Commerce High School - Commerce Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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Tom realized now that he should have chosen Bill Sly, even though Bill had not chosen him for basket ball, and after thinking the matter over, his conscience bothered him mere, so he went to Bill Sly the next morning and said, “Bill, I didn’t like you, because you did not put me on the basket ball team, and that is why I did not put you on the baseball team, but I realize now that ycu are a valuable player, and by leaving you out, I have done you a wrong, and have wronged the school also. But at the present time, Bill, the school is in need of a player of your caliber, and for the sake of the school, not for my sake, I want you on my team.” Well, Tom, I always felt sore about this affair, and firmly believed that I deserved a place on the team, but if I can help the school by playing with the team, I will endeavor to do my best.” “Thanks Bill, seeing its that way we’ll call it square. Shake hands. So long Bill ” “So long. Bill felt dissatisfied yet, but he was out for practice every night, and played in two games which the team easily won. The boys were getting prepared for the final game for the Championship and as the two teams were tied for first place, everybody expected to witness some exciting plays. “There is going to be things doing Saturday,” said Jimmy Smith to John Brown. “Yes, indeed, I hope we win,” replied John. Well, may be we won’t,” said Jimmy. “You never can tell, said John, “for the two teams are pretty evenly matched.” “Yes, but we have more experienced fellows. And did you hear that Tom White put Bill Sly on the team?” “No, I didn’t.” “Yes, he put Bill on the team last week.” Bill is a good player, I hear, said John, But I never saw him play. “Well you come to the game Satuday, and you will see him play, along with the rest of the boys,” said Jimmy. “Oh! I’ll be there with bells on,” said John. The day for the game was now at hand. It was Saturday; the grounds were fine, and the weather splendid, and the two teams were there, each confident of winning the game. Remarks from the side lines were rapidly coming forth, just to show the spectators that the School Spirit was there. “Watch us eat ’em up,” said Smith. We’ll make ’em look like a Chinese two cent piece, with a hole punched in it,” said Greene. “Play Ball.” shouted the Umpire. 113

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The next sport was basket ball. Tom was not so good a basket ball player as Bill Sly, who was about eighteen years old, very fast on his feet, and very powerful for a young fellow of his age. Bill disliked Tom greatly, because the latter was liked so well by the other boys. As Bill was the best basket ball player in the school, naturally the boys chose him as their captain. He picked his team, and strange to say left Tom out. Tom felt put out over this, but when he told his parents of the disappointment, they said, “Well, Tom, just take a little rest and make the work of your teachers easier by doing your school work better, and in the end you will be just as well off.” Still this was a hard blow for Tom, not merely because he would miss so many of the dollars his father had promised him, but he would also miss the sport. However, Tom did as his mother and father suggested, and when the term was over his school record was excellent throughout. When he showed his father his report a surprise met him. “Here, Tom, take these ten dollars, and I’ll give you two dollars for every ‘Excellent’ you get next term,” said his father, glad of Tom’s high scholarship. Now Tom realized, that athletics was not the only thing that his father was interested in, but that he wanted him to know about books also. As Tom was walking home from school not long after, he heard someone behind him say, “Say, Tom, I heard the boys were going to elect you captain of the baseball team this year, because you did so well last season. Don’t forget your ‘Dutch Uncle.’” “All right Jim, I’ll see that you get on the team, but you will certainly have to hustle, for the boys are anxious to show their skill this year.”. Thus ended a short chat between Tow White and Jim Brown. Tom had a job on hand now to pick players for his baseball team, but he finally picked all but a right fielder. “Bill Sly is a fine right fielder,” said Frank Smith. Willie Winsome said, “Bill’s a good player, but he did a mean trick to Tom by leaving him out of the basket ball five, and Tom ought to forget about him.” Then George Smith said, John Lowell is a pretty good player Tom, why not pick him for right field, and let Bill Sly out? Bill is no friend of yours anyway.” So Tom gave way to his feeling of revenge, and took Lowell instead of Sly for right field, although he seemed to feel he was doing the school and Bill Sly a wrong. The season was passing pretty luckily for Tom’s team, and they managed to win three games and tie one. A few days later one of the boys came up to Tom after practice and said, “What is the matter with you Tom, every fellow in the school is talking about the way the team has been playing, every game so far has been won by luck, and the boys say the fielders are punk. The boys say that you have a grudge against Bill Sly, and that is why he is not playing on the baseball team. They also said that the season would soon be over, and if the team did not play better ball, that the school would lose the Championship.” 112

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“All right Shorty, show him up,” shouted one of the boys, for Shorty was the first man up. The game went very fast, and was interesting, until in the eighth inning the score was one to one “Eat ’em up now, fellers, said one of the boys from the opposing team. While remarks such as, “Hit him in the head Tom.” “Put one around his neck.” “Give him a drop, etc., came from our line. The last inning was opened by Tom’s striking out the first man up. The second fellow popped a fly to Bill Sly. The third man hit the ball for a double, which gave his team confidence. The next man hit for a double, and the next fellow got a single. Tom was fatigued now, and his arm gave out from too much pitching, and the opposing team seemed to be able to hit the ball all over the field. The captain of the opposing team was now up, and as he was known to be a heavy hitter, the fielders moved out. Tom realized the Captain’s strong point, and therefore he determined to pitch the ball with all the strength he still possessed, as the game depended upon whether the Captain could get a hit or would fail to make good. Tom pitched the ball over twice, one immediately after the other, while the Captain was posing. “Two Strikes,” shouted the Umpire. The Captain was surprised, and watched carefully for a good one. Then Tom sent the ball in with terrific speed, the Captain hit it squarely, and it went through the air like a shot. Look at Bill Sly, he’s too far out for that ball,” said Brown, quite excited. “Hope he gets it.” “Watch him muff it, said another. “Look out ” The sun is in your eyes,” shouted a couple of the opposing team. Bill ran away up for the ball, stuck out his glove, and the ball fell safely into it. “Robber, Robber!” shouted the Captain together with a couple of his tollowers, who were feeling very much put out over the defeat. Scrambling and running about followed. Cheering words were passed to Tom, but something seemed to be troubling him. The first thing he did, was to go over to Bill Sly, and thank him for the fine playing he performed, and asked Bill to forget the past. “From now on we are friends,” said Tom, and to prove the sincerity of his statement he led the fellows in three cheers for Bill Sly the “Hero of the Day.” The boys then wound up the cheering in their favorite fashion: “Three Cheers for Bill Sly.” “Three Cheers for Tom White.” “Three Cheers for the Team.” Let us all give the School Yell. 114