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Getting the call
Offices of the Canton Watchmakers Base Ball Club
August 24, 1898
Manager Gil Cross extended his hand and smiled. “Good to have you here, Charlie.”
Charlie Callahan shook hands with his manager. “It’s good to be here.”
1898 had been a rough year for Cross and the Watchmakers. They had finished second in their division in ’97. This year, they wallowed in fifth or last place all summer long. Cross was likely to lose his job, but while he had it, he wanted to do right for his bosses. They wanted to see some of the club’s young talent, so players like Callahan had been summoned to Canton to finish the season in the Buckeye League.
Callahan had been up the year before, but had pitched only three times. This year, he was told, it would be quite different.
“We’re going to let you work every three days like you did in Canal Dover,” explained Cross. “Even if the hitters rough you up a little bit, we are going to stick with you, unless you show signs of losing your nerve.”
Charlie’s face reddened. “I’m not going to lose my nerve,” he snapped back.
Cross smiled. He hoped Charlie would respond like that to the suggestion he might be yellow. “I don’t think you will, either. That’s why we are giving you this chance.
The manager patted Charlie’s right arm gently. “Now go get that arm of yours some rest. You’ll pitch in two days. I’d work you tomorrow, but I figured you might want to let some of the Canal Dover folks know you’ll be pitching so they can come up and see you.”
“Thanks, Mr. Cross.”
“Call me Gil, or Skip. That’s the way it is up here. You’ll need to get used to that. I have a feeling you won’t be going back to Canal Dover, at least not to pitch.”
“Is that so?”
“Kid, the only reason you stayed down there this long is because we wanted you boys to have a chance to win your league. We wanted you around a winning ball club, because we think something sticks with a man when he plays for a winner.” Cross smiled again. He liked Charlie, and hoped he’d get a chance to manage him next year, too.
“I know Canal Dover’s your home, so I don’t mean to make you mad, but you belong up here.”
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