The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-05
From the Chicago Tribune.

From the Chicago Tribune.
~ Me would think that ball players,
strong, always in condition. ath-
letes and men subject to intense
strain of nerve, would fight like Kilkenny
cats Yet, as matter of fact, the pro-
fesslonal players seldom do battle either
Is not nice to think OF men fighting. yet
some Of the most laughable things in
baseball are the fights between the men
not exactly the fights themselves, but the
reasons that lead up to them They come
from the most trivial, inconsequential
causes-and usually result from the sud
den swapping OF tense nerves, the momen-
tary giving away to temper over some
small thing. The tempers give way fire.
quently, but 1t is seldom that the tenn
pers of two men give way at the same
time-which explains the infrequency of
1stlc battles.
One OF the greatest battles between ball
players was the one fought by Harry
Steinfeldt and Tommy Corcoran at the
Laughery club, Garry Herrmann's head
quarters In the country, near Cincinnati.
The players had not been the best of
friends during the season, and when they
were invited to be the guest of Presi-
dent Hermann at the club late in the
year the trouble came to a head. They
did awful battle. 1t Is stated by wit
nesses that Corcoran walked all over
Steny. beat him up shamefully and made
over his features to suit himself
They were separated and, fearing that
the battle might injure the fair name of
the club, Corcoran took his late opponent
in a carriage drove four miles to a rail-
rnt L., r.rftI h4,,. .I. l.
to Cincinnati, and then, getting In cab
with him, delivered him safely at home.
Before they arrived at Stelny's home they
were better friends than ever, and both
were sorry.
Kid Gleason perhaps is the hghtngest
little man in the business. lie fights like
wildcat-and makes cooper going
around a barrel look slow
There was one historic battle in the
club house at the Polo grounds which
shows the Kid fair and a sportsman, One
of the New York players purposely and
viciously cut down n Chicago player on
the bases during a hot game He cut the
Chicagoan all up with his spikes, laying
him up with serious wounds.
After the game Gleason went to the
club house. and in the presence OF the
entire New York team proceeded to tell
his fellow-players what he thought OF the
act His language WAS resented and a
battle resulted. The other player weighed
almost twice what Gleason did, but the
Kid crawled all over him, pommeled him
from every side, and then from on top,
beat him up, and then made him walk
over to the Chicago club house and apollo
gize to the injured Chicago player.
The Kid has a reputation Of whipping
every man who deserved whipping he
could get at--and OF never fighting ex-
cept in n just cause. and he Is one Of the
most popular little fellows that ever
played the game
Ned Swartwood. the big good natured
umpire, who served with honor In the
National. once had a run-in with Johnny
| McGraw that was laughabie. He drove
| McGraw Off the ball field at Baltimore.
and the little fellow was wild with rage.
After the game McGraw met swarty In
the passageway under the stand, at a
point near where q small bridge crosses
| the little creek that flows between the
| stand and the club house.
ave a notion to take a punch at your
| jaw" said the wrathy Mac.
| Swarty. good-naturedly stuck out his