Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-07
THREE FUNNY men
IN BASE BALL
AItroCk. Schaefer and WaddeII
Always Entertaining
to the Crowds.
By Umpire Billy Evans.


l,lavnr mas become big favorte through
MS power to get back at the crowd and
jtIl off stunts that amuse.
Perhaps no payers on the AMERICAN
: c.,.rIo circuit receive more attention
ION the fans than Germany Schaeter
"a th. Tigers. Rubc Waddell of the
I.r,,vns or Nick -\ltrock of the Nhitc
SON.
Thc basa ball fans go to The ball game
for endowment. and while they get much
~ it from seeing brilliantly piaFeo
game. yet these players, WE" mix NIUE
comedy ia with the serious roles are a.
way.; ned in high favor OFTEN the rams
poke fun ar them. Gpring antiauatcd jokes
at their expense and In genera AT iehN
try - hold them UP 10 rluicHic, p't
wien asked for an opinion on the piaFc.
ia an, stIcC they always pave Soiie gu"
word 10 pff"r.
When Manager Hughey jennings of IN"
Detroit team introduced his no" famous
innovations in the coaching depaftn,en,,
vi the game the fans simply went Eild
ny-.l thl Tiger IL ader. The rooterS laugh
ed the players were amused. ana the
rsrlc of Jennings was on the sport page
~ every daily throughout the season
Great as was the lit made by jennings
l,v his unique barking On the lines, even
greater was the hit scored by NICK All
rock and Germany" Schaeier N thelr
imitation of Jennings leading ms Team
To victory. Laughter was always hlen-
II contagious when either Nick or Ger
many went ont on the lines.
Whose imitation was really the best is
a question. Altrock appeared TO nave
tho leg motion down better than Schaefer.
bat Germany had 1t or Nick In the
unistlipS line. As whistler Nick wasn't
!, howiing success. He would put his
fingers To his mouth a Ia Jennings. out
the shriI noise refused to come forth.
The fans soon discovered this fact ana
It was not long before several rooters
would willingly supply the whistle just as
SOON as Nick made any motion TO place
l,tt
Not only can Altrock initiate Jennings
as a coacher but he is able &c put on an
exhibition of play at first base that WOULD
make You think it was Hal thase IN
action He can also manipulate the bail
in a way that would do credit TO many
vaudeville iuggler. who is drawing fat
salary.
During practice 1t is not an unusual
thing for Alirock to send the regular first
baseman 10 the bench and den his glove.
His appearance at the initial sack is al
ways greeted with cheers. and before he
has received four or five throws he has
the worst chronic dyspeptic in the CROWD
in good humor. His imitation of Jen-
nings always comes during the game
and he is especially interesting when
Chicago is playing Detroit. as it offers
a cnance for comparison.
Altrock is not lacking in repartee.
either. and he gets Off many funny
one at the expense of the crowd.
Two years ago Nick was suffering from
q bad arm and worked In mighty few
games. He earned most of his salary by
throwing to the batters and working out
on the coaching lines.
One day in New York the White Sox
were getting trimmed, and the crowd was
having a lot OF fun joshing Nick and
kidding him about the few chances that
were being offered him to pitch. Bits of
advice fast and furious We're coming from
the first-base bleachers. and Nick was
given but slight chance to reply. Finally
foil in "a 4
outfit that marked him a man woo
toiled hard. yelled TO Altrock:
The last time / saw you pitch was
Labor day last year WHAT'S the mater,
do you belong to the Sons of Rest?
Nick was quick to size up the roote:
as workingman. and made . hit witt
his adviser. well the crowd. when
ne replied:
That's right. old boy You sc be,ons,
Ia the union. and l refuse 10 work over
line, but consent to pi.c; o" every La Dor
day as it the only chance . lot OF ny
comrades get to see me-
One day in ST. Louis Mex maue il quite
embarrassing for a smart young man vino
insisted On offering advice to tire players.
much to the chagrin OF the Young lady
who accompanied him.
Now Nick isn't the handsomest fellow
in the world. and would neve" crowd
Hackett, Miller, Fave-sham or any Of the
other idols off the stage. Stili t!n critics
always refer to the clever southpaw as
Handsome Nick.
The day previous Altrcck L@d beer
working IN great styl' al had kla akeo
the Browns in good he:re. Wen ht
walked past the sranIS;and he id so IT
Tnuc.i the manner OF the hero IN a 's1elie
drammer" Most % The fans laughed. fol
they knew it was one Of Nick'= WAYS o.
Kidding the crowd. With chest lniiatec
and head high in tne air Nick 1%"sded Il
front OF the grands;and to the he lch
Most o. the crowd. remembering Nick
performance enjoyed the parade witt
much glee. but the young man in question
failed to appreciate the humor OF the sit
,.ation ~ Nick passed by him the your:
man in a most sarcastic tone remarked
SO yourr Ike pitcher they call Hand
some Nick ."
Without paving any attention as Il
where III. remark came from Nick sim
ply replied in a highly effe:ainate tone:
Jealous. Jealous. Jealous
That aua-hed the Young man for til
rest o. the afternoon.
Germany Sciaefer is cock full O
umor and much OF it is the good kind
tie doesn't confine his Wit 10 the fans Il
rarticular. but hands ii out TO the player
as we'll.
- ii number OF the cities it is custom
..-v for many OF the fans to place a it'll
he on the outcome of the game Wha
,.is o. that player is liza Dle TO do dUrin
=: g contest. Perhaps 10 place ID the
i've more action than in the tL!rd-bas
teachers at Boston. They will be- tina
the PLAYER Is liable 10 ne released as 500
~ he gets TO the bench. II you will max
the odds inviting.
One day last year SChaefer was haV
iug = particularly bard time doing any
4 ng with Cy Youn2s delivery. He ha
whiffed couple Of times. and Went on
once on "A pop fly. His fourth attemp
was a weak roller TO the pitcher. Ate
being thrown out at first base. he Wake
over to third 10 relieve the cOacher.
What's the matter. SchAefer. did 70
forget 10 go To bed last night or neeleo
To use some eyewater on those dir
lamps"
Neither" replied the every-ready Teu
ton "a fellow tipped me off before tn
game that you had made a bet that
would make four hits, and since 20
looked like 2iker to me | decided {
give YOU The double cross.
f.vi6isntly the man had made some be
On Srhacfer and failed to cash. for the re
mark caused much merriment anon
those VINO were sitting near him.
\ million and one stories could he RI
lgtcG and have been told about the ia
fuaus "Rube" Wa6dcli. There isn't any
Thing he hasn't done in any line. an
really there isn't anything he isn't willin
Ia Try.
stranger al big league game a
ways vans TO know first Of all ~hfc
member Of the 81. Louis team is Wac
dell. When passengers walk through
ear in which the Browns are travelling
every one wants n glimpse at the 'Rube.
CHESTS atSie hotel where the ST. Lou
team is stopping are always on the lool
ont for Waddell, and constantly watchin
his antics