Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-16
.ELBERFELD WELCOMES
HIS TRANSFER HERE
Gay Times at the kids"
Home When Notified of
His Sale.

\ reporter for The Star. carrying the
telegram from Manager McAleer announ-
cling the purchase of Norman Elberfeld,
journeyed to Garrett Park. Md, yester-
day afternoon to herald the news to the
great little shortstop. The Kid lives
about a half a mile back from the sta
| ton, and when the reporter approached
the house he heard him calling his boy
Jack, a dead ringer for the father in
miniature.
Hello. Kid, How's the old boy
| called out the reporter. -......
Fine as silk and awfully glad to see
you What's doin?" replied Elberfeld.
I've got a telegram from McAleer
saying he has bought you for the Wash
! ingtons"
What do you think of that? Isn't
| that fine?" replied the kid" Come
inside. and / want to show the telegram
to my Wife
| Elberfeld led the way into his big
house and for five minutes there was
| something like an Indian war dance and
| jubilee being held. Mrs. Elberfeld leading
| the kiddies in joyful ordinations. After
| a few minutes quiet restored and
| Elberfeld sat down to a serious confab
| with the reporter.
Wanted to Come Here.
This is great thing for me-" said
| Norman. Il wanted to come to Wash
| ington for the past three years or more.
/ have sized up the crowds here and
know they will appreciate player who
is always trying his best to win games.
1 don't think President Farrell treated
Saf.tlI rityht lint Ill 1nfo
| thing pass now since ] am to don a
| Washington uniform.
| why did not some of the other clubs
bid for you?' the reporter asked.
They all know me- replied Elberfeld
with a SMILE and knew ii would be use
less to buy me if l didn't want to go
west. told Manager Stallngs that
would play only in New York or Wash
ington in preference player is abso-
lutely no good if he is dissatisfied with
his surroundings and | had certainly out
! lived my usefulness in little old New
| York.
Two of the western clubs wanted me
to play with them, but after had bought
this home here there was nothing to 1t
but Washington. anG all the managers
been close friends for years, and the old
boy '-nows l will play my head off for
/ him.
Il was never much in the dissipation
line, and since l have been married
| have never touched a drop of liquor. In
de these conditions l believe | have
1 good many years of first-ciass base ball
ahead of me. and l am going to demon
strate this belief to the Washington
| fans during the coming season
Manager Cantillon gathered splendid
| club in Washington last season, and be-
lieve the same as McAleer, that the team
is about due to show something in the
way of climbing up the pennant ladder.
In Perfect Condition.
How about that bad ankle" the re-
porter asked.
! absolutely perfect, replied Elberfeid.
| Il have had no trouble with it for sew
| eraI months, and I have given it several
! severe tests to satisfy myself. Physically
| / am in perfect condition right now, and
! | think the outdoor life | lead here will
keep me SO until spring.
| Elberfeld then took the reporter III tow
and showed him around the place. The
| Kids" home is quite a pretentious ar
| fair being three stories in height and con-
| tanning ten rooms, all of which is nee
essary, as he is the father of six of the
| brightest children imaginable. quick
| glance showed that E,lberfeId makes an
ideal father. as the children crowded
| around him without that awe that goes
with fear, but with the affection of true
| fellowship. Norman is proud of the kid
| dies and they of their father.
Outside there is a lawn leading down
/ to the road, and fifty-foot garden on
| each side of the house. In the rear are
| play houses for the children and the
| homes of chickens. Elberfeld is great
| chicken fancier, and he has about forty
| Of the highest class comfortably housed
| for the winter
| The Elberfeld home was purchased last
| spring. but only since the close of the
/ base ball season has the kid been able
! to get to work on it. Since early in Oc-
! tober Elberfeld has built grape arbor,
| erected several flower beds OF stone the
| latter being quite job. as loose stone is
| quite scarce around Garrett Park. taken
! care Of the two large gardens and many
] trees This work pleases the little fellow.
| as he is a farmer from the SORES OF ms
! feet to the top of his head, and by spring
| he will have a most beautiful spot
Short Trip Home.
What pleases the kid immensely is
the fact that he can make home after a
ball game in about forty-five minutes. He
| has tried it and knows every inch of the
way When the electric line is extended
| to Garrett Park he will be able to save
at least ten more minutes.
AS train time was approaching Elber-
i field insisted on accompanying the reporter
! to the station. and on the way there the
| little fellow told many things in conf
dence that stamp him as a man of I'M
usual force and will power, honest as the
day is long and a credit to the national
| game.
| 1t is not generally known that McAleer
and Elberfeld have been very close
friends for many years.
Whenever l got into trouble with the
umpires," said Elberfeld, II either wrote
or went to McAleer and he would inter-
cede for me with President Johnson.
Many of my scraps with the umpires
were brought about through my desire
to win games and under conditions that
thought were not exactly right. OF
course umpires make mistakes, but it is
hard to think that way when you are out
on the field giving up your hearts blood.
as 1t were, for the club you work for.
Several of the umpires understand me
and will let me go the limit, but there
are OtherS-Wow, woW-whO won't let