the Red Headed Outfield (1948)

by Grey, Zane

  His work that day reminded me of the first game he ever pitched for me, upon which occasion Captain Spears got the best out of him by making him angry. For several innings Providence was helpless before his delivery. Then something happened that showed me a crisis was near. A wag of a fan yelled from the bleachers.

  ``Honeymoon Rube!''

  This cry was taken up by the delighted fans and it rolled around the field. But the Rube pitched on, harder than ever. Then the knowing bleacherite who had started the cry changed it somewhat.

  ``Nanny's Rube!'' he yelled.

  This, too, went the rounds, and still the Rube, though red in the face, preserved his temper and his pitching control. All would have been well if Bud Wiler, comedian of the Providence team, had not hit upon a way to rattle Rube.

  ``Nanny's Goat!'' he shouted from the coaching lines. Every Providence player took it up.

  The Rube was not proof against that. He yelled so fiercely at them, and glared so furiously, and towered so formidably, that they ceased for the moment. Then he let drive with his fast straight ball and hit the first Providence batter in the ribs. His comrades had to help him to the bench. The Rube hit the next batter on the leg, and judging from the crack of the ball, I fancied that player would walk lame for several days.

  The Rube tried to hit the next batter and sent him to first on balls. Thereafter it became a dodging contest with honors about equal between pitcher and batters. The Providence players stormed and the bleachers roared. But I would not take the Rube out and the game went on with the Rube forcing in runs.

  With the score a tie, and three men on bases one of the players on the bench again yelled ``Nanny's Goat!''

  Straight as a string the Rube shot the ball at this fellow and bounded after it. The crowd rose in an uproar. The base runners began to score.

  I left my bench and ran across the space, but not in time to catch the Rube. I saw him hit two or three of the Providence men. Then the policemen got to him, and a real fight brought the big audience into the stamping melee. Before the Rube was collared I saw at least four blue-coats on the grass.

  The game broke up, and the crowd spilled itself in streams over the field. Excitement ran high. I tried to force my way into the mass to get at the Rube and the officers, but this was impossible. I feared the Rube would be taken from the officers and treated with violence, so I waited with the surging crowd, endeavoring to get nearer. Soon we were in the street, and it seemed as if all the stands had emptied their yelling occupants.

  A trolley car came along down the street, splitting the mass of people and driving them back.

  A dozen policemen summarily bundled the Rube upon the rear end of the car. Some of these officers boarded the car, and some remained in the street to beat off the vengeful fans.

  I saw some one thrust forward a frantic young woman. The officers stopped her, then suddenly helped her on the car, just as I started. I recognized Nan. She gripped the Rube with both hands and turned a white, fearful face upon the angry crowd.

  The Rube stood in the grasp of his wife and the policemen, and he looked like a ruffled lion.

  He shook his big fist and bawled in far-reaching voice:

  ``I can lick you all!''

  To my infinite relief, the trolley gathered momentum and safely passed out of danger. The last thing I made out was Nan pressing close to the Rube's side. That moment saw their reconciliation and my joy that it was the end of the Rube's Honeymoon.

  THE RUBE'S WATERLOO

  It was about the sixth inning that I suspected the Rube of weakening. For that matter he had not pitched anything resembling his usual brand of baseball. But the Rube had developed into such a wonder in the box that it took time for his let-down to dawn upon me. Also it took a tip from Raddy, who sat with me on the bench.

  ``Con, the Rube isn't himself today,'' said Radbourne. ``His mind's not on the game. He seems hurried and flustered, too. If he doesn't explode presently, I'm a dub at callin' the turn.''

  Raddy was the best judge of a pitcher's condition, physical or mental, in the Eastern League.

  It was a Saturday and we were on the road and finishing up a series with the Rochesters. Each team had won and lost a game, and, as I was climbing close to the leaders in the pennant race, I wanted the third and deciding game of that Rochester series. The usual big Saturday crowd was in attendance, noisy, demonstrative and exacting.

  In this sixth inning the first man up for Rochester had flied to McCall. Then had come the two plays significant of Rube's weakening.

  He had hit one batter and walked another. This was sufficient, considering the score was three to one in our favor, to bring the audience to its feet with a howling, stamping demand for runs.

  ``Spears is wise all right,'' said Raddy.

  I watched the foxy old captain walk over to the Rube and talk to him while he rested, a reassuring hand on the pitcher's shoulder. The crowd yelled its disapproval and Umpire Bates called out sharply:

  ``Spears, get back to the bag!''

  ``Now, Mister Umpire, ain't I hurrin' all I can?'' queried Spears as he leisurely ambled back to first.

  The Rube tossed a long, damp welt of hair back from his big brow and nervously toed the rubber.

  I noted that he seemed to forget the runners on bases and delivered the ball without glancing at either bag. Of course this resulted in a double steal. The ball went wild--almost a wild pitch.

  ``Steady up, old man,'' called Gregg between the yells of the bleachers. He held his mitt square over the plate for the Rube to pitch to. Again the long twirler took his swing, and again the ball went wild. Clancy had the Rube in the hole now and the situation began to grow serious.

  The Rube did not take half his usual deliberation, and of the next two pitches one of them was a ball and the other a strike by grace of the umpire's generosity. Clancy rapped the next one, an absurdly slow pitch for the Rube to use, and both runners scored to the shrill tune of the happy bleachers.

  I saw Spears shake his head and look toward the bench. It was plain what that meant.

  ``Raddy, I ought to take the Rube out,'' I said, ``but whom can I put in? You worked yesterday--

  Cairns' arm is sore. It's got to be nursed.

  And Henderson, that ladies' man I just signed, is not in uniform.''

  ``I'll go in,'' replied Raddy, instantly.

  ``Not on your life.'' I had as hard a time keeping Radbourne from overworking as I had in getting enough work out of some other players.

  ``I guess I'll let the Rube take his medicine. I hate to lose this game, but if we have to, we can stand it. I'm curious, anyway, to see what's the matter with the Rube. Maybe he'll settle down presently.''

  I made no sign that I had noticed Spears' appeal to the bench. And my aggressive players, no doubt seeing the situation as I saw it, sang out their various calls of cheer to the Rube and of defiance to their antagonists. Clancy stole off first base so far that the Rube, catching somebody's warning too late, made a balk and the umpire sent the runner on to second. The Rube now plainly showed painful evidences of being rattled.

  He could not locate the plate without slowing up and when he did that a Rochester player walloped the ball. Pretty soon he pitched as if he did not care, and but for the fast fielding of the team behind him the Rochesters would have scored more than the eight runs it got. When the Rube came in to the bench I asked him if he was sick and at first he said he was and then that he was not. So I let him pitch the remaining innings, as the game was lost anyhow, and we walked off the field a badly beaten team.

  That night we had to hurry from the hotel to catch a train for Worcester and we had dinner in the dining-car. Several of my players' wives had come over from Worcester to meet us, and were in the dining-car when I entered. I observed a pretty girl sitting at one of the tables with my new pitcher, Henderson.

  ``Say, Mac,'' I said to McCall, who was with me, ``is Henderson married?''

  ``Naw, but he looks like he wanted to be. H
e was in the grand stand today with that girl.''

  ``Who is she? Oh! a little peach!''

  A second glance at Henderson's companion brought this compliment from me involuntarily.

  ``Con, you'll get it as bad as the rest of this mushy bunch of ball players. We're all stuck on that kid. But since Henderson came she's been a frost to all of us. An' it's put the Rube in the dumps.''

  ``Who's the girl?''

  ``That's Nan Brown. She lives in Worcester an' is the craziest girl fan I ever seen. Flirt!

  Well, she's got them all beat. Somebody introduced the Rube to her. He has been mooney ever since.''

  That was enough to whet my curiosity, and I favored Miss Brown with more than one glance during dinner. When we returned to the parlor car I took advantage of the opportunity and remarked to Henderson that he might introduce his manager. He complied, but not with amiable grace.

  So I chatted with Nan Brown, and studied her.

  She was a pretty, laughing, coquettish little minx and quite baseball mad. I had met many girl fans, but none so enthusiastic as Nan. But she was wholesome and sincere, and I liked her.

  Before turning in I sat down beside the Rube.

  He was very quiet and his face did not encourage company. But that did not stop me.

  ``Hello, Whit; have a smoke before you go to bed?'' I asked cheerfully.

  He scarcely heard me and made no move to take the proffered cigar. All at once it struck me that the rustic simplicity which had characterized him had vanished.

  ``Whit, old fellow, what was wrong today?''

  I asked, quietly, with my hand on his arm.

  ``Mr. Connelly, I want my release, I want to go back to Rickettsville,'' he replied hurriedly.

  For the space of a few seconds I did some tall thinking. The situation suddenly became grave.

  I saw the pennant for the Worcesters fading, dimming.

  ``You want to go home?'' I began slowly.

  ``Why, Whit, I can't keep you. I wouldn't try if you didn't want to stay. But I'll tell you confidentially, if you leave me at this stage I'm ruined.''

  ``How's that?'' he inquired, keenly looking at me.

  ``Well, I can't win the pennant without you. If I do win it there's a big bonus for me. I can buy the house I want and get married this fall if I capture the flag. You've met Milly. You can imagine what your pitching means to me this year. That's all.''

  He averted his face and looked out of the window.

  His big jaw quivered.

  ``If it's that--why, I'll stay, I reckon,'' he said huskily.

  That moment bound Whit Hurtle and Frank Connelly into a far closer relation than the one between player and manager. I sat silent for a while, listening to the drowsy talk of the other players and the rush and roar of the train as it sped on into the night.

  ``Thank you, old chap,'' I replied. ``It wouldn't have been like you to throw me down at this stage. Whit, you're in trouble?''

  ``Yes.''

  ``Can I help you--in any way?'''

  ``I reckon not.''

  ``Don't be too sure of that. I'm a pretty wise guy, if I do say it myself. I might be able to do as much for you as you're going to do for me.''

  The sight of his face convinced me that I had taken a wrong tack. It also showed me how deep Whit's trouble really was. I bade him good night and went to my berth, where sleep did not soon visit me. A saucy, sparkling-eyed woman barred Whit Hurtle's baseball career at its threshold.

  Women are just as fatal to ball players as to men in any other walk of life. I had seen a strong athlete grow palsied just at a scornful slight. It's a great world, and the women run it. So I lay awake racking my brains to outwit a pretty disorganizer; and I plotted for her sake. Married, she would be out of mischief. For Whit's sake, for Milly's sake, for mine, all of which collectively meant for the sake of the pennant, this would be the solution of the problem.

  I decided to take Milly into my confidence, and finally on the strength of that I got to sleep. In he morning I went to my hotel, had breakfast, attended to my mail, and then boarded a car to go out to Milly's house. She was waiting for me on the porch, dressed as I liked to see her, in blue and white, and she wore violets that matched the color of her eyes.

  ``Hello, Connie. I haven't seen a morning paper, but I know from your face that you lost the Rochester series,'' said Milly, with a gay laugh.

  ``I guess yes. The Rube blew up, and if we don't play a pretty smooth game, young lady, he'll never come down.''

  Then I told her.

  ``Why, Connie, I knew long ago. Haven't you seen the change in him before this?''

  ``What change?'' I asked blankly.

  ``You are a man. Well, he was a gawky, slouchy, shy farmer boy when he came to us. Of course the city life and popularity began to influence him. Then he met Nan. She made the Rube a worshipper. I first noticed a change in his clothes. He blossomed out in a new suit, white negligee, neat tie and a stylish straw hat.

  Then it was evident he was making heroic struggles to overcome his awkwardness. It was plain he was studying and copying the other boys.

  He's wonderfully improved, but still shy. He'll always be shy. Connie, Whit's a fine fellow, too good for Nan Brown.''

  ``But, Milly,'' I interrupted, ``the Rube's hard hit. Why is he too good for her?''

  ``Nan is a natural-born flirt,'' Milly replied.

  ``She can't help it. I'm afraid Whit has a slim chance. Nan may not see deep enough to learn his fine qualities. I fancy Nan tired quickly of him, though the one time I saw them together she appeared to like him very well. This new pitcher of yours, Henderson, is a handsome fellow and smooth. Whit is losing to him. Nan likes flash, flattery, excitement.''

  ``McCall told me the Rube had been down in the mouth ever since Henderson joined the team.

  Milly, I don't like Henderson a whole lot. He's not in the Rube's class as a pitcher. What am I going to do? Lose the pennant and a big slice of purse money just for a pretty little flirt?''

  ``Oh, Connie, it's not so bad as that. Whit will come around all right.''

  ``He won't unless we can pull some wires. I've got to help him win Nan Brown. What do you think of that for a manager's job? I guess maybe winning pennants doesn't call for diplomatic genius and cunning! But I'll hand them a few tricks before I lose. My first move will be to give Henderson his release.

  I left Milly, as always, once more able to make light of discouragements and difficulties.

  Monday I gave Henderson his unconditional release. He celebrated the occasion by verifying certain rumors I had heard from other managers.

  He got drunk. But he did not leave town, and I heard that he was negotiating with Providence for a place on that team.

  Radbourne pitched one of his gilt-edged games that afternoon against Hartford and we won.

  And Milly sat in the grand stand, having contrived by cleverness to get a seat next to Nan Brown. Milly and I were playing a vastly deeper game than baseball--a game with hearts. But we were playing it with honest motive, for the good of all concerned, we believed, and on the square.

  I sneaked a look now and then up into the grand stand. Milly and Nan appeared to be getting on famously. It was certain that Nan was flushed and excited, no doubt consciously proud of being seen with my affianced. After the game I chanced to meet them on their way out. Milly winked at me, which was her sign that all was working beautifully.

  I hunted up the Rube and bundled him off to the hotel to take dinner with me. At first he was glum, but after a while he brightened up somewhat to my persistent cheer and friendliness.

  Then we went out on the hotel balcony to smoke, and there I made my play.

  ``Whit, I'm pulling a stroke for you. Now listen and don't be offended. I know what's put you off your feed, because I was the same way when Milly had me guessing. You've lost your head over Nan Brown. That's not so terrible, though I daresay you think it's a catastrophe. Because you've quit. You've shown a yellow streak.
r />   You've lain down.

  ``My boy, that isn't the way to win a girl.

  You've got to scrap. Milly told me yesterday how she had watched your love affairs with Nan, and how she thought you had given up just when things might have come your way. Nan is a little flirt, but she's all right. What's more, she was getting fond of you. Nan is meanest to the man she likes best. The way to handle her, Whit, is to master her. Play high and mighty. Get tragical. Then grab her up in your arms. I tell you, Whit, it'll all come your way if you only keep your nerve. I'm your friend and so is Milly.

  We're going out to her house presently--and Nan will be there.''

  The Rube drew a long, deep breath and held out his hand. I sensed another stage in the evolution of Whit Hurtle.

  ``I reckon I've taken baseball coachin','' he said presently, ``an' I don't see why I can't take some other kind. I'm only a rube, an' things come hard for me, but I'm a-learnin'.''

  It was about dark when we arrived at the house.

  ``Hello, Connie. You're late. Good evening, Mr. Hurtle. Come right in. You've met Miss Nan Brown? Oh, of course; how stupid of me!''

  It was a trying moment for Milly and me. A little pallor showed under the Rube's tan, but he was more composed than I had expected. Nan got up from the piano. She was all in white and deliciously pretty. She gave a quick, glad start of surprise. What a relief that was to my troubled mind! Everything had depended upon a real honest liking for Whit, and she had it.

  More than once I had been proud of Milly's cleverness, but this night as hostess and an accomplice she won my everlasting admiration.

  She contrived to give the impression that Whit was a frequent visitor at her home and very welcome. She brought out his best points, and in her skillful hands he lost embarrassment and awkwardness.

  Before the evening was over Nan regarded Whit with different eyes, and she never dreamed that everything had not come about naturally. Then Milly somehow got me out on the porch, leaving Nan and Whit together.