davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-30
IS GAME LOSER.
When Boston Club Drops 81 Straight
Games Collins Doesn't Blame imp.

Perhaps no man regretted the passing of
Jimmy Collins from the ranks Of the
American League more than President
Ban Johnson. The failure of Collins to
deliver the goods in his final days as man
ager OF the Boston team was a keen dis
appointment to the American League
leader. Johnson always admired Collins
and against umpire batting. President
Johnson always likes to relate a little
incident that happened in his Office which
proved how much of the real man was in
Collins
Three or four years ago the Boston team
like twenty straight games. The average
manager would have almost done any old
thing under the existing conditions. but
Collins stood his ground bravely. never
let out yelp for help and not once ut
tered complaint against an umpire. al
though the average manager would have
seized the opportunity to blame the slump
of his club on the poor work of the UNI
pires.
Shortly after the disastrous run of bad
luck the Boston club arrived in Chicago
for series of games, and as Is the Gus
tom OF the American League managers,
Collins paid Mr.. Johnson visit
Well, how did my umpires treat YOU
while YOU were losing all those games ."
was Mr.. Johnson'S opening question
IF we had done our work as well as
the umpires we never would have lost so
many games" was Collins immediate re-
ply.
1t was characteristic Of the man.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-30
ANOTHER ANSON TALE.
Bill LANCE Tells Good Story on the
Veteran.

Bill Lange. one of the greatest slug
gers base ball has ever known, tells
the following tale on old Cap Arson.
THE old cap was one OF the gamest
fellows YOU ever met. I remember one
he put ovey on Bad Bill Dahlen that
was a classic. Toward the end of the
to play Cincinnati series OF four games
There was a good deal OF rivalry be-
tween us and the boys were all keyed up
for the coming struggle. But there was
a rule that helped put US out of business.
I'll bring that in later.
''Dahlen boarded the train in rather
high spirits and made a Decline for his
berth. He fell asleep Immediately and the
train started for the home OF the Reds.
Now, Arson had this rule, that every
player. must get his ticket from him.
1t was one way Arson had of keeping
track OF his men. Dahlen, of course.
pitched into a bunk and never thought
to ask the captain for the piece of paste
board. When the conductor made his
rounds he gathered in all the fares but
one. Bad Bill did not possess the color
OF ticket,
Then the conductor sought out An
son, but the captain just pointed to the
rule and said that the ticketiess sleeper
would have to get off the train. Arson
had $1,000 bet OH the proposition that he
would come out on the long end OF the
series. Blu. he was game. The train was
brought to a halt. DahIen was hustled
out OF his comfortable slumber and set
down at a milk station forty miles or so
out Of Chfca go.
"Cincinnati heat us that series They
won two games and the fourth was de-
clarcd off for some reason II We had
had Dallen in the liOe-II there is 10
question that we would have trimmed
them And Anson was fully aware Of
that fact when he had Bill tossed Off the
train
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-30

ers can't be handled that way. They've
got to be made to see that their useful
ness, their jobs. their livelihoods, are
absolutely dependent upon their decent
behavior when they're playing the game.
They've got to take the ruling in the
spirit of soldiers-without complaint.
Il am not saying that umpires are
always right in their decisions. But do
say that umpires keenly try to be fail
and they nearly always are fair. UNI
pires know that they can't show de-
liberate favoritism. That's a thing that
can't be got away with very long. y
partisan umpire never lasts long.
know, from having handled the indicator
myself for good many years, that the
umpire is just as keen to do his work
well and in a thoroughly fair workman
like manner as the ball player is to at
tend to his end Of 1t with skill and fin
ish. When an umpire makes decision
that he feels in his bones is a punk
one-and they all do that once in while
he feels so sore on himself that he can
hardly eat his meals until the gloom OF
his self-reproach passes off. l pulled
few bad decisions when L was umpiring,
and the knowledge that I'd handed out
some bad ones positively interfered seri-
ously with my digestion. It's the same
way with all ,pnpires. They're there 10
do the right thing, and they have their
proper professional pride in not doing
the wrong thing if there's any way to
help it.
TT is the utter needlessness and the
complete hopelessness OF the kicking
business that must be impressed upon
ball players. A good many of the kick
ing players possess the quaint idea hat
IL they keep on kicking at an umpire
they will so get his goat as to affect
his future decisions favorably to their
own team That Is all moonshine. The
arbitrator who is being. bounded by d
bunch OF kicking players is human
being, and he isn't liable. by long
shot. to be moved to any vast amount
of extra consideration for the team that
that in such a case the umpire will seek
to get revenge for the bounding, but he
certainly will not turn around and hand
out partial decisions to the outfit that
has been camping on his trail.
II am going to try to so arrange mat
ters that 1T will be sort Of a disgrace
for player to in any way attack all
umpire's decision. and I'd like to have
the cooperation OF the fans in doing this.
When the kicker gets out on to the firing
line he'll soon subside when all hands
among the fans, even If he's playing on
the home grounds. will subject him TO
an audible panning. That is as it should
he. too The fans should cooperate with
the base ball authorities to make 1t not
only questionable. but downright un-
sportsmanlike for the player to indulge
in the kicking thing: this. in addition to
the punishment which is to be melted
out to the players by the base bail au-
thorities for kicking. In the matter of
bad decisions. that sort of thing evens
itself up in the course Of a playing sea
son. The team that gets slightly the
worst of it at the umpire's hands today
probably will get the better of his de-
cisions tomorrow or next week: and In
the long run, as I say. the teams all
come out just about even in the matter
Of good and bad decisions
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-30
PARTIAL TO EL3ERFELD.
Connie" Mack Thinks the 'Tabasco
Kid" is One of the Best.

Connie" Mack likes to tell about re-
markable game between Detroit and Mil
waukee in 1900.
You may wonder about my admiration
for Norman EIberfeld." said Mack, but
in my eyes he is a star and always will
be.
Detroit was playing my Milwaukee
team this day. and the score at the end
Of the first half of the ninth was to 1
in favor of Detroit. We had a man on
second and another on third. The De-
troit infield, of course, was playing in to
shut off the tying run.
"F'risk was pitching for Detroit. Billy
Grey drove a ball right at Frisk's feet
Elberfeld came tearing in. took a long
dive on his side. got the ball in his left
hand. came up like flash and shot the
ball to Catcher Shaw. Al was SO aston
ished that he almost forgot to touch
Barnes. the runner, just managing to get
him by virtue of close decision.
We still had a man on first and third,
with only one out. Jack Ryan was play
ing second for Detroit.
Keep out of this, Jack, yelled FL
berfeld to Ryan. IN make the play
alone
Just then Grey started to steal second
Shaw threw the ball to Elberfeld high
and bad. but Norman jumped and got it
and whipped ii home.
THE throw was poor. but Shaw got It
with his bare hand and touched out Wal
dron. the runner, two feet from the plate
THE next batter flied out. and the
game ended as the inning began, with the
score TO in Detroit's favor.
do you wonder that l look on Elber-
field as one of the greatest players In the
world?"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-30
WHY Fire Clement?

Wallace Clement, the Brooklyn left
fielder, has been turned back to the
minors. Whyo What's the matter with
this fellow, Manager Dahlen? Clement
came out Of the minors last season raw
but game. He was a very fast runner
and a quick learner of the batting tricks.
while his fielding was anything but punk
after he once got going. The young out
fielder who can hit .2o5 these days Of
light batting his first trip in the big
circuit is no slouch. and is really en-
titled to a better SHOW. Seems rather
queer. though that everybody waived on
the boy. Possibly he has faults that the
general public knows not of. but on the
face of the returns 1t looks as though
the young man should have been carried
for at least one more season
You never can tell about a player.
though. II Clement has the goods he
must not lose heart. The Giants had
Jesse Burkett in 1890 and fired him back
to the minors next spring. st. Louis had
Clark Griffith for five minutes-and fired
him. Philadelphia had Jimmy Callahan
and fired him. A release doesn't con-
denim a ball player, not If he is game and
ambitious. Cheer up, young Mr.. Glenn
ent, and get busy for the future.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-30
WARM DISCUSSION
ON STAR SHORTSTOPS
Fred MerkIe of Bonehead
Fame Says Honus Wagner
Is Not Human.

Whenever a bunch OF ball players set
together they invariably discuss the MR.
It's Of various players. On the return trip
OF the All Stars from their recent iau,t
TO Cuba, several OF the athletes were
seated in the smoking commandment or
their car when the subject of short stops
was mentioned says Addie Joss
Sherwood Magee, the great Philadel-
phia outfielder, is an ardent admirer o.
Doolan. who has filled that particular role
for the Phllies for several years. Talk
about shortstop,' said Mac this fe!-
low Doolan is certainly a wonder. The
way he can get over the ground and grab
the ball, 10 matter what position he NAV
be in, is something wonderful TO behold.
You know when a fellow is playing back
Of a man like that he gets a pretty good
line on how much ground he can cover.
And don't overlook the fact that the
big fellow can certainly whip them over
to first. too. He is one OF the best men
on a double play ever saw
We'll. while you talking about
shortstops,'' broke in Herman Schaefer
don't overlook this little fellow Bush. |
have seen good many fellows who can
play the position but when it comes TO
getting over the ground and knowing how
to handle the job you have certainly got
to give 1t to this little piece OF chain
lightning. And he is also pretty fair
hitter and corking good base runner
while we are on this subject" chimed
in the writer, there is a certain tow
headed lad on the Cleveland payroll who.
when he Is right. Is about as smooth an
article as there is when it comes to play
ing the short field. You can talk about
them all. but for being death on ground
balls this fellow Turner comes pretty near
being all the money"
You can bet all that YOU ever expect
to have that he is some shortstop, sad
Schaefer. THAT fellow played twenty
two consecutive games against the Detroit
team one year without making a thing
that even looked like an error, and some
Of the chances he got were not OF duck
soup variety, either"
This fellow Bridwell that sometimes
cavortS between second and third for us.
cut in Fred Merkle. us hardly the worst
shortstop in the country. There is one
short fielder who surely makes the play
ing of first base snap 1t doesn't seem
to make any difference to him how much
he Is forced to hurry a throw, or how
much time he may have in which to make
the play. that peg of his over TO first is
always right on the spot.
'Al covers a world of ground, is cork
ing good hitter and one of the trickiest
base runners In the business, besides. he
knows the game from A to Il. Now il YOU
can beat that combination l want to be ia
on it,
Howard Camnitz. who had been an in
terested listener to all these remarks.
shifted around in his seat and in his soft
southern accent said: well, boys. that
is surely a swell bunch of shortstops. but
we've got the king on that Plttsburg
team, ] guess Honus.'
THAT will do from you about Wagner
cut in Merkle. I'VE were only talking
about human ball players. so we will just
eliminate this big Dutchman' from the
list
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-30
PLAYING THE finer
POINTS OF THE GAME
Umpire Evans Demonstrates
the Difference Between
"Boneheads' and Brains.
By Umpire Billy Evans.

It's the little things that play the big
part IN base ball
It's the correct doing of these little
things at the proper time that invariably
spells pennant at the close OF every sea-
son.
The sensational features alone appeal to
the average base ball fan, the minor de-
tails being lost in his enthusiasm over
that players great catch, this fellows
'home-run drive or the mastery tWirling
OF some crack pitcher.
The successful manager is the one who
can judge best when it is time 10 use the
derrick on his pitcher, who selects the
proper place to use his pinch hitter or
at the timely moment takes out some
slow runner to let faster man take his
place. and thus probably change the en-
tire complexion of the game.
The PLAYER who gets an almost fabulous
sum for his six months work every year
Is the player able to grasp every. oppor-
tunity and Immediately take advantage
of the same. He is the fellow who can
think quickly and correctly and use his
gray matter to the best possible adj
vantage Every manager is looking for
just such player. He is always willing
10 pay almost any amount for man
who can pull off the seemingly impossi-
BILE
Natural ability is wonderful asset
There are many managers and owners
who say, Give me man with the nat
ural ability to hit the ball and just aver
age ability in the other departments of the
game and I will make a star out Of him"
Such assertion would be a truthful
one II the player in question happened
10 possess gray matter or brains II. to
use the slang of base ball, he happened
to be bonehead, much Of his natural
ability would go to waste, simply be-
cause he failed to use his energy in the
prOper direction
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-30

carry the stiffened form to first as in
the past. and the once mighty throwing
arm can barely wing the leather half
way home. All off and goodbye. They
are fired. They are called hasbeens and
ure of base ball life, they are what the
business world calls young men," and,
in fact, almost boys.
Roy Thomas has been let out by Bos-
ton, and, it is believed, is through with
the fast company. An interesting player
was Roy Thomas, and his history con-
tains much that the younger players
would do we'll to study.
A dozen years ago the fastest man
and the hest batter at the University
of Pennsylvania was Roy Thomas.
Rather small in stature and left-handed
thrower, he was extremely speedy and
fielded SO ably on first base that this
was his regular station. The Phila-
delphia team angled for Thomas when
he finished his college course and got
him. That was the beginning of a long
and honorable professional career.
Roy's History.
Thomas was put on first for the Quaker
team, but proved an awful f1ZZle. He
was up against different game in the
fast company, and his first base play soon
showed that he was too small to face
the rush of the big league fellows. who
will always try TO scare a newcomer,
especially If he is a little man. So they
put Thomas i'll the outfield. and he at
once became star He could hitch.
how he could Inland he soon mastered
the outtield like book. Thomas, once
stationed In the garden, never needed
any further teaching-he learned the big
league game in a day.
vr~or first n
foolish custom that has since become SO
universal that most batsmen follow it
like machines. He was the first to walk
round behind the umpire when coming
up to bat, declaring that he thought it
unlucky to have the umpire cross him
as he neared the plate. Man after man
took up that fool idea-watch them now.
They all. or nearly all, do it. and never
even think why or whence they got the
fad.
Year after year Thomas ranked as
300 hitter, but the foul strike rule hit
him harder than most of the siuggers.
Roy battled gamely with this rule, but
his style of batting was such that he
never quite got over the blow. He Was
no longer a top-notch hitter. but his
willingness, his gameness, his skill in all
otler-sections of the game, kept him in
the fast payroll. and got him jobs at
PittsburE and at Boston after Phiia-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-30
VARIOUS VETERANS
DUE TO Be RELEASED
Roy Thomas One of First to
Get the Hook, While
Others Are Doomed.

The veterans are passing slowly but
surely, and it is likely that quite num-
Der of the old standbys will get the hook
between now and the time for the gong
in April. They hang on a long time.
these good old boys, and they are often
carried for years, just because their
steadiness and their knowledge Of what
to do in the tight places will save many
a game that the ratified youngsters might
toss away. But the firiish comes at last
the old eye is dim, the aged feet cannot
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-30

delphia let him go. Last year he hit
well. very WELL and was thought to be
it anything coming back to form. but the
Bostons evidently do not think that way.
Thomas. personally. is a model for
youngsters to copy. A polished gentle
man, a splendid husband and gentle
father, and in every way q credit to
base ball, it is too bad that he should
step out Of the game-his kind should
be carried the payroll, IL only to
encourage the new lads to emulation and
achievement
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-30

Now that the rules committee has pass
ed rule that there shall be no more
Of that corner lot trick OF hiding the
ball from A base runner, why not give
the "sneaking one over trick a release
to the bushes. THIS trick of some pitch
ers in sneaking one over while the batter
is not on the lookout looks about as
childish as any We know Of.
Gus .Dorner. the former Dove pitcher
who finished the season with Kansas
City last year, is safely married now
Gus has beep saving his pennies for
several years.at least all the pennies
that he didn't put into Chambersburg, Pa.
real estate-and has a comfortable sum
to lay back upon. Gus married Miss
Ruth Viola Harper, and the two went
to Philadelphia to spend their honey
moon. Gus laughs at the stories from
Kansas City that he will get canned.
i've got enough change to last me a few
years until real estate goes UP. and I'm
not worrying said the Dutchman while
he was lodging farewell rice.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-30

The strikeout record made by Leon
Ames in the New York State League
several years ago was shattered last
season by Thompson. a southpaw, who
played with Sandy Griffin's Syracuse
team. In one game Thompson famed
fourteen Binghamton batters. and five
days later he struck out twenty Elmira
batsmen. Another time he whitfield eleven
Binghamton players in one game. Ames
had =. a record, when a member of the
lion team, OF striking out thirteen men
in eight innings. Thompson has been
bought by the Boston Americans.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-30

THE base ball authorities have been
temporizing with the kicking thing too
long. They've been handling the kick
stuff with kid gloves Kicking ball play
Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-08

One bright spring day Edward, Har-
old and Leila were permitted to visit
an old gentleman who lived in a fine
old house surrounded with beautiful
grounds. Flowers grew here in great
profusion, and large trees made the
place shady and cool when, the sun
grew hot. Many cherry trees in the
full glory of their snowy bloom added
their rare loveliness to the scene.
When the children had grown tired
of running about they were asked to
rest themselves upon rustic benches
while they feasted upon the good
things which their friends kindness
Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-08

Fun purchased at such price ceases
to be entitled to that name.
Last Fourth of July I got new drum
and a tin horn and a soldier cap for
"the littlest Junior" instead of any
firecrackers or fireworks, and all day
long she played soldier and formed
parades with her little playmates and
was quite happy and infinitely safer
than if she had been exposed to the
dangers of flrecrackers, the ordinary
amusement of the day. l am sure
many of you big boys and girls can
suggest splendid ways to spend sane
Fourth of July, and 1 want you all to
tell me about it at one.
With love for you all,
AUNT LAURIE.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-08

had provided for them. Near where
they sat grew two little Japanese
cherry trees, whose small boughs were
now laden down with pink blossoms.
The children were delighted with these
and Leila asked eagerly:
"Will you tell me, please, good sir,
why these cherry blossoms are pink
and our American ones are white?"
II cannot tell you the exact cause,
my little friend, though tits probably
owing to the difference in climate.
They are smaller for the same reason
that most Japanese plants are. The
people also do not seem to grow as
large as we do. But there Is a pretty
Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-08
PICKED WALNUTs

Dear Aunt Laurie:
Once upon a time / was in Auburn
and my uncle had farm. He mad SIX
orange trees and all other kinds of
fruit trees. He also had many horses.
One day a little girl named Katey
came over to see me. l was about 8
and she was 9. There was an old negro
man who helped to keep my uncle's
farm in order. We asked him If we
could go and climb tree, but he
said mo"
We asked him if we could go and
pick walnuts. He said "Sure." So we
went and picked until dark.
Just before darw we helped my uncle
to feed and water the horses. Then 1t
was supper time, and she went nome.
ZELLA WADDELL.
Sawtelle city school, sixth grade.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-08
CAT HELPED FIND PussIEs

Dear Aunt Laurie:
1 live on a large farm and have lots
of pets.
One of my cats is handsome gray
one, and we think him very smart.
1 also have a little donkey and ride
her to the mail box half a mile away.
One day was going for the mail and
went to find Dutch, the donkey. l went
to the barn for rope to lead her with.
but hadn't gone far when 1 looked
around, and Brownie, the cat, was fol-
lowing me.
1 did not see Dutch. so decided to
walk for the mail, and came back to
the house Brownie went on alone.
We had forgotten about him. He had
probably been gone an hour when we
saw Dutch come to the barn with
Brownie at her heels. Every time
Dutch would stop Brownie would also
STOP He stayed with her until he
saw her safe in the barn. Then he
came and rubbed against me, as though
to tell me he had found Dutch for me.
One time one of our puppies followed
some of the men in the field and got
lost. We waited until after dark,
thinking he would find his way home.
AS he didn't come, papa took the IAN
tern and went to find him. Brownie
went with him. Every time papa would
stop to call the dog Brownie would stop
and meow. Soon the cat ran on ahead,
meowing loudly, and papa heard the
dog bark, and they both ran to him
together. "a true story.
LEONE WENGERT.
AS grade X. f. D. No. l., Ventura.