The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1911-05-26
THE BASEBALL PEST
TWO KINDS OF CRANKS WHO
MAKE PLAYERS VERY
TIRED.
COBB AND DAHLEN VICTIMS
Great Editor Changes His Opinion
Regarding the Present Brooklyn
Manager-Frank IsbeI Slips Joke
Over on Old Comrades.
BY HUGH S. FULLERTON.


There are two types of baseball
cranks that poster ball players espe-
cially. They are: the crank who
writes letters anonymously and tells
the players how bad they are and the
enthusiastic crank who butts in, in
PRODUCES himself, and proceeds to tell
how good they are.
Ty Cobb, the Tiger star, met one of
the latter kind on a train this sum-
mer Worse than that, the fellow not
only was a baseball crank, but also
one Of these purity in sport" reform
ers. He held for cleanliness for
craftsmanship, and Cobb was with
him. Then he got to talking about
tricks turned by ball players to gain
advantages, and he decried them as
unsportsmanlike. Finally he said:
''Mr. Cobb, I am delighted to know
you. I have read things that gave me
an idea totally incorrect of you and
your playing. am glad to find you a
sportsman and lover of clean sport"
Thank you,' muttered Cobb, trifie
YEARLY.
Il shall explain to my friends"
stated the fan. 'Pm sure Mr. Cobb.
that as southern gentleman, you
never took unfair advantage of an op-
ponent, that you never bumped
baseman Intentionally or cut with
your spikes, did you"
WELL" said Cobb, hesitatingly,
mot any Of my close personal
friends"
Billy "Bullhead" Dahlen, now the Sc
date and settled manager of the rap
Idly rising Brooklyn team, once had
something of the same sort Of an ad-
venture with great editor. 1t hap
pened at that time 1 was working for
the editor who, besides peing one of
the great newspaper geniuses of the
country, happened also to be a wild
baseball crank. One day Dahlen, who
was playing shortstop, had bad day.
He kicked and booted and threw wild
and did everything backward, and that
night the editor, who had seen the
game, summoned me and said, sharp
ly: go after that fellow, Dahlen,
and drive him out of town. He's a
loafer and a drinker."
There wasn't a chance to argue, so
I hunted Dahlen up and remarked that
I was going to pan the life out of
him" and drive him off the team, ex-
planning the circumstances. Where
upon he remarked that he wished me
success and would help me. For two
weeks Dahlen was criticised at every
turn. Then we went east and on the
train Dahlen and 1 slipped away from
Anson's ever watchful eye and sought
the buffet car and liquid refreshment.
While we were thus engaged the edi-
tor entered the car, addressed me, in
quired whether the team was on the
train and was introduced to Dahlen.
lef. them at II o'clock. the editor
ordering more beer and talking base
ball with Dahlen. The following
morning the editor stopped at my
berth.
81 was much mistaken in that young
man, Dahlen," he remarked "He is
a smart, intelligent and interesting
young man. believe these stories
about his drinking have been exagger-
ated. I fear we have been misled by
the talk of cranks. I wish you would
write a story suggesting him as the
logical successor of Captain Arson as
the manager of the team"
Dahlen was, during his Chicago ca
reer, a pestiferous player toward the
umpires. and one of the worst nag
gers In the business.
One day, on the West side, Dahlen
approached Hank O'Day, who was the
umpire, and remarked:
"Say, Hank, If run at you in the
first inning and call you a blank blank
blank and step on your toes with my
spikes and push my glove into your
face, what'll you do?"
"Do?" said Henry, getting rolled up.
"Do? I'll chase you off the lot faster
than you can run"
"All right" said Dahlen, calmly,
mo hard feelings; I just want to get
put out quick, so can get to Harlem
in time to get a bet down on the
fourth race"
"Huh," said Hank. Huh Say,
you can't get put out of this game in
q thousand years, not if you spike me
In the face"
Nor could he, although he did every
thing he could think of. O'Day made
him play out the string, and the horse
he wanted to bet on won the race at
heavy odds.
Possibly the best joke of the entire
baseball year was the one that Frank
Isbell, now owner and manager of