SECTION 4
1919 Correspondence
1919 LETTER #4
LETTER SUMMARY:
HAROLD CHAPMAN DESCRIBES HIS EXPERIENCE
IN THE GREAT WAR
AS AN ALLEGORY / PARODY OF
PLAYING THROUGH A
SEASON OF BASEBALL
FULL TRANSCRIPT OF THIS LETTER:
5 pages, pencil
Missing heading & last few closing sentences. May be a copy of an original letter. There also a one-page typescript copy with complete heading and concluding information.
[ Poulangy France
Jan. 14, 19 ]
[ Dear Jim- ]
The news that we are headed home has made those 3000 of miles look so small that
I CAN ALMOST HEAR THAT OLD HORSEHIDE BANG AGAINST THE CENTER FIELD FENCE.
MY HOBNAIL SHOES EVEN FEEL AS THOUGH I HAD SPIKES ON,
but when I step out into the mud of France it dawns on me that I am not standing on the biggest diamond in the World, but in a place where
IT IS A LONG THROW TO HOME AND IT WILL HAVE TO BE MADE IN RELAYS.
IMAGINING MYSELF THE BALL ON THE WAY HOME
I'll be sent to Le Mans who should handle me Fast and Clean
(its a delousing camp)
and relay me to St. Nazare
(the base port)
who should shoot me home in time to
MAKE THE FINAL PUT-OUT THUS ENDING THE GREATEST GAME I EVER PLAYED IN.
LOOKING BACK I HAD A GOOD SEASON
and as the season is over and it is time for the averages to come out. I am trying to figure out mine.
I'VE PLAYED THE "ENTIRE SEASON"
(from the day of the YD's [Yankee Division] entrance into the League) without losing a day,
NINE MONTHS OF "STRAIGHT PLAYING DAYS.
I DIDN'T GET BEANED ONCE
and got more walks (hikes) than all my former years combined. All through the Season I was continually getting "a life" because of some "error" by the opposing "battery-men".
NEVER HAD A RUN-IN WITH THE "UMPIRE"
and was only fined once ($7.66 for three months) when
I SLID OFF MY "BASE"
and was gone for three days.
I MADE SIX HITS FOR THE CIRCUIT
(six Fronts).
Going back to before the Season opened on the Chemin des Danes on Feb. 5th we were "in training" around Neuf Chateau.
THE WEATHER WAS BAD AND THE HOTELS WERE WORSE. TO ME IT LOOKED AS THOUGH THE "MANAGEMENT" LOOKED FOR A LEAN SEASON AND WERE CURTAILING EXPENSES ON OUR TRAINING TRIP.
During the Season the transportation was good (on foot) and we rode in side door (Pullmans). I felt like a "Regular" for from the start I drew a "Lower Berth" (the floor of a freight car).
THEY FED US WELL. IT REMINDED ME OF A BREAD AND BUTTER LEAGUE I PLAYED IN ONCE
where we made the circuit with a sandwich in one hand and a suitcase in the other, only in this case it was a Mess Kit in one hand (empty) and a pack on your back.
Most of the towns we played in the hotels bad and
MOST OF THEM UNDERGROUND,
built that way because of the intense heat of the sun
(it rained continuously here).
Due to a short hurried training trip we had but few signals, but the natural ability of our players kept us in the run until near the close of the season. Our teamwork began to show and
WE ROMPED HOME TO THE PENNANT,
though it took the deciding game to win it.
THE LAST GAME WAS A BEAUT AND WENT INTO EXTRA INNINGS. IT LASTED FOR SIX WEEKS (ARGONNE) BUT UNCLE SAM FINALLY PUT THE BALL OVER THE FENCE AND ENDED THE GAME.
THE SEASON WAS NOT MARRED BY ANY "WRANGLING" OF THE PLAYERS BUT THERE WAS ONE "SLUR" ON THE GRAND OLD GAME WHEN ONE OF THE CLUB OWNERS GOT AWAY WITH A LOT OF THE SEASON'S PROFITS AND BEAT IT TO HOLLAND.
I GUESS THE CLUB OWNERS WILL SETTLE HIS HASH FOR IT WOULDN'T DO TO LET THE FANS GET AT HIM.
AS THE FIRE HAD GONE OUT IN THE OLD "STOVE LEAGUE"
I'll come out of it and meet you at the Adams House say Washington's Birthday.
[ The best of regards to your wife and hope the family is well. Take a trip down and see Steve and Mama.
Sincerely yours
Bootus ]
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