"We leave for the South in the morning," he concluded.
The departure of the players on the train was the occasion for another celebration and demonstration at the depot. A big crowd collected, several newspaper photographers took snapshots, and there were cheers and floral emblems.
Joe wished his folks could have been present. Compared to the time when he had gone South to train for the Pittston team, this was a big occasion.
A reporter from the most important St. Louis paper was to accompany the team as "staff correspondent," for St. Louis was, and always has been, a good "fan" town, and loyal to the ball teams.
"All aboard!" called the conductor.
There were final cheers, final good-byes, final hand-shakes, final wishes of good luck, and then the train pulled out. Joe and his teammates were on their way South.
It was the start of the training season, and of what would take place between that and the closing Joe little dreamed.