[Gutenberg 43940] • Baseball Joe, Home Run King; or, The Greatest Pitcher and Batter on Record

CHAPTER I. A DANGEROUS PLUNGE

“I’m going to tie you up in knots, old man,” said Jim Barclay, with a smile, as he picked up the ball and stepped into the box in batting practice at the training camp.

“I’ve heard that kind of talk before,” retorted Joe Matson, known all over the country as “Baseball Joe,” the king pitcher of the Giants. “But untying knots is the best thing I do. Give me the best you have in the shop.”

Jim wound up and put one over that just cut the corner of the plate. Joe made a mighty swing at it, but it was just beyond his reach.

“Nearly broke your back reaching for that one, eh?” laughed Jim, as the ball was thrown back to him.

“I was just kidding you that time,” grinned Joe. “I’m going to kill the next one.”

Again the ball whizzed to the plate. It was a fast, straight ball with a slight hop to it. Joe caught it near the end of his bat and “leaned on it” heavily. The ball soared out between right and center, and the outfielders covering that position gave one look at it and then turned and ran with the ball. But it kept on and on until it cleared the fence, and the discomfited fielders threw up their hands and came slowly back to their positions.

Jim looked sheepish, and Joe, who was his chum and best friend, laughed outright as he relinquished the bat to the next man in line.

“A sweet home run, Jim,” he remarked.

“I should say so!” snorted Jim. “That hit was good for two home runs. The ball was ticketed for kingdom come.”

“Who was it said that pitchers couldn’t hit?” laughed Mylert, the burly catcher of the Giant team, as he took Joe’s place.

“I’ll tell the world that some of them can!” exclaimed Jim, as he prepared to try his luck again. “Gee, Joe, if that had happened to me in a regular game, it would have broken my heart.”

Two keen-eyed men in uniform had been standing near the side lines, watching intently every move of the players, as they tried out their batting eyes and arms. One was stocky and of medium height, with hair that had begun to grey at the temples. The other was stout and ruddy, with a twinkle in his eyes that bespoke good nature. Both were veterans of many hard-fought baseball campaigns, and both had played on the Baltimore Orioles when that great organization of stars was the sensation of the baseball world.

“Did you see that hit, Robbie?” asked McRae, the manager of the Giants, of his stout companion.

“Not all of it,” replied Robson, the coach of the team. “But I followed it as far as the fence. That was a whale of a wallop. I’ll bet the ball’s going yet,” and the man chuckled gleefully.

CONTENTS

A Dangerous Plunge

A Surprise

Reggie Turns Up

The Anonymous Letter

“Play Ball!”

Getting the Jump

Stealing Home

A Baseball Idol

An Old Enemy

Three In a Row

Right From the Shoulder

Jim’s Winning Ways

A Break in the Luck

A Delightful Surprise

An Evening Ride

The Attack on the Road

Falling Behind

In the Throes of a Slump

A Close Call

Speeding Up

The Winning Streak

Striving for Mastery

Holding Them Down

A Crushing Blow

Lining Them Out

The Tireless Foe

Champions of the League

The World Series

The Game of His Life

Champions of the World

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

IT WAS THE LONGEST HIT THAT EVER HAD BEEN MADE ON THE POLO GROUNDS.

THERE WAS NO DOUBT OF THE WARMTH OF THAT WELCOME.