After the meal, as Joe, Rad and some of the others strolled out for a walk about the place, our hero caught murmurs from the crowd of lads about the entrance.
"There's 'Toe' Barter," one lad whispered, nodding toward a veteran pitcher.
"Yes, and that fellow walking with him is 'Slim' Cooney. He pitched a no-hit, no-run game last year."
"Sure, I know it. And that fellow with the pipe in his mouth is 'Dots' McCann, the shortstop. He's a peach!"
And so it went on. Joe's name was not mentioned by the admiring throng.
"Our turn will come later," said Rad, with a smile.
"I guess so," agreed his chum, somewhat dubiously.
Reedville was a thriving community, and boasted of a good nine, with whom the St. Louis team expected to cross bats a number of times during the training season. Then, too, in nearby towns, were other teams, some of them semi-professional, who would be called on to sacrifice themselves that the Cardinals might have something to bring out their own strong and weak points.
"Let's go over to the grounds," suggested Joe.
"I'm with you," agreed Rad.