 The elder Lajoie , who worked as a teamster and laborer , died not long into the younger Lajoie 's childhood , which forced him and his siblings to work to support the family . Lajoie dropped out of school to work in a textile mill . He also began playing semi @-@ professional baseball for the local Woonsocket team under the alias " Sandy " , because his parents did not approve of their son playing baseball . He earned money as a taxi driver with a horse and buggy and locally was called " Slugging Cabby . " " When I told my father I had decided to take the job he was very angry . He shouted that ball players were bums and that nobody respected them , but I was determined to give it a try at least one season " , Lajoie later said . He also received the nickname " Larry " from a teammate who had trouble pronouncing Lajoie . Lajoie admired baseball players such as King Kelly and Charles Radbourn . 
