The Cairo bulletin., 1905-04-21


money and he can afford to lose d
short time in gathering experience
and seeing the country. If he cannot
be would better start at his life work
as soon as he gets his degree. If
he does not he may play base ball
five, perhaps ten years longer and
then begin at the bottom Of taa lad
der, unskilled in any special line. and
look for a position which pays but
small salary.
Learn ENtrawagant Habits.
The worst fault Of the baseball
business is that ii teaches young men
tho habit of extravaganza and high
living. Naturally the players on each
great team are lauded as heroes by
their admirers the newspapers are
full of accounts of their doings; they
meet hundreds of good fellows" wnO
want them 10 drink, smoke, or ca
rouse with them. They meet sports
of wealth and they Try to initiate
these sports" They spend their
money for rich clothes, wines, cost
ly cigars, and diamonds, and usually
when they are suddenly confronted
with ten days notice of release the
diamonds ere about all that they have
years. The old timers We're more
reckless in this regard than the new
generation of ball players, but there
are enough youngsters now wasting
money.
TO me it is sad commentary on
the game to see the great stars of 9th
er days toiling as day laborers. The
greatest pitcher of them all IS dig
ging bitches in Indianapolis; perhaps
the greatest infielder the world has
known is clerSing in a cigar store at
$12 a week. | have seen him spend
$500 in one night | find them in
cheap saloons, on police forces, in
city jobs. but few in any established
| business and still fewer accumulating
wealth. They wasted their years of
time on the ball field and wasted the
money that they earned.
There is opportunity, | admit. for a
young player who will work hard and
save his money, and devote himself
entirely to his business, to lay up
| enough to start him in some small.
| respectable business when his arm
gives out or his muscles stiffen up.
But the temptations that are thrown
in the way of a ball player are eX-
tremely liable to shake him in his
purposes of saving | have known
only one ball player who consistently
| followed this plan, and he was bit
terly disliked by his fellows He now
owns one of the best grocery bust.
ness in New England. He went into
the business to use his talents, and
get money enough to start his bus-
ness and he stuck to il and sue
ceeded
One of the best known pitchers in
the United States was in the game
eight years ago. Unable to stand the
temptations he went to pieces, and
was relegatod to the minor leagues.
He went downward again-and
dropped out of the minors. He went
home, secured a position in an ex
press office at $12 a week. He stead
led down and was increased to SIS
week. He pitched on Sundays and
holidays. A manager saw him and
realized that he was himself again.
He was offered $4,000 10 pitch the
next season. His wife pleaded with
him to refuse and keep out Of the
business. He re-entered the business,
vowing that he would make it pay
back what he had lost and that he
would behave himself. Thus far he
has done fairly well, although not so
well as he pledged himself to do.
Sudden End to Lofty Dreams.
AT the end of base ball career the
player is usually left stranded in the
business world. He gains false
idea of his own importance from the
cheers of the crowd-and the crowd
forgets him almost as soon as he gets
out of his uniform. He depends upon
some of his powerful friends" to get
him a position when he gets through.
The end usually comes with startling
suddanness. The friends that he re-
lied upon are not so friendly to a
back number as to brilliant player.
He drifts to the minors. drops ont OF
sight and seldom rises again.
There are brilliant exceptions to
this rule-but most of these except
ions are men who quit base ball while
still good and seized other business
chances. A. G. Spalding made an
immense fortune out Of the business,
quitting playing TO become a club
owner and manufacturer of athletic
goods. Harry Wright died poor.
'sUncle Nick Young is toiling away
in a department at Washington. Ar
tie IRWIN is hustling promoting shows,
Mike Kelly died BROKE Amos Rusie
is digging bitches, JOcko Menefee
owns factories and land, but he en-
tered the business early and worked
IT up while still playing baseball. Bill
Hutchinson is a clerk in Kansas City.
Bill Hill is on the police force in Gin
cinnati: Tony Mullane in Chicago
Arson is city clerk in Chicago. He
auit the business with oaly a moder-
ate amount of money after a quarter
of a century as star. Dave Orr is