Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-24
fsHOME RUM BAKER GIVES
ADVICE TO AMERICAN BOYS
43Don't Drink or Smoke He Says, IF You
Are Ambitious to Become Big
League Base Ball Players"

PHILADELPHIA. October N.-"Home
Run Baker," the star batter Of the Phila-
delphfa Athletics. Is the most persistent
and consistent dodger Of the limelight IN
the public eye today. With the entire
country discussing his base ball achieve
ments, with writers and artists searching
sea, earth and sky for quaint synonyms
for his very convenient name and rhmye-
sters Of the press shattering all precedent
in the number Of changes they ring on
both name and achievement. Baker him
self regards the entire performance with
a lack-iuster eye and refuses to join IN
the enthusiasm In any way
tits getun' to be nuisance, Baker
plaintiveiy assured the writer, when re-
auested to spare a little OF his plentifu'
time for an interview. II can't go away
from the house for few minutes but
what come back to find lot OF chaps
camped in the parlor. waiting to interview
me. Then the photographers are after
me- and even sketch artists come pother-
ing around This morning one OF the
naners phoned while I was out and as
good as gave orders that was to come
down to the Office and pose for pictures.
took no notice. and they sent pno-
torrapher and made me get out IN the
shed with broom In my hand, 20 look s
like picture Of the bat. It makes me
tired"
earnest and sincere Baker was. me cal
cium light doesn't interest him Dill he
is OF the shy and retiring ORDER. ne io1 .;ss
which most Of the big leaguers regard
the world at large. If he accepts the
stage offers he is said to have had he
will be the despair OF the press agent OF
the show.
There is nothing Of the Beau Brummell
about Baker in private life. He looks much
better In his base ball uniform than IN
his street buds. He sits In parlor chair
in the Same attitude he assumes In the
.'dugout' on the ball grounds. leaning
forward, his big. weatherbeaten but de-
c;dedly capahle-looking hands hanging
loosely from the wrists. and rather more
than the usual length OF large. pony arm.
cuff, protruding from the sleeves OF his
coat. Tie Is without q trace Of self-con-
sciousness, calm-eyed and naturai. he
is decidedly outSpoken when he touches
upon any incident vital TO the procession
ring to the ungentle art OF spiking, as
;practiced by one Snodgrass. He Is very
however, on the SUD-
;ject that several millions Of Americans
are burning to know about. the Baker
who is not seen on the diamond, the Baker
of private life.
I II was brought up on a farm in Trappe.
Nd"
Having got the taciturn batter to admit
this much. the interviewer breathed cas-
Ter. and the interview proceeded lit
tie faster. :
I'm 1885, If you want to know the ex-
act date. ! suppose you would IKE me to
say that began playing base ball when
could just about toddIe and made
home runs before / was out Of the school
age. Well, 1 can't accommodate you, for
it was tweut-- years later. in 1905. before
/ really got into the game In earnest. /
must admit I always had a desire to
shine in the ball field. remember that
the other kids took a lot of interest in
stories of the pirate and Jesse James
kind, while was always for the base ball
stories. / never wanted 10 go out and
fight Indians. I wanted to become a