Evening journal., 1910-08-25
FANS LIKE The
FUNNY MEN
Those With an Element Of the
Clown Are Greatly
Enjoyed
GIANTS MADE THE
ART THEIR SPECIALITY

Baseball fans have always had a
warm place I'm their hearts for play
ers with a touch OF the clown In
their makeup. The player who has
the ability TO draw a laugh from
them, either by his antics or his ready
replies to their remarks gets into their
good graces quicker than the man who
plods along with never smile on
his face or a quip on his tongue. Fans.
as all sporting writer's agree, like 70
laugh almost as well as TO the home
boys win.
The rabid enthusiasts. the bleach
critics, are never more amiable than
when they discover player with some
humor I'm him. They are especially
exuberant If he belongs 70 the visit
| ing team, for then they can handy
him TO their hearts content From the
bleacherite's point OF view. joshing is
his greatest privilege, and "A game
where joshing is tabooed would be as
tame as a contest I'm which the umpire
is 80 absolutely perfect that there is
no chance to question his decisions.
Before semi-professional baseball
gave way TO the league variety the
Cuban Giants were one OF the most
popular organizations I'm the country.
And the secret OF their popularity was
traceable to the fact that the Giants
invariably included no less than three
clowns I'm their lineup. Few old-tim-
ers Will dispute the statement that
they were the funniest aggregation IN
fandom.
Giants Made II Speciality.
The Giants made a specially OF
amusing the fans Also, they knew
how to play baseball, so that they
we're doubly acceptable to managers
OF alleged fast teams. Their coachers
were ever uncorking new and laug-
able expressions or cutting up antics
that caught nightly with the majority
OF spectators. In the field or at bat
all of the Giants kept up a running fire
OF comment that seldom failed To
strike the fancy of the most tickle fan.
They spared each other no less than
their opponents. And they we're as
happy and as talkative In defeat as
I'm victory.
However. the number OF funny men
playing baseball today is small com
pared TO what IL was a decade or two
ago. The game has become a serious
business. and the youngsters whS
break into II are too much concerned
! with trying TO make good TO have mucl
time to indulge in antics to please tn
crowd. Several OF the prcsent-da
comedians, and the best known pei
haps, quit the diamond years ago The
came back only when wise manager
saw that they could use the talent
of the oldtimers 20 their own profit.
Latham a "Cl0wn."
Arlie Latham, the veteran with &
New York Nationals, Is an excelle
example of the ancient clown who b
Il come back. Latham was no mediot
player in his time. He was likewl
a witty coacher. In truth, his coaC
ing made him more talked about
the fans than his playing.
While Latham and Jenning sta
out as the most prominent comedia
in the major leagues, there are othe
"a who know how TO lead on the enthul
ie asts by those clownish antics whi'
~ we're once so common, and which a
e becoming a lost art. The eccentr
Is RUDE Waddell whose star seems
e have set: Larry M'Lean, the lanl
+ catcher of the Cincinnati Reds; job
J. Evers. OF the Cubs; Bugs Raymon
{, Of the Giants. have attained reput;
d tions as first-class entertainers. Wac
n dell and Raymond unquestionably b.
Y. long to the old school.