12 Sports Aces, May 1943 — page 35: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

128A “Let's play some ball,” Jig said, strid- ing back to position. The kid wasn’t hurt, he got up again and the workout went on. At its conclu- sion, Jig Clayton was puffing. He went slowly into the clubhouse and he knew that he was somewhat of a lone wolf. He had never been especially popular with his mates, he’d always gone his own way. But he could tell now that they had sid- ed with the shortstop this morning. The kid’s name was Eddie Duncan. As the days went by, Jig had to admit that the rookie was a ballplayer. He made a lot of errors, but he was fast with a great pair of hands, and he could cover more territory than the veteran Hammel he had replaced. The thing that burned Jig Clayton was the way the kid took charge of the in- field, shouting to the boys where to throw the ball as though they were rookies and he was the mainstay of the infieid. They played their first exhibition game of the year against the Sox. In the first inning, with the Sox at bat and men on first and second, the batter lashed a grounder past the pitcher’s mound. Eddie Duncan raced in for it, scooped, and fired a throw back toward second base. Jig Clayton’s feot stabbed the bag and the ball was in his glove. He pivoted, threw to first, but the batter beat his throw by a step. “A little more pepper in there,’ Duncan yelled. “Get the lead out of your feet.” Jig thought he’d really have to nail that kid. The game went on and Jig played his customary solid game. They made three double plays. After it was over and the Bears had won, Manager Pete Biand sought out Jig Clayton in the clubhouse. “You played ball eut there today,” he said. “The kid’s making you step, Jig.” “He’s a busher,’”’ Jig said. ““He’ll erack. A holler guy. A pop-off.” Pete Bland nodded. “Yeah, and a fighter all the way. Something you never were, Clayton. You’re a good ballplayer, but you never really give.” Jig Clayton said, “I’ve hit over three hundred the last four years. Two of — : ~ a POP-OFF ROOKIE 33 1 PreBorGer eo those years I was the best fielding see- ond baseman in the league.” “Sure,” Pete said. “You don’t make many errors. If you think you can’t get to a ball, you don’t try for it. You play it safe. You play the game for Jig Clay- ton.” : “Listen, Bland,” Jig snapped at him, “if you don’t like the way I play that bag, trade me somewheres else.” Pete Bland grinned. “TI’ll hang on to you, Clayton. I’m looking for that pen- nant this year. You might help me get it. And then again, you might not. It sort of depends on Eddie Duncan.” HE squad finished its training and traveled the sixty miles back to its own park for the season’s opening. The writers who covered the team were go- ing in for pennant talk. The Bears had finished in the first division the last five years, always close but never at the top. There was a new spirit in the team this year. Jig Clayton could see it. The Bears had always been a veteran team. They didn’t get excited on or off the field. They were good mechanical ball- players and they didn’t make many mis- takes. But they took things calmly. This year was different. Opening day, before they took to the field, Eddie Duncan sat in the dugout, barbering the opposing ball club. He had a high pitehed voice that carried across the field. Jig Clayton listened awhile, then said wearily, “Pipe down.” First baseman Slattery said, “Leave the kid be, Clayton.” *So you’ve fallen for him too,” said. “I know these guys. A big mouth and that’s all.” He couldn’t figure out why he hated the kid so much. Something about him got under his skin. They took the field for the first inning and Beacon was on the hill for the Bears. It was a cold raw day and Beacon’s arm wasn’t loose. He walked the first man on four pitched balls. The next hitter stepped in and Beacon gave him an inside curve. The batter stepped away from it and slammed the ball out toward shortstop. It was a fast Ceol palicel exoye) Jig, cS - de (E(9) m an - . nage Llane gl omauane “coal ae erage F . : <~ Be eee apie es ope fe