Evening star., 1909-02-14
KNOCKS FOR BALL
PLAYER AND BOXER
Cullen Takes a Fall Out of
Dissatisfied Base
Ball Men.
By Clarence L. Cullen.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

By Clarence L. Cullen.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.
NEW YORK, February 13 1909.
The other afternoon at Jawn Muggsy
McGraws billiard stablishment-which
sure is New York Winter League head
quarters-I met one strange, strange ball
player.
Strangest ball player I ever saw or
listened to in my life. ia often seen
him before. working on the diamond, and
working well: but I never knew before
what an utterly strange being he was
or is.
This ball player is one Of the crack
pitchers. I won't say what his name Is,
nor even mention which of the leagues
he pitches in, for he's a modest hombrey
which is strange in itself. considering
his profession-and he asked not to be
quoted.
Now. this pitcher person has been going
along delivering the goods for yahs and
yahs, as William Faversham and us folks
always say. He's been Joy to his en-
ployers. He gets a first-rate salary. he
never been a kicker. He's just been on
the job. as persons who are not ball play
ers are required to be by their bosses.
and has always done his best. He Is, as
l say, one Of the best men In the pitching
profession, and he Is good yet for years
of topnotch work.
Well, remembering how so many. many
Of the ball players right now are joining
the Hold-out League and yelling that
they amt a-goin' t play If they don't get
increases In pay that'll make 'em feel
that they're bein' 'preciated, doggone it
strange pitching person of whom I am
writing. down yonder at Jawn McGraW g.:
How does 1t happen that you never
joined the Order of Hold-outskis?'
This queer bug of base ball pitcher
laughed a dry sort of laugh. 1t was
then and there that he revealed himself
as a strange individual-most base ball
players. after they read this, will call
him insane-by expressing himself, In
essence, in the following terms: ,.,s
out for. I'm getting what's coming to
me. I'm well paid. ! get all earn. Be-
tween you and me, l often entertain
sneaking idea that get more than earn
required of an active pitcher every year.
and l sure do get nice little hunks OF
money from my boss for that work,
honest do.
II wouldn't feel like sticking the boss
up for any more coin, even II had the
feeling that I earned more than I'm get
ting. and. as I say, I haven't any such
feeling. No feeling like that at all. Yes.
1t is true, as the records show. that
always win large majority OF my games
during a playing season. Sure. Why
not? That's what I'm on the job for.
isn't It? It's my business and q point Of
pride with me to win just as danged
many games as I can win. isn't 1t? Well,
then. But that doesn't make me feel like
nudging the boss into a corner before l
slap my monaker to my contract along
about this time Of the year. and Waggltng
my chaps in his face and forcing him, or
trying to force him by the bulldozing or
hold-ou process. to give me more coin
for my work than I'm entitled to. That
is the gag they're playing, L know. ana
let 'em, If they like that kind OF stun.
But l can't see 1t for mine.
I'm pretty we'll treated / live pretty
fat My boss hauls me around the United
States for about eight months every year
in the finest trains a-gong. and feeds me
and shelters me at the best hotels he can
pick out, and coddles and pampers me a
l feel that I'm getting big share Of
things. And the dust that Is stuffed into
my pay envelope for this having-fun thing
during the greater part of the year more
than satisfies me. Why should join the
Order of the Hold-outskis?
Another thing: l take into considera-
ton. when 1 hit the pillow and have
chance to dope these things out. just
about what I'd be doing. and how much
coin I'd be hauling down: II l didn't
happen to be a base ball pitcher.
well. say, it's reflections of this sort
that certainly are calculated to make
me fail in love all over again with my
lot as base ball person. Now, aside
average dub. I've got the average
quantity of common sense. and no more.
Got just about the normal amount of
brains, but no more. Every day Of my
life 1 see. everywhere. all around me.
head stuff. have got me skinned forty
ways. 1 haven't got any trade. and I
sure couldn't make my living with my
head, If 1 had to keep my end up out
side Of base ball.
"Well, it would have been me. suppos-
ing l hadn't got into the base ball thing,
to drive truck or motor a street car or
hit 1t up as porter in store, or maybe
tend bar in a groggery or something Of
that sort. I'd have had to tackle a job
of one or the other or some similar kind
in order to get by and make bare living.
You know how much people are paid who
follow such paths. and how blamed
little they get out of life. But that would
have been me. for the surest thing you
know. If 1 hadn't accidentally made the
discovery that / had a pitching fin.
And so. thinking these things over.
why, can't help but sort O. gloat in the
middle of the night over the fine old way
SO to speak. With no ability to do any
thing worth mentioning-except pitch
and no chance to ever get anything that
even the man in everyday life with a fine
head on him often doesn't get. I've man.
aged, through getting into base ball. to
have the whoppingest fine old time you
ever saw Or heard of in all your life. I've
been paid about ten or fifteen times as
much coin as I'd ever have been able to
pull down out of base ball. I've been
enabled to put by enough of tho old kale
to provide for me comfortably for the
remainder of my life If I should break
my arm or lose a leg tomorrow. Base
ball has done all of this for me.
Wouldn't / be a nice kind of q dill, in
view Of all Of these considerations, to
stick out my paw in front Of my boss
and holler at him. Gimme, gimme-I
want more-gimme"
None Of the hold-out stuff for mine.
Mind. I'm not criticising the other fel-
lows who practice that end Of 1t. I'm
only talking for myself. But I don't
mind saying. at that. that I know slews
of these hold-out guys who'd have the
devil's own time of it trying to make
any kind of a living at all i'm competition
with men in everyday life il they hadn't
nudged up to the base ball snap and