The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-08-16


to become an interested spectator of
ball game from the bleachers than any
other person, and that man is, strange
to say. the player himself. The big
league star is confined to his own
schedule, he sees few or no contest
outside of his own league, and even.
those contests he views from the bench
or as an active participant Eyers is
an exception to the rule and he gives
some "reminiscences Of the typical
star In the role of spectator.
II the average American youth were
to be asked what he desired to be
in baseball 1t is safe bet to say
that a big majority of them would
answer. I would like to be big
Lacquer" Such is the ambition of
nearly every boy or young man who
has ever handled a baseball and, in
these days when baseball has reached
its present high standard, 1t is an am
bttion not TO be sneered at.
After playing professional baseball
for nearly decade, and all but few
months with the same club, the Chi
cago Cubs of the National League, /
find there are many interesting incl
dents that could recall; little things
that have occurred on the ball field
that are interesting to me as recount
them and which know would be OF
interest to the fans. But there is one
period of my connection with baseball,
which to me seems the most interest
ing. and that period date back to the
time before entered professional
baseball as a means of livelihood,
When l Sat on the Bleachers..'
To many this many sound strange,
but when ! say it do not forget the
many notable contests that / have par
ticipated In, nor do / forget the fact
that the team have always been asso-
ciated with has been top-notcher, a
four time pennant winner in the Ma
tional League and the winner of two
worlds cham ionships. With all the
success that has come to me in my
baseball career have never lost sight
of the fact that once was only one
OF the thousands of fans, who have
made baseball the game it Is.
There is a great deal more in view
ing ball game from the bleachers than
from the grandstand or the choicest
box seat of great stadium. In the
boxes or the grandstand you will us
ually find the fans who take in the
no a
ness or other cares or those, who may
be interested in certain player or
team. But when you sit on the bleach
ers you cannot help touching elbows
with that rabid bunch of fans, who
pick apart every play that is made,
who condemn the home or visiting
players for not doing this or that,
who, from baseball instincts, can tell
almost what every player of either
team has done at the bat without the
aid of a score card, and who invariab-
ly know the batting average of any
player you chance to mention. If all
the baseball sense of the bleachers at
any big league game could be center
ed in the brains OF baseball team
think that club would be the best
thinking aggregation ever put together.
In my opoinion, If half the people
who have never had the pleasure of
occupying a seat on the b1eachers
knew what they were missing, they
would abandon their grandstand or
box seats occasionally and mingle with
the bleacherites. On the bleachers
every play that is made in a game is
replayed and replayed many different
ways not only as 1t was executed, but
as 1t should have been according to
ties. And don't think for a minute
that these bleacherites do not have
the right dope many time.
Since becoming big league player
l have sat on the bleachers, althouh
not great many times. but have
been there, and only few weeks ago,
upon the occasion of a visit to my
home In Troy, found just as much
pleasure and felt just as much at
home on the bleachers as formerly.
Lately have also viewed great
many games from the grandstand, and,
after playing in SO many champion
ship contests, have learned new les
sons from my experiences as specta-
tor both in the grandstand and bleach
ers. From these points of vantage the
games look much easier. From the
side lines many more openings can
be seen than when actually playing a
game. This arises from the fact that
when engaged in game player has
but one chance on simple play, an
opportunity, SO to speak. He must
grasp that opportunity in an instant, he
must have thought beforehand, for II
he waits to think. when the opportuni
t. presents itself his chance Is gone
before he gets through thinking. Did
you ever stop to consider the time
1t takes to make one play in game
Try # and You will not only be sur
prised, but the game will become
more interesting. 1t will show you
that a player has not much time to
think once play is started and what
thinking must be done beforehand