Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-24

base ball star. So I suppose 1t was born
in me.
lot of CUFF that don't say at all. I was
no infant prodigy and I can't recall that
ever did anything wonderful when
played base ball as boy. My boy days
were the same as those of any other
American kid 1 went to the village
school at Trappe and learned about as lit
tie as the other boys did. /. had to help on
the farm and I grew up husky chap,
with no bad habits. q fine. healthy appe-
title and had as good a time growing up
that part. I'm country boy. with no
city fol-de-rols, and when I get through
playing base ball back I go to the coun-
try and enjoy life as am accustomed to.
No great white way for mine. Trappe
is lively enough for me-"
At this point the great homo runner
showed a tendency to forget the story Of
his life and discuss spiked shoes and
Snodgrass. which was not the purpose OF
the interview.
well. anyway" said the home run one,
as he reluctantly came back to his own
story, 'Snodgrass didn't come from the
same town as me. Keep that In mind.
And. furthermore. we are not the friends
some Of the players say we are. And as
for my being clumsy in covering the bag.
just let me say that stand like this Ql-
lustrating). Well, all right. I next played
ball with the Sparrows Point team in
1907, and In the spring OF 1908 I hoped
to the Tri-State League at Reading. and
It was while playing there that one of
Connie Mack's scouts found me In the
fall of 1905. Joined the Athletics In the
fall Of 1908 and have been with them
since.
IF any American boy can gather en-
couragement from that dope to try for
the bush league with the hope of getting
higher shall be glad to have helped him.
but pass on the proposition OF handing
out advice. Excuse me. I am no silver
tongued orator. And don't want you to
me, as I said before.
There's one thing. though, that you
might put In. don't drink or smoke.
Never did drink or smoke. II any young
Ster wants advice from one who doesn't
mean to preach, there 1t is. Leave Gig
arettes or tobacco in any form alone and
don't touch booze now or at any time.
It's the usual advice and doesn't carry
much weight as rule, but coming from
ball player perhaps Ii may mean a little
more to the American kids.
There Is no rule about smoking In the
big league. They don't care for you to
smoke in uniform. though. Some smoke;
some don't touch tobacco. The managers
their own minds about such things. Mine
is the total abstinence platform for both
booze and tobacco"
In keeping with his lack Of ostentation
Baker lives in Il very modest little house.
about block or so from Shibe Park.
Philadelphia. He and his wife and baby
are the star boarders. Mrs. Baker Is
Maryland girl. and is as DESTROYS as her
husband Of avoiding the center Of the
stage during the present outburst of en-
thusiasm over the batting successes Of
the home runner
MY one hobby said Baker. in parting.
lis cunning. When the season is over
get back to Trappe as fast az the train
schedule will let me. have q seventy
acre farm, which my father looks after
during the base ball season. put In the
time when not playing ball in work ng
around the farm. and my only recreation
IS hunting. My wife and ] are perfectly
happy down there. and we ask nothing
better than to be left alone. We are
country bred and We shall never get over
it."