%
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» . . Rum*. 1
Ren. se—pet fit. T. , Hell'-ura*. f
nrt. r—St Ts. fi; T. KioP. \
tut 4 —St L. <’hl Wrljfht. t
f»rf. *-fie. «’h’ f.ron*. 1
Pet 7—f> fhi Blew 1<
fresh
J from the
factoiy
4
Quality and the new
price combined make
fresh Tuxedo the out
standing value in smok
ing tobaccos.
Guaranteed by ^
vAAS *)rlMJLsvije4i4A+ <%f\
incorporated
