. 9.—A year ago at this time Travis Jackson mas, to the average baseball fan, little more titan a name on the Oiunt roster. Now comes the announcement that he mill be the Giants regular shortstop next seuson and Hie not altogether unex pected announcement that ho has re ceived a substantial increase in sal ary. The tforripara live unknown of a year ago is a celebrity of today, which illustrates that no matter how fleeting time may be. fame some times is a trifle swifter. Tite case of the young man from Waldo, Ark., says a baseball expert, also illustrates how accurately John MeGraw judges baseball talent which comes tinder his direction. At the training camp last season, Jack son made a really favorable impres sion on onld one man. and that one was MeGraw. The others who watch ed him making his fight for a berth on the team conceded readily that he looked promising, but none would put a lietter brand on him than that. When MeGraw Intimated that Jack son was ready for fast company, those to whom he made the intima tion secretly were of the opinion that the Giant leader mas trying to throw a scare into Dave Bancroft, who was slow about reporting, falter on. when MeGraw emphasized his faith in Jack son by releasing Johnny Rawlings, his only experienced utility infieltler. his action aroused'-comment. Then came the disability of Ileinle Groh and Jackson was put into the lineup. Immediately the youngster vindicated MeGraw s judgment by handling himself splendidly at the far corner of the diamond. When Groh was able-bodied again, Jackson retir ed to the dugoot, to pop out again when Bancroft was stricken with pneumonia. l-'ine as his work at third base had Iteen. Jackson's work at tlie short field was even better, lie was called upon to fill In for "Bunny" at tlie most critical period of the Giants struggle toward the pennant, which was during their second swing through the west, which embraced a five-game series in Cincinnati. AhUHTlMCMKNP UR STAYS COMBEjUMSSY Millions Use It-Few Cents Buys Jar at Drugstore HAIR GROOM ••Q. U.fc INkl OW. % Keeps Hair (|Combed liven stubborn, unruly or shampooed hair slays combed all day In any style you like. ‘ MalrUmom" Is a dignified combing cream which rIvcs that unlural gloss nnd well groomed effect to your hair—that final touch to Rood dress both In business and on social occasions. “Hair tlroorn" Is traaseleaa; also helps arrow thick, busy, lustrous hair. n»war# of greasy, luiRnful Imitations. Council Bluffs Bowlers Roll New Team Record for West Foi.ks. >1111 are now limkiiiji at the rliainpion Im>wIinu team nf the west. \Vo say this of these Council Bluffs bowlers, member* of the Joe Smith quintet, because tliey bowled a. team total of :t,’’:i(l last j Montla.i niclit, in llir Mrrclianln’ league, nliit'li li.-u* nevfr *tifeii miial led in I Ilia part <■ T (lie rmintrv Iteatlmi: from left to right are: II. I,. ICIiea, John Tietlje. \V. K. .Met on noil. liar Iter, anti \V. W. * I la via. | Kneeling are, Fletcher, O. E. Hague, V («. Forsyth and Grim Klaus, captain. This team Imuled games of 1,070, 1,148 and 1,012. I’emiKylvania panic cutniuission paid last year bounties footlnp up $85,153 for pelts of noxious animals. The list included 3611 wildcats, 5.278 gray foxes. 3.38fi red foxes and 4 • 1.0 8 7 weasels. Bounties on gray foxes were tumped liy tho last Icfiislsture from $2 to $4 and on wildcats from $S to It:.. Frank Frisch, who lias slewed a contract for Jlfi.Otift. is a sample of success under New York fliant man •gement. Paid a salary of $5,000 in IS20, his first full season as a Giant, the former Kordham college star in fielder has advanced $13,000 In four ' ears. [Speaker Tells Why His Swing at Plate Has Given Him 1 nusnal 2-Base Mark Manager of Lle\eland Indian Set Major League Reeord for j Doubles Last \ ear Wit!' .'>9—Follow-Through Swing,: Waist-High, Sends Rail Out on Low Line. IN THE collection of baseball rec ords there is one of unusual prominence. George (Babe) Roth needs no introduction ; « the home run king. Walter Johnson and Grover; Alexander have a sackful of pitching marks. Max Carey Is the base steal ing wizard and fly snatching fool. Chief Wilson of tlie old Pittsburgh Pirates had a habit of socking three base wallops. Linked with the great deeds of the pastime, however, is the remarkable two-base swatting by Tris Speaker of the Cleveland Indians. For the Inst four seasons in the American league Speaker not only ranked high, leading his rival swatters by a wide margin, but created a new mark in 1923 when he connected for 59 doubles. This ’total completely shattered his own league mark of 53 made with the Boston Red Sox in 19)2, and the National league record of 50 held by the late Relahanty back In 1898. That Speaker, a powerful athlete with as vicious a swing as any home run walloper, should coniine his fetice-hiistiitg activities to two liases is indeed an unusual twist of bai ting freaks. To the oiicr-in-a-utitle fan, the baseball patron wlto only follows the game for the victory of the home team, Speaker's two-base stride is something to pause long dehale. To Tris, however, there is nothing mysterious about his inanii failure of two-base ilrltes. lie was asked recenliy to tell his story, and without wasting words Tris explain ed xxitli the following: "Its all in my sxving. I doubt whether there are two baiters of the same st int'- and awing Why dees Rutli get so many home runs? Ho gets under the hall with his terrific swing and gives it a long ride. There fore, Ruth's wallops am mighty high flies. "My swing is ,-t waist-line stroke. When I draw hack my I at and go through I do not raise or drop the hat two inches until the ,-wing lias been completed. Thus tile hall, in stead of being raised similar to Ruth, goes out on a straight line. "I cut my drives iiettveen the first iunetnan and the line, and that is my favorite alley for my doubles. "Many young hatters make the mis take of not steadying their swing, if they would only practice when they are young for the follow-through stroke, with the bat leveled, waist line high, they would improve their hitting. ".Such a swing produces a line drive hit. How many liners go straight to infielders? I sink at the wide, open space in the outfield! A low liner seldom goes directly to ail outfielder. Now and then you will put the wood behind it and the hall will carry straight to an outfielder, lull on the season's average there will easily lie a -!{00 percentage for the hatter who will study, practice and develop tile waist line. Int steady and going straight through stroke," Speaker also said that the home run epidemic was ruining many good young prospect*. Trie pointed out that every khl cm the corner lots today aspires to imitate Babe Ruth. "And it’ll be years liofoie they get close to Babe's total of 53 home runs." remarked Speaker. Short light fields, with high bar riers. undoubtedly play their part In Speaker's record as a two base hit ter. Sp aker has explained how he does not get the Ruth loft to his drives with lily result that many of ids liners sail over the head of the right ficklet. liound back and a quick re n ieve holds Spoke at second. Tiie chart showing Speaker's com pb-te ll-t of 33 doubles for 1323 in traduces the high fence at the CIeve» kind pork ns a prominent part of the unusual halting. Of the 53 doubles, 23 were made In Tris' own back yard. This is more than season’s total for such sterling batt'-rs as Oddie Hollins. Joe Judge. Bob Meuse), Joe Hauser, Waliie Fipp. Stan Harris. Rog Beckinpaugh and Hvverett Scott. Speaker did not miss a single park in the American league for his doubts. and counted his retold with the following. At ( levelnnd, ?.»• Philadelphia. 8; I lost on. 8: Detroit, 3; Washington, 5; St. lamis, I: (hirugn, 3" New York, 2. lie presented Ills two-bnse swing against tile Ubieties the most times, accumulating his total as fol low*: Against—Ubieties, II; Itoston, 17; Washington, 9- New York. 8; (Imago. 7; Detroit, 7 St. I.ouis, A. )lis most prosperous month wa* July when he gathered 18. The other monthly totals included: April, 7: May. 3: June, 11; August. 8; September, 8; October, 4. The biggest single day of the sea son was June 16 wiien Tris solved Kddie Rommel's kunekle-ball floater for three doubles. There was one remarkable swat ting spree by the Indians last sum mer when Spoke failed to unbuckle anything but a single. This was on July 7. when the Indians smeared the Boston Red Sox, 27 3; with 24 hits for the high scoring game of the American league when they filled each inning with at least one run. They gathered their 27 runs in till* fashion: 3. 2. 3. 12. 1, 3, 1, 2. x. Total, 21 And not ,*t double for Speaker. The table showing Speaker’s 1924 record for doubles follow .-. ||»IS—Place. Club r Apr. l»-s;|.. Chi.. Faber. 1 ** A.' !a—! "’■ l,r’ l.-v.r. II. 1 Apr- -}—lot. In.... Plll-llr 1 Apr 2i>—ll»l. i'hi.Ilauc. I Apr. 29—l‘hi. Del . ... Woodward 1 Apr. SO—Del V V.I'nlllns. 1 May Is—Cl.. Phil.Pennnck. 1 Muy I fi—fie i'hi. Rommel. I Way 31—f hi. D«t.Thumton. ] June 1—D» r. Hoi*.oi»*n. 1 June 4 — Bu» Ho* . . Kerrunon. 1 JUne 6—Be,* N. V.Fullerton. 1 -Tun* ll—,V. V Phi’.iVnnofk. I June l 4—Pit ll. PHH.Hefmaoh. ! June 1 •>—Phil. Ptiit. flotnme! * June i7—ph{ Wi- H»*ty. l June L'O—W|4. Hu' Mnprid*e 1 June Ll—We*. I*'4!, Friday. 1 July £—Cle Jin*. Hollow a v. f .lulv 6—fie. Bo*... Khmfce 1 Julv 7—f> Her .. Murra 1 .lulv *—fie". Phil.. f Mi inn. 1 July II—f!e Ph . Rommel 1 July 12— f]e. F’h?... H*rrla. 1 Jiji - i“_fjp >• T.. Malherr. 7 Julv 11—c*le. 5 I • Pcnnock i lulv* 14 c- ■ A Jon... I Ti.lr c*. ;Vi'* Jon... 1 , ‘ r " »• HU...U i u t ■ iZr, t. Stshelner. t “ ' :JZs, r "t. I- . «ho,k.-, 1 mm :1—S r.jll.rfoo t ■'mm 7?~2 I’ "’«».Khmke. 1 July St Bo.. pm,.Johnson. 1 An*- I*—2«. Ho, _Pull.rton > Aug. If—Bo. Phil.Khinks. 1 Aur. It—Ph i. w,« .. Vuior ] Aug. 22—i- ». v- v.Za'-harv. t Aug. 2>:—1*1.. si T,. . Wish 1 S»p. r—e’le. n„- Shook.r, t Sop. 1 *. — Bo- V V . F.-gu.os 1 Sop. IS—N T Wa-... RJiiwIcsr. 1 Sop. 2 r.—Was. Wa* Mogvldg., 1 Sep. 2 3—W*n Phi? .Tnhnpon 1 Sep. ?6— Phil Phil. Waiberr. I Rep. 3$—Phil. Be» . . 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