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Newspaper Page Text
BRS -- i , UMPIRE BILLY EVANS' YARNS- Much was expected of Russell Blackburn by Charlie Comiskey last. season. Blackburn was pur chased for $750 and had been the sensation of the Eastern league. " Unfortunately Blackburn got away to a poor start, going sev eral games without a hit, which destroyed his confidence and ef fected his fielding-. When he did find his stride an injury put him out of the running. Si About this time Jack Sheridan vas having trouble with his eyes and one morning the Chicago pa pers contained stories of the troubles of the young player and veteran umpire. ;, Sheridan's case had been diag nosed by an eye specialist, while Blackburn's physician had advis ed an operation on his knee. t While unable to play, Black burn was trying to earn his sal-' ary and was sent out to coach. Sheridan was working the bases and a number of close decisions had gone against the Sox on the paths early in the game. Blackburn wanted to impress vthe crowd with the fact that he was in the game every minute, so when Sheridan gave an unusually close decision against the team he yelled, loudly: 'That eye specialist made a mistake Jack, when he looked you over. He ought to have pro nounced you stone blind." Com ing from a recruit this was. not relished by Sheridan, but quick as a flash he retorted. "Yes, and if that surgeon knows his business h.e will op erate on your head instead of on your knee. " And Blackburn hiked to the bench as fast as his lame knee would let him. Two Philadelphia, men lived on a dollar a week for six months and got fat. It will be up to someone now to say we all can do that. An Illinois man who claimed to be a barber, optician and doctor was arrested for fraud. If he's what he says he is he-oughjto have been arrested for cruelty. The eternal question: "Why is a bookagent?' iKHttl