Fairleigh Dickinson University Rutherford - Castlelight Yearbook (Rutherford, NJ)

Page 132 text:

BECTON Augie heads Becton Review also. John Copenole is another staff member. 130 Editor - August Rutkowski Dick Wall is a great help. This reporter had the honor of knowing the late Chopper in his playing days. This was a special privilege because the Chopper had a disdain for anyone who did not make a living with his own hands. Newspaper men and scientific baseball players were at the top of his list of varmints. Yet, for unknown reasons, he liked me. Whatever his reasons, he allowed me to know him, something no other reporter could hope to do. Ty was a big man, but not the biggest man on the team. When he moved, it appeared as though it took considerable effort to make even the simplest movement. But his hands and wrists were the things that made him great. His wrists were strong, but more likely they had the panther-quick moVements that the rest of his body lacked. Most likely Ty started to play ball at the time that most boys discover the game of baseball. However, he remained undistinguished until he reached his full growth. Ty kept to himself most of the time and played baseball whenever he could. Despite his love for the game Ty seemed to be a mediocre ball player, the main reason being, that whenever he came to bat, Ty would, without fail, hit a grounder. His coaches would spend hours trying to teach Ty how to level out his swing. At times, it even looked as though Ty might acquire a level swing after all. In all the ball games however, Ty would revert to his chop swing and hit a grounder. At the final game of the season, two rumors circulated through the stands; one, that the coaches of Tyis amateur team would not ask him to return the next season, and two, a scout from the Cincinnati Red Stockings was in the stands making a check of local talent. The pitcher from the opposing town was having a fine day. He had a no-hitter going for him with one out in the fifth inning until Ty came up for his second tri to the plate. Ty batted eighth in the order and was considered an easy out. ut, Ty thought differently and on the first pitch he swung with all the strength he had. The grand stand crowd went wild with screaming and yelling. They were, in fact, on the verge of a riot. The third baseman was paralyzed. The second baseman started to wander into the outfield in a daze. The ball that Ty hit was chopped in his usual manner, but instead of taking a normal hop as a ground ball should, it was driven into the ground four inches deep. Very likely Ty could have made it to third, but he stopped at second to make sure his hit was not an illusion. After about ten minutes the crowd was calming down, all except the man from Cincinnati, who was helped out of the park by the local law. He never did stop screaming, iiSign him, sign him? and had to be removed before the game could be continued. That was the last amateur game that Ty played. One year with Cincinnati Ty hit 26 inside-the-infield home runs. Ty, because of his swing soon earned the name of Chopper. His deepest hit was measured at three feet in depth. The Chopper is no longer with us, but I think his record will be the longest standing record in all of sports.

Page 131 text:

129

Page 133 text:

Their table in the cafe. n. e t IL 0 g r O f 6 ID .1 mc vV C n w k m n n A