CHIEF SUNRISE JOHN McGRAW and me Part 1
Fifteen-year-old runaway Hank Cobb joins up with Chief Sunrise, a Seminole Indian determined to pitch for the Giants in their 1919 season. The two arrive in Gainesville, Florida, where Chief plans to try out for John McGraw, the Giants’ manager. But McGraw and his team have already headed north. Short on funds, Hank and Chief take a job unloading a wagon at the train station. Then they head to a diner for breakfast.
WE WERE SIPPING our coffee when the screen door banged behind us. In walked our boss from the train station followed by two guys who looked enough like him to be his cousins.
“Hey, Chief,” the truckdriver called, “you’re in luck after all. Local boys have a game at the ballpark this afternoon. Maybe the visiting team can use you.”
His friends laughed like to split their sides. I figured something was up. But Chief, all he heard was baseball. He vaulted off that stool and out the door with me close behind.
We heard the screen door creak, and a voice yelled, “Hotel—ask for Mr. Jameson.” Then there were more laughs.
I caught up with Chief long enough to ask, “Do you know where the hotel is?”
“Towns like this, it’s always on the main street and near
