Evening star., 1909-03-07
ARUE LATHAM
DOCTOR OF WIT
Merry as a Sunbeam Out Of
School, But He Knows
Base Ball.
Wit bon vivant. optimist, visionary.
Who, Waller Arlington Latham

wit, bon vivant. optlmlst, visionary.
Who. Walter Arlington Latham
Wit-Has given voice TO more improrp-
tn sallies, sparkling with humor. than
any professional player IN base balls h!s-
tory.
Bon vivant-Knows tho value OF terra
pin, and partakes Of II discrim!natinEly;
also knows the value OF apple pie. and
partakes OF it literally.
Optim.st-Never saw q cloud over the
sun in his life.
Visionary-Since 1853 has been cheerful
ly tramping along life's highway. ex-
pecting daily to catch up with the bag OK
silver spoons at the end OF the rainbow.
Born in New Hampshire under the shad-
ow OF the Green mountains: Puritan by
family, a Louisiana creole by tempe-a-
ment.
In his time he has played many paris,
but the harlequin best of all. II was born
with a smile and / will die with one"
said the jester of the diamond one day
in moment OF seriousness.
In his youth Latham could run lp
yards in 10 seconds. When he played base
ball in the major leagues he was almost
that fleet. He has been known to make
running jump OF u feet inches. he
could play roller polo like fiend. He IS
those young fellows-and there are plen'y
Of them in Connecticut, Rhode Island,
Massachusetts. Vermont and New fIamp-
shire-who can do almost anything on
track or field. and do It well. even
though they are not champions.
When He Began.
The first professional base ball played
by Latham was at Pittstield. Mass. IN
1877. He played there the next season.
The Pittsfield club could beat almost
anything in that part of the known world.
New England clubs came to Pittsheld in
vested with such shinplasters could
be spared from immediate circulation and
walked home after they had finished the
games.
Our young hero played third base. flirt-
ed with the girls and caught with rare
gallantry in those days. II was prior to
the time when the catcher must sit under
meath the bat for all of the nine innings.
From Pittsfield Latham went to stone
ham. That, too. was in New England.
He had not escaped the stony Businesses
Of Massachusetts.
Next year he broke out. He Eot as far
west as Buffalo-thanks to the kind in
teryention Of friends along the road
There was disposition to capture him
at every station.
He was in Buffalo three years. During
that time he divided attraction with the
falls of Niagara. From Buffalo he went
10 Philadelphia for time. but rebelled at
the inability OF the citizens to appreciate
his jokes. and attached himself to the 81.
Louis Browns, where he made the nit VI
mis- career.
Now Came Fame.
In st. Louis he became one of this most
famous ball players in the history OF the
sport He played third base with rave
from him. but Latham. in explaining 1T.
had habit of informing his friends that
they could not possibly ask one so good
natured to shorten his life and deprive
them Of his company.
Ile was one Of the best base runners IN
the big game. There never has been
much of time when he has not been
good base runner; Even when his props
began to show indications OF ossifying
Latham could beat some Of the kinder
Earten around the bases.
His career In ST. Louis was grand
success. 1t was duel Of finances between
him and Chris Won der Abe. The latter
club. During the time that Latham played
for him 1t Is conjectured that Chris
fined ".Arle" not less than Sl,oO0.OOO.
1t is also on record that Latham prob
ably never paid cent of the fines. Fur
ther than that, careful research into tie
records OF the high finance as they were
made in St. louis in that era shows that
while Latham was signed for yearly
contract of about $1,000 ne usually man
aged to get So 500 out of Chris in ons
way and another before the season was
over, and that his six years with the 1t
Louis club probably brought him about
$4,000 real money, to which may be adGet
the sum Of S1,0OO.O00 in nnes never COZ
lected. which would make Latham the
highest sala ried player in the word.
This Is put in just to show some of these
latter-day young cubs who think mat
they are such nish-priced persons that
they are handicapped fifty yards in 100 by
Latham.
When the bl herhood "shindy" came
on Latham went to Chicago with Comis-
key. He was not SO much OF a success
in that city. The players got an idea
that Latham was not wholly in love with
the brotherhood. Nor WAS he. The only
difference between Latham and some or
the other brotherhood members was tnat
he was frank enough TO show his disgust
at the manner in which things were go-
ing. while the others tried to place the
blame for their downfall on the shoulders
of somebody else.
What He Didn't Do.
Latham did not indulge in intoxlcants
and appear on the field out OF condition.
blaming the unfortunate owners Of base
ball clubs for all the evil Of the world.
He was frank enough TO admit that occa-
sionally the players are much at fault.
From Chicago he went to Cincinnati.
and there he remained until his arm lost
Its strength. and he was compelled 10
abandon ma jorsleague base ball for goni.
Since then? Well, he has been an umpire
which he says is tie only punishment
that he has been called upon to endure
since he first saw the light of fday-ha5
played III minor leagues has goile about
the country looking over young ball play
ers and handing down expert advice 10
club owners. and has clerked and worked
and worked and clerked.
The New York base ball club National.
desired man to assist McGraw fhis
spring In teaching young players the art
Of expert base running. Latham Was
chosen. That's why he is on the pay roll.
Incidentally, II he can add to the JOY OF
nations and individuals. by contributing
an occasional sally of Wit. there is no
objection, so far as can be ascertained.
There are a great many persons in tha
world more lugubrious than "Arlie'
Latham. If he hasn't written philos-
ophy. he has banished many care, and
there is little difference, after all, in the
two occupations.
Clown. dude--for he Is rated as one Of
he smartest Gressers of all the profession
al pIayers-me doctor of base
ball, versed in all its tricks and subtleties.
he worst he will do all the season Will be
10 provoke a laugh now and then and
have the weather eye OF every umpire
turned in his direction. for the learned
referees know the sharpness Of his tongue
nd -ptftr1 1nSt Cs ~