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Big Six · 07-24-2004, 10:57 PM

Statler Hotel
St. Louis, Missouri

August 28, 1918

Mrs. Emily Wood
227 Elm Street
Stockbridge, Massachusetts

Dear Emily,

I am writing to you while I sit in the lobby of our hotel, with my leg propped up on a chair. I wanted you to hear what happened from me, before you read about it in the newspapers.

In the first inning of today's game, I hit a ball over the center fielder's head, and had every intention of trying to come all the way home. Between second and third bases, however, I felt something strange in my right thigh, and decided to settle for a triple. As I stood on the bag, my leg continued to tighten, and Collins, coaching at third, noticed I could not put my full weight on it.

He told me at once that I was coming out of the game, and signalled Del Paddock to run for me. I tried to walk normally to the dugout, but the pain made it impossible for me to do anything but limp.

I had the leg checked by a doctor, who has assured me I did not injure it severely. I am planning on playing tomorrow anyway; I will simply wrap it tightly with an elastic bandage and do my best. We are finally beginning to show some real signs of life, and I am not about to let a minor injury take me out of the lineup in what now seems to be a pennant race.

Your husband pitched as well as he has all season long, as I am sure you know by now. The Browns' three hits were all "cheap," none of them being hit hard at all. He had the batters hitting ground balls all afternoon, and our infielders kept gobbling them up. I doubt if Joe threw a hundred pitches all day. His control was superb, and he did not walk a single man.

That makes eight straight wins for us now, and we are now only a game behind the Tigers for second place. Even more importantly, the Athletics are only three games ahead. I must confess that I hardly believed a month ago that we would be this much in the thick of things come the first of September. All of fellows who have been with the Red Sox for a few years are used to winning, however, and we do not lose heart easily. We are loose and, with the exception of my leg, feel fine, and rest assured that we are going to make a fight of it over the next month.

Tell Mom and Dad that I am fine, and give your little girl a hug and a kiss for me.

Your loving brother,
Pat

07-24-2004, 10:57 PM	#298 (permalink)
Big Six Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 2,494 Thanks: 146 Thanked 100x in 79 posts	Gutting it out Statler Hotel St. Louis, Missouri August 28, 1918 Mrs. Emily Wood 227 Elm Street Stockbridge, Massachusetts Dear Emily, I am writing to you while I sit in the lobby of our hotel, with my leg propped up on a chair. I wanted you to hear what happened from me, before you read about it in the newspapers. In the first inning of today's game, I hit a ball over the center fielder's head, and had every intention of trying to come all the way home. Between second and third bases, however, I felt something strange in my right thigh, and decided to settle for a triple. As I stood on the bag, my leg continued to tighten, and Collins, coaching at third, noticed I could not put my full weight on it. He told me at once that I was coming out of the game, and signalled Del Paddock to run for me. I tried to walk normally to the dugout, but the pain made it impossible for me to do anything but limp. I had the leg checked by a doctor, who has assured me I did not injure it severely. I am planning on playing tomorrow anyway; I will simply wrap it tightly with an elastic bandage and do my best. We are finally beginning to show some real signs of life, and I am not about to let a minor injury take me out of the lineup in what now seems to be a pennant race. Your husband pitched as well as he has all season long, as I am sure you know by now. The Browns' three hits were all "cheap," none of them being hit hard at all. He had the batters hitting ground balls all afternoon, and our infielders kept gobbling them up. I doubt if Joe threw a hundred pitches all day. His control was superb, and he did not walk a single man. That makes eight straight wins for us now, and we are now only a game behind the Tigers for second place. Even more importantly, the Athletics are only three games ahead. I must confess that I hardly believed a month ago that we would be this much in the thick of things come the first of September. All of fellows who have been with the Red Sox for a few years are used to winning, however, and we do not lose heart easily. We are loose and, with the exception of my leg, feel fine, and rest assured that we are going to make a fight of it over the next month. Tell Mom and Dad that I am fine, and give your little girl a hug and a kiss for me. Your loving brother, Pat __________________ My OOTP dynasties: The Base Ball Life of Patrick O'Farrell: where it all began The Connecticut Shore League: a fictional league story Three Pals, a Base Ball Story: my newest fictional story Last edited by Big Six; 07-24-2004 at 10:59 PM.