The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-03-03
IF | It's H E r E
IT'S RIGHT
CATCHER STICKS
FOR CAR FARE
Brings President of Club to
Terms and Then Blows
Money for Drinks.

In commenting on catcher George Glib
sons acknowledgment to President Drey-
fuss that his work last season didn't war
rant an increase in his salary a New York
writer says:
once there was a catcher who belonged
to club in the west. 1t doesn't matter
much what club. because he Is past and
gone now, and the baseball procession
has oozed away from him.
He was asked TO come to the office
some pleasant day and sign his contract
for the next season. He rang the bell
one morning, sidled up to the contract
bureau. said Good morning to every
body, and allowed that he was willing to
talk business.
A nice, clean, shining white contract was
lifted out Of the secretary's desk and
handed over to him. 1t stipulated that
this catcher was TO receive $500 for
the season. The catcher read it through
somewhat leisurely, crossed out the 800
wrote In its place s5,0o0, and said he would
begin welding together his autograph as
soon as the club accepted his terms.
Wanted a Big Raise.
The club. from the president to the
office boy, threw up its hands and pretty
much everything else. The cat, seeming
a difference of opinion, resolved itself
into a committee of the whole to get out
of the room and SIT on the roof Of the
secretary caught his breath MS language
came f. such chunks that he nearly
choked.
The catcher did not sign that morning.
nor the next, nor for several days there
after. He called repeatedly, and after
each call the c0ntending parties were al
ways nearer a compromise, but they
couldn't quite tag on.
At length it grew nearer the tiu1e for
the players to go south for practice. and
it was agreed that this particular catcher
should be forced to state his position, or
be notified that he could take his spring
practice at his own expense.
Perhaps intuition told him that he had
about reached the limit In negotiations.
for the next morning when he called he
cut the figure to something like q reason
able limit and the club owners taking
encoura cement therefrom. began to dis
cuss business with renewed energy.
Finally he said he would write his terms
on a slip of paper and place il, writing
down. on the desk. and II the president
would do the same on behalf of the club.
he would split the difference. if there
was one within 500, and sign for the
summer.
Stood Out on Technically.
Thereupon he scrubbed. and the presi-
dent scrubbed, and the secretary. as UNI
pire, turned over to him the slips after
they had been placed before him. to see
how the club an dthe players stod.
The president had written 5000.
The player mad written SJcul.Uo.
This is easy" said the secretary de-
lightedly. There is only difference OF
$1.o5 between you. If I split that, accord
ing to agreement you Will get over S.W
year. But say what's the Sl.05 for2
81 won't stand for any splitting Of
that, said the catcher. That's the size
of the street car fare I've blown in 70
try 10 do business with you people. II
that's split I'll play this year with a
bush team
ooh. we wouldn'e think of dividing
that amount" said the president of the
club hurriedly. Let the figures go at
s3,001.05. and If you haven't any objection.
Wen just pay you the Sl.O5 on account
now and have it out of the way"
So the money was paid over and receipt
was given by the catcher. He felt so much
relieved and easy after the transaction
was completed that he invited the club
owners to celebrate with him at his ex-
pense.
There were five of the club. They order
ed just enough tc bring the check to 81
The catcher had five cents left with
which TO buy a glass. of beer.
But he was game. He bought sarsa-
parilia because he got more for his money