[Big Six]

Statler Hotel
St. Louis, Missouri

September 22, 1918

Mrs. Sarah O'Farrell
84 Westland Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts

My dearest Sarah,

We beat the Browns today, but when we got back to our hotel, we learned that Philadelphia had won their game as well. That means the Athletics have clinched the pennant again. We made a run at them, a stronger run than I honestly thought we would make, but they played well enough to hold us off. They are an outstanding team, especially at bat. I believe every man in their lineup hit .300, or close to it. Murphy and Jackson, in particular, had excellent years. I read in the paper that only two teams in all of the major leagues had a lower team batting average than we did, which surprised me. It makes the fact that we stayed in the pennant race as long as we did a bit of a surprise, too.

I suppose the Athletics will have their hands full with the Giants in the World Series, though. The Giants appear, at least from their statistics, to be the superior team. The list of National League leaders looks quite a bit like the New York roster this season!

I suppose we will see quite a few of the substitutes getting into the last three games of the season, a few of the fellows who came up from the minor leagues at the first of the month. I doubt if I will see any more action myself. My thigh muscle is still sore, and I am tired from playing so many games in a row during the past month, as we were back in the thick of the race.

Do you realize that I have played almost 2,000 games a a professional, if you count the minor leagues and the World Series? I read that the other day, and I found it almost impossible to believe. After all, I only turned thirty-one last week. I believe I could play for ten more years; that is, of course, if we decide that is what is best for our family. And, of course, that will depend on how long I am able to play well enough to keep a job!

I do appreciate, more than you know, your willingness to support my career so wholeheartedly. From the time I was six or seven years old, and first said that I wanted to play ball for a living one day, you never laughed at me, and when my father nearly made me forget about my plans, you never let me set them aside.

You have been both mother and father to our children from March until October, and I appreciate that most of all. The one thing I regret about my career in base ball is the fact that I have to spend so much time away from you. Living together in Boston during the season makes it easier, but when it comes time to board the train and leave for another road trip, the pain returns afresh. On the other hand, I cannot imagine myself working at any other trade right now. I have no idea how a fellow who goes to work on an assembly line, for example, can stand the sameness of his daily tasks. I, at least, face a different pitcher every game, and there is no telling how things will turn out.

Unfortunately, things did not turn out as well for us as they could have, but on the other hand, we will all be back in Stockbridge a bit sooner. That, at least, makes losing the pennant again more tolerable.

Hug and kiss the children for me, dearest.

With all my love,
Pat