El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-08-05

II reporters Of baseball didn't have
TO sit up in the press box they would
probably like their jobs better. Not
that said box is such a dull place with
all the repartee OF the scribes. opera
tors and critics" But it would be
part in the conversations IN the bleach
ers. where the real bugs" Sit
Time was when we liked nothing
better than to pay our two bits, rush
for a point Of vantage back of first or
third base or out in the neighborhood
Of right or left field. invest nickel
in sack of peanuts, another nickel
in a score card, and then settle down
TO try TO prove by our comments and
shouts that we knew more about base.
ball than anyone around US.
That was when We spoke of "in-
shoots" and outs" and drops" and
'outdrops;;" wondered who that was
hitting IN place Of so and so. and
thought ball players were just a little
bit better than other people, because
they wouldn't pay any attention 70
speak to them outside the park
1t was before we knew that there's
no such thing as an inshoot, that
Nouts," drops" and 'toutdrops" are
merely curve balls; before we could
identify substitute batter or a new
pitcher by just glancing for an instant
at his left ear. or his walk. or noting
the way his hair was brushed in the
back; before we were absolutely posi-
<l,~ <I<,s
mon human beings and that some of
them are really no better than our
selves.
Was Joy Enough Then.
But it was lots more joy in those
days There may be q certain kind
Of pleasure IN brushing majestically
past the passgate man. strutting along
the rear aisle of the stand in the hope
that someone will know you are a
baseball writer. speaking to a player
or two and getting answered, finding
your own particular seat in the press
box and proceeding to enlighten the
absent public regarding the important
events on the field in your own bright,
breezy style. But what fun is all that
compared with scraping up the neces-
sary quarter or half dollar, and know
ing you are going TO see game, not
reporting it2
with the ball players who calls at
their hotel and takes them out in his
machine, goes to the station TO see
them off, gets letters from them oc-
casionaIly, and knows they are just
people. isn't the real fan or bug"
even If he does have 10 pay to get into
the park
The real article is the man who
knows most of the players by sight,
as they appear on the field, but
wouldn't know more than one or two
of them if he saw them on the street,
struggles hard TO keep an accurate
score and makes a mistake on every
other play, or doesn't attempt to score
at all. disputes every statement made
by his neighbors in the bleachers,
whether he knows anything about said
statement or not, heaps imprecations
on the umpire and the manager, thinks
something is a bonehead play when 1t
really is good. clever baseball, talks
1uently about Matnewson's .sinshoot,"
believes that Hank O'Day has it in for
the home team and is purposely max
ing bad decisions, and says ''Bransfield
is going to bat for Moore" when I
Walsh Is sent in to hit for Chalmers.
He doesn't know II all. but he's
happy. He is perfectly satisfied when
the folks around him believe what he
says. and sometimes he almost gets to
believing it himself He's having a
thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. If his
team wins If it doesn't, he knows
just why and can tell his wife, his
brother or his pal. that evening. how
the tables could have been turned If
only Manager Tenney had used little
judgment
His Imagination is a wonderful thing
without It he would be unable to make
any sort of an impression on his fell
lows. He must talk unhesitatingly.
es if he had all the facts, and never
stammer or back up when his asser
lions are questioned
Everybody Knows Moran.
Pat Moran is catching for the Phil
lies Everybody knows Pat. He is
getting a chance to work because
President Lynch has set down Charley
Doom for a bad ride" A tall foul
is hit. Pat gets under it. but makes a
square muff-
Hes rotten catcher" says a
nearby fan
Hes a mighty good catcher when |
he's right" replies our friend.
'sWhy isn't he right?' queries the |
nearby one sarcastically. He's had |
time enough to get in shape, hasn't |
he?"
NO ball player can keep in shape |
and drink the way Pat does Is the
comeback ST was down town last |
night and I saw the whole Philadel- |
phia bunch. Pat was certainly pour !