[LansdowneSt]

“Mr. Gertenrich was able to arrange his affairs for a lay-off of three months (in order to play for Springfield, and) the rich man negotiated with (Manager Jack) Hendricks for a position…The very next afternoon beheld Mr. Gertenrich, free from business care and happy as a proverbial lark, capering in the Springfield pasture and slamming that old ball like seven Cobbs and a Lajoie thrown in for luck.

“On his first day out he got three singles. Next day he amassed two triples and a double. The third day he whacked a home run and a single. On his fourth day he drew three passes and connected for a triple. On the morning of the fifth day Mr. Hendricks summoned him to headquarters.

“’Mr. Gertenrich,’ said Mr. Hendricks, pausing to wipe away a tear ‘you are a great batsman and a good fellow. You are setting this league afire. You are the wonder of the Twentieth Century. But you are breaking the hearts of my younger players. They cannot bat like you. They are losing their ambition. A few more games with you among them and they will pine away and die…Moreover Mr. Gertenrich, you have money. You do not need this job. The boys whom you are shoving into obscurity have little families and need the coin. I hate to say it Mr. Gertenrich,’—and the manager again wiped away a tear—‘but you and I must part. Here is your release. Goodbye, Mr. Gertenrich, and good luck be with you. Please go away, for I weep every time I look at you.”

As a candy maker, Lou Gertenrich, had one more connection with professional baseball. An advertisement for his company appears on the back of a baseball card set. The 120 card set–the more common version advertises American Caramel on the back (E121)—was issued in 1922. The Gertenrich variations are extremely rare.