Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-13
TALES ABOUT
BALL PLAYERS
BY HUGH s. FULLERTON


He never could agree with the policy of the
government (Which is a racial character
istic). but he was particularly against the
annexation of the Philippines
One afternoon Tim and Doc Mccarthy.
one Of his great friends, got into an argu-
ment on the subject up in the west side
trish-American club.
DO you mean to tell me-" asked Tim.
that the United States has any right to
those islands,"
''Of course they have" replied Mccarthy
They fought for them"
mo more right" said Tim, than Jim JEFF
fries has to own Coney Island because he
licked Tom Sharkey there
4 y
One of the finest battles ever fought In
connection with base ball was the one be-
tween the inimitable Dad Clarke, the old
comedian pitcher, and Anson's father-in-
law, Mr.. Fagel. The battle was pulled off
under the grand stand on the west side
grounds.
Clarke had been at Arson all day. roast
ing him, jeering at him, and abusing him
at every opportunity. and Anson's father
in-law, then man perhaps sfxty-five years
old, was wild with indignation, although
Arson himself paid little attention Mr..
Feigel could stand it no longer. He wanted
to get out on to the field and get revenge,
but that being impossible, he waited for
Clarke under the grand stand The battle
was a fair one, and the old man climbed
all over the pitcher, punching him around,
while Dad yelled for help, but no help came,
for Annie Rusie the only New Yorker who
had seen the battle, was leaning against a
post laughing at the spectacle of en- old man
humping a ball player and he and Clarke
never were friends again.
K
People who see ball players only when
they are performing cannot understand or
appreciate the odd whims and petty out
breaks Of some players. One of the most
iaughable things ever saw in Kansas
City one spring. The Chicago team had been
south, and divided in two squads was NOV
ing homeward to open the season. The gang
at Kansas City was filled out by an anna
teur, who was playing the outfeid.
The players had not been hitting well, and
1T Is better to travel in a cage of wild ami
mails than with ball club when none of
them Is making base hits. They were wild.
They couldn't understand 1t. Nobody was
hitting.
That day In Kansas City the first six men
went out without anything that looked like
a hit. and at the start of the third inning,
with the score to 0, the amateur came to
bat. He caught fast curve on the nose
and drove the ball far down left field line
beautiful two-bagger. He was tearing along
toward first when suddenly one of his team
mates ran out from the coachers box
stuck out his foot, tripped him, and sent
him rawling. He was put out before he
recovered from his surprise He arose angry
and hurt and rushed at the ball player.
What did you do that forP he demanded.
He found the professional madden than
he was, for the professional, ready to swing
on his jaw, demanded:
hot ffa r. ynIr oaiy f,lo bac
hits when ball players amt getting any?"
There was another case of the same kind
of jealousy one spring when Arson picked
huge crop of young pitchers. The club
house was crowded with youngsters look
ing for chance to make good. They d.
vided UP into cliques. When one pitched a
good game ell the others got around and
knocked him.
One afternoon shortly after the team
opened at home one Of the kid pitchers
went IN, won his game. and. besides that,
soaked out three nice hits. The others
morning two of them broke into his locker
in the clubhouse and sawed up all his bats.
Fred Pfeffes handed out one few days
ago. 1 ran across the old star on the street
and he stopped and asked:
Say, did you read about Mount vesu-
vius?''
Yes"
well" said Fritz, when we were on our
way around the world witt the Chicago ALL
American outfit. was standing right at the
edge of the crater looking down into It, /
turned and looked at Tom DAILY and said /;
Tom, I'm going right down from here. Sup
pose that thing should start shooting now.
And I went right down.
He paused until asked, .'Well?''
We'll" said Fritz, lust think what
would have happened II I'd staid there