'Rube who?'
"'Your son--Richard,' they would answer.
"'I told him that baseball was no good,' my dad would reply. 'Now
they've even gone and changed his name!'
"Anyway, I had a terrific year with Indianapolis, like I said. Late in
the season we went into Columbus, Ohio, and Charlie Carr came up to me
before the game.
"'Rube,' he said, 'there are going to be an awful lot of celebrities
here at the game today. The American and National Leagues both have an
off-day, and they're all coming to see you pitch. If you pitch a good
game I may be able to sell you before the night is out.'
"'For how much?' I wanted to know.
"'I don't know,' he said. 'But a lot. It depends on what kind of game
you pitch.'
"'Will you cut me in?' I asked.
"'No, I won't,' he said with certainty. 'You're getting a good salary
and you know it.'
"'Okay,' I said. I was only kidding anyway.
"'I don't want you to get nervous today,' he said.
"'Nervous?' I repeated. 'Have I ever been nervous all season?'
"'No,' he admitted, 'I've been in baseball a long time and I never saw
anything like it. I never saw a kid like you, who can beat anybody and
is so successful.'
"'Well,' I said, 'the reason I'm so successful is because I can beat
anybody.
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