 Take one man consumed by a driving ambition. Add the red color of hate in the blistering heat of a baseball diamond. That's our story, come back. Taken from the files of John Steele, adventurer. This is John Steele. If you like stories of savage action and heart emotion, pull up your chair because you've come to the right place. Most of our tales are about old friends of mine, but this week's is an exception. I first met Lou Johnson when I was scouting for one of the Major League Baseball Clubs, and though his story is a sports story, it's also one of a man. But here he is to tell it himself. Lou? They say once you're through in a big show, you might as well get out and stay out, because it's never the same after that. Well, I didn't feel that way about it. Baseball was my whole life, and I wanted to play the game, even if it meant going down to the Class B League to do it. So after I was released from the Majors, I went down to AAA, then on down the line until I ended up with the Memphis Graves and the Three State League. But I never stopped hoping that someday I'd get called back upstairs. That's why I could put up with the lousy food and the night bus rides and all the rest of it. It was baseball, I played it hard all the way. Like the day we were playing the Chattanooga Chiefs. It was early in the season, everybody on the team had pretty much made up their mind we weren't going any place anyways. Chiefs were in first place by three games, pulling away from the rest of the league. We were last. Skip, our manager had started a young kid by the name of Snell in my place at third. I'd been warming the bench all day. It was our half of the ninth. We were one run behind. Coombs, our shortstop, got a single to start things off. Next two men played out. That brought up the kid, Georgie Snell. Lou's got a hit for you. Just keep an eye on me, kid. I'll show you how it's done. Let's get a banner over here. Get going, Lou. Just watch the old professional, kid. I don't get it, Skipper. Come on, you're delaying the game. Johnson for Snell. I know. I know. Step in there and let's get this over with. That's just what I'm planning on doing. Well, if it ain't Mr. Major League himself. Okay, Curly, here's the big man himself. Pappy, let's see that high high one. Pappy running into his chin. And here it is, here it is. That his fastball? Yeah, that's his... Kind of the stitches on it as it went by. Hey, here that Pappy, second astronaut, I'm high enough. Come on, I gotta train again. Just giving them their money's worth. Curly, come on, let's give them that big floater, baby. Bend in that big one and watch them swing. And it's now, big man, now! Tell him not to come over to play it again or he's lost a ball game. Listen to him sing, Curly. Listen to him sing. Yeah, yeah. Okay, Pappy, we're way out in front. Got him to waste, baby. Come on now, let's put one right over the button on his cap, Curly. Let's make him out of there. And here it is, here it is. Watch if the Skipper's gonna take me out when things get hot. You got plenty of time. Yeah, yeah. Don't take it so hard. Them is has it and them is ain't. Well, I know I've got it. Just ain't a ball player, kid. He's got to learn to take it. Yeah, you're sure that's the reason? Of course it is. Okay, the sock's called Charlie Harris, back to the Major. When? Yesterday. What do you know about that? Yes, I need some pennant insurance. You sure? Yeah, yeah. It's in tonight's paper. Says he's gonna be used as a pinch hitter. Oh, Charlie. Yeah, he should have been out in the front by five games by now. Yeah. Maybe Harris will give him the power to need. Maybe. Have to keep an eye on him. Yeah. What's the matter with you? Nothing. Let's get in that shower before the hot water is gone. Huh? Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I cleaned up, I bought a paper and beat it back to my room at the hotel. Yeah, there it was and headlines on the sport page. Harris recalled of the Majors. That was good. At least I knew the socks needed some help. And if Harris didn't work out, well, I might get back upstairs yet. Like Herman says, I was gonna keep an eye on him. I went out to the field for practice next morning, but it's different. Now, going back to the big time was a lot more than just a dream. Play the game harder and ever. Make ever play count. Yeah, that was the way to do it. I was walking up to take my turn in the batting cage when the skipper called me aside. Hey, Johnson! Yes, Skip? Come here a minute. Sure. What's up? I, uh, want to talk to you. Shoot. I've been worrying. Oh, forget it, Skip. We ain't always gonna be in last place. Ah, it's not that. Well, what then? I don't like to do what I did yesterday. Oh, that's okay, Skip. I don't mind if you get playing in my spot. I don't mean that. Huh? Young Snell's a pretty good ball player. Yeah, he's a kid. That's just it. He needs experience. Well, why don't you send him down? Down to where? Where the bottom? Yeah. He's never gonna learn if I don't give him the chance. Oh, what are you supposed to do? Throw away ball games or a green kid can get used to the heat? I know, I know. That's your job, ain't it? Winning games? That's part of it. I don't get you. The other part is developing good prospects to send up to the majors. You think anyone up in the socks office cares where the Memphis Gray stand in the Three State League? Oh, I don't know. Seems to me. Well, I don't. If I can send up one good player every three years, that's what makes some sense upstairs. Well, what's that got to do with me? Just this. I like to win ball games just as much as you do. Yeah? I know that during a game, there's not always the time to let a kid get his lump. So? You've got experience. Now, wait a minute. There's a lot you could teach now, if you want. You think I'm gonna be nurse-maid to a skinny kid? I just meant to... I got myself to think of. Someday I'm going back to the majors. Are you? Yes, I am. I ain't got the time. Let him learn the way I learned. The hard way. Ah, I guess I had you figured wrong. Oh, what are you talking about? I never thought Lou Johnson would worry about a kid taking his spot. Oh, you're nuts. Hi. What is it then? Hey, where is he? Over at the sliding pit. Yeah. Remember, this was your idea. Thanks, Lou. Yeah. Remember. What do you think I made them fly in class for? He's in the bag and then coming roaring. Look at some of the best baseball in the game today. They spent hours in the pit and then went... Oh, hello, Lou. Hi, Herman. This bunch of kids afraid to get their pants dirty. Yeah, I know. What are you doing over here? Skips one, better help out. Oh, you can have it. I never saw it. That's not a good one. Hey, kid. What do you want? Let's see a follow-up slide. What for? Don't give me a hard time. Skips orders. Go ahead, kid. That's better. Now go ahead. That's pretty good. Falling your teeth. Says who? You don't believe me? Try it again. I'll get on the bag. You throw me a ball, Herman. Give a kid a chance. Okay, wise guy. What's the matter, kid? You getting hot? Try it again. Sure. Only don't do a follow-up. This time, come in with your spikes flying and break up a double play. I'll stay on the bag and hold the ball. Now, if I can get out of the way of your spikes and throw to Herman, your slide stings. Okay? Sure. Hey, wait a minute, Lou. We don't want no one getting hurt. It's all in fun. Ain't it, kid? Yeah, all in fun. Go on, Herman. Get back here. Okay. It's your legs. Go on, Snell. Sure. Ready, Herman? Yeah. Come on, kid. Spikes up. The best you can do. What do you mean? I got the ball to you. Do I get the ball to you, Herman? Sure. Hey, kid, that slide's one more ball game than any other play in the book. Yeah? You got to play it hard. You got to knock the pivot man's pins clean up from under him. Don't worry about the bag. Just get those spikes in his legs. Here, I'll show you. You stay on the bag and try to get the ball to Herman. Hey, now, wait a minute. Stay out there, Herman. Skip Sorter. Go ahead. Big shot. Show me how. Sure. Okay, kid, here I come. Just a scratch. Get it up! Come on, seven inches long. Somebody get the doc. Bad, huh? Sir, do you rat? You shouldn't have done that, Lou. You shouldn't have done that. That ain't for real. No. You take that girl. It's been so quiet. What's the matter with you? Oh, it's nothing. Want to stop for a beer? No, I feel like it tonight. It's awful hot. I don't care if you want. What's the matter with you? Snap out of it. Or we'll stop for a drink. No, forget I brought it up. Love stuff to bunk, huh? Yeah, sure it is. Uh, how come you never got hitched, Lou? Huh? You used to have plenty of girls. Yeah, I guess I had my share. Uh, how come you never married one of them? Never had the time, I guess. That's what I thought. Oh, you know how it is. Always shoving onto another town. Yeah. Every one place long enough to get to know anybody. Didn't you never want to get married? Yeah, thought about it. It'd be nice to have a little house. Kid, maybe. I guess I figured I'd come later. Other things more important. Like what? Playing the game, working my way upstairs. Yeah. Maybe you've played it too hard. Huh? What do you mean by that? Oh, nothing. I was feeling good till you started talking. I know. What a creep. Sorry. Want to buy paper? Okay. Give me the chronicle. Thanks. What's your headline? Here's some stuff about Korea. See the sports page. Here we are. Let's see. The socks one day do today. Yeah, yeah, here it is. I lost three, two. Now, where's the write-up? Yeah, it'll be down to the bottom. Oh, it's pitching well in the ninth inning. Charlie Harris, who flew in from Indianapolis this morning, was sent in to Pinchhead for Robinson. He might just as well have come by train because with two out in the tine and one in runs on base, he struck out to end the game. How about that? What? Harris was sent in to... I heard you. A couple more like that and the socks will be beaten to bushes for another pinchheader. I suppose so. How long we known each other, Lou? Well, 15 years, I guess. Let's see, we'd come up the socks together in 35. Funny thing. I've never really known you till now. Huh? I guess the guys were right this afternoon. Oh, they're just a bunch of punks. Are they? Well, sure they are. That's a trouble, Lou. I don't think they are. What do you mean? They wanted to go to skip and have you thrown off the team. But I stood up for you. So they didn't know you like I did. Well, why would they... They think you spiked the kid on purpose. Well, those things happen. No, they don't. It was an accident. I thought so this afternoon. Now I know I was wrong. What are you trying to... You spiked that kid today and now you're out laughing and having a good time. He'll be out for a month, maybe more. You didn't even go over to the hospital to see him. It's a tough game. You got to play it hard all the way. The guys were right. Well, what difference does it make? Skip never would have listened to him. Maybe not. So long, Lou. Damn jerk. The guys all got together the next day and wanted to skip. He told them they were crazy. It was just an accident. From then on, I played third regular. What was playing every day, my game sharpened up. My batten average started climbing until I was hitting around 390. Team climbed up in the first division. I knew I was carrying him. Kid's leg got infected and I kept him off the field another two weeks. In late August, he started taking practice with us. Being a kid, he came along fast. Meantime, I'd been keeping my eye on Charlie Harris up with the socks. From what the paper said, he was having a rough time. He had two hits and 35 trips to the plate. Sports writers would call him the All-American Out. It was the last week in August. We had a big game with the Chiefs that afternoon. We're just going out for field and practice when Skip called us all together. All right. This'll end with some of you, but not many. I got word from the office today that the scout from the socks will be at tomorrow's game. So if you have any big ideas, tomorrow's a day to show them. What are we waiting for? Let's go. Okay, fellas, that's all. Hey, Skip. Yeah, Johnson? What do you want? Uh, who's coming down? Did they say? What? The scout. Who is it? Oh, oh. John Steele. John Steele. You know him? Uh-huh. Sure, sure. I know him well. Uh, Lo, I've been watching you careful for the last week. Yeah? I notice you're hitting this kind of tapered off. I think you're pressing too much. No. I know this means a lot to you tomorrow, and I thought... What? I thought maybe I'd play Snell this afternoon. No, no. The kid's about ready to start and it'll give you a day of rest. No, Skip. You don't even have to take field and practice today. It might be just what you need to have a big day tomorrow. I don't need no rest. Well, you can suit yourself about practice, but Snell's gonna play this afternoon. Skip. You don't know what's good for you. I'll show you. I don't need no rest. I'll go out there and catch everything in sight. I know you can feel. I'll just have a... I'll show you. Come on, Skip. Let's get going. Okay. Go on, Lo. Get out there. You just watch me, Skip. I'll catch everything in sight. Press while you finish your private conference. Jerk. It's a matter of being set. Trying to get out of practice. Jerk. Here comes one. Get yours, kid. That was mine all the way. Yeah, why don't you take it then? Hit us another, Skip. Cold jerks. The wall out cold. Jerks. Head first. Out cold. The wall out cold. The wall cold. Cold. Cold. Cold. Cold. Cold. Cold. Cold. Cold. Cold. Cold. Cold. Cold. Cold. Cold. Cold. Cold. Cold. Cold. So, the team is coming up tomorrow, and I got up on my feet. I was runky as a lush, and a ten day bendy, got some clothes on, took off, out the backdoor. I dunno where I went, or how long I walked. When I got back the hotel is dark. Unlocked the door of my room even before I turned on the light and anybody was there. Where you been? What are you doing here? Where ya been? Skip's been lookin' all over for you. I dunno. Been up here five times. Yeah? How you feelin'? I'm okay. Sure? Yeah, and I get out and leave me alone. Sure, I'll go in a couple of minutes. I just want to say I'm sorry about tomorrow. What about tomorrow? Skip says I'll be playing third. Oh, he did, huh? Yeah. We'll see about that. Doc says you can't play. We'll see. I'm sorry you worked out like this. What do you mean? I wanted to beat you fair and square and not this way. Besides, I had you all run. Yeah? You can play tough for the other guys, but I know better now. Well, it gives you that idea. I heard you warned me off that wall just before you hit it. I'm the right guy to do that. Yeah? Yeah. You know, it's probably the first time I ever played for a scout. That's so? I'd sure like to do good. I guess you would. Not a hitter yet, but I will be since I get my swing time. You think so? You know, Lou, I've been thinking. There's a way that it'd make it seem as though you were right up at that plate tomorrow. You know how I take those three little steps before I hit the ball just like Dixie Walker used to? Well, if you'd helped me get my timing right, it'd be just like you was up there. So that's it. Huh? You're a little worm. Come squirming around here, tell me what a good guy I am. Suppose I'll give you the tip that'll send you upstairs. You got it all wrong. Well, let me tell you something, smart guy. I knew there was something behind it all along. You're nuts. And I'll tell you something else. I wasn't warning you off that wall this afternoon because I didn't even see the wall. I was trying to scare you off the ball so as I could make the catch. Now, what do you think of that? It was right in the first place. That's the trouble with you little punks. You don't know how to play the game hard. I should have known better. Now, get out of here before I throw you out. Well, I won't until I... Cut it down, Johnson. I don't want to hurt you. Cut it out, little punk. You can't hit you, Johnson. You're a rat. Won't even fight back. Your head is... You got to play it hard. Now, get out of here. Sure, I'll get out. Until I tell you something... You're sick and there ain't no doctor can help you. Shut up. All your life you've been playing ball, playing it so hard you forgot everything else. You don't even know there's anyone else alive. And you know why? Because you're scared to death inside. Scared you ain't good enough. Scared somebody's going to take your spot away. Scared you ain't going to make the great. Now you've got something to really be scared about because you're going to get left holding a bag. You're going to get old and you won't have baseball and there are people and there are nothing because nobody's going to care. Well, you're through now and you ain't got nothing. Nothing. I feel sorry for you. After the game I locked myself in my room and slept. Phone rang six or seven times during the night but I didn't answer it. About three in the morning Skip came up and banged on the door. I just laid in bed and listened and finally he went away. And I went back to sleep. Guess I was too tired even to dream. When I woke up it was ten o'clock in the morning my head still ached. Whole right side was stiff. I took one of the shades down, rolled it up and practiced swinging until my side started to loosen up. I didn't go out to the field until after game time. And I got to the locker room that was empty. Pulled on my uniform, packed some cotton in under my sliding pads to protect that hip. And I got to the dugout, the game had started. Johnson, what are you doing here? I'm on the team, ain't I? You should be in the hospital. I feel great Skip. Honest. Well, he ain't going to play so you might as well go back to the hotel and rest. I'll stick around. Maybe you could use a pinch hitter later on. Suit yourself. What I'm telling you, you ain't going to play. Sit down. Snell's up, huh? Never get a hit. Yeah, shut up. Go show. Yeah, he's right behind the dugout. Good. Another line drive. Yeah, right to the shortstop. If he just straightened one of them out. Sorry, Skip. Just can't seem to get a hold of one of these. Okay, kid. Oh, sure, that's okay. We didn't need the run anyway. Yeah, shut up, lol. If you'd let me go in and hit them. I'll be back in a minute. Where are you going? Stay away from that kid. Don't worry. Let me see that arms, Snell. Beat it. I saw you flinch when you reached for the rail. Shut up. Let me see it. Good. Ah, swollen. How'd that happen? Snuffin. Last night? Snuffin, I tell you. Dumb jerk. You've been out there battin' with a sprain wrist. All right. You going to game away? We won't even playin' with eight men. Shut up. What's the idea? You said to play it hard, well, that's the way I'm playin' it. There wasn't no more scorein' when we got to the last half of the night. There was still one run behind. First man flight out, next man walked. Next man struck out. Two down and a man on base. When Snell went walkin' up to the plate. Playin' him to pull them left. Yeah, such a kid. Yeah. He hasn't got it, that's all. What's the use of kiddin' myself? Skip. How do you feel, lol? Huh? You're ahead. How's it feel? Kinda, kinda rocky, eh? Yes, it's been too much for me today. Yeah, afraid of that. Let me go out and talk to him, Skip. You think I'm nuts? Nothin' to worry about. I promise you. Okay, okay, I'll try anything. Time, I'm time for me. I ain't got much time. When do you start takin' those three little steps before you hit the ball? Huh? Tell me. Uh, I see the ball comin' around from behind his head. Now listen to me. I used to watch Dixie hit. Wait till the ball leaves his hand. It didn't go into your dance. How do I know you're just a kid? Okay, wait till tomorrow to find out if I'm right if you wanna. Come on, still termsy. Now go on, kid. And stop pressin'. You sure takin' his time. Yeah, but to the right, but to the right. John Steele, kid. Oh, thanks, Mr. Steele. Don't I know you from somewhere? Well, I'm, uh... I'm Lou Johnson. Yeah, sure. Now I remember. Say, I like the way this kid hits. Nice swing. Bad luck today hitting him at people. But he hit everyone smack on the nose. Yeah, he's got a good swing. I'd like to have a talk with you after you clean up, Steele. Well, uh, sure. Thanks, Mr. Steele. See you later. Nice to see you again, Thompson. I guess I was right the second time, huh, Lou? What? What? Looks like you're on your way, kid. I'll be seeing you again, Lou. Huh? Because I'm gonna tell them up there they got a good coach goin' away down here at Memphis. I'll be seeing you again, Lou. Maybe. Maybe. The title? Comeback. The story of a man who learned that sometimes you can step down to go upstairs. And if you like Lou's story, friends, why not come back next week? I'll have a man who is trapped not ten feet from civilization and whose life depended on a single blade of grass. I like to call it Juniper Bush. So until next week, this is John Steele saying, A life of adventure is yours for the asking wherever you find it. Only don't look for it. It may find you. Well, goodbye and good hunting. This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.