Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-05
ARB[TR ATOR BIZ LYEVANST TELLS
OF THE FUNNY BASE BALL MEN
Good Stories on "Dutch' Schaefer While in
Cuba, and One on Handsome
Nick" Altrock.

touch Castillo before he was retired
The Cuban would, Of course, start back
to first. Then would begin run-up, In
which all the Detroit players would try
to take part. The Tigers would simply
toss the ball back and forth, and wouldn't
touch Castillo until he was about ready
to drop from sheer exhaustion.
What time the Tiger second-sacker
used to have with the bleacherites. OF
COURSE it was only natural that he
should pick UP enough Of the language
SO as to be able to utter a few ineligible
remarks. Quito often these remarks would
be relative to what the Tigers intended
doing to the Cubans. Such statements
would start the excitable Cuban fans
agoing and II Herman could have under
stood all the things said to him in return
he would have probably ducked under
cover. He didn't. Of course. so kept
right on stirring them up.
X ~
Shark fishing was favorite diversion
Of the Detroit players when not on the
ball field. Schaefer being one Of the lead
ing fishermen. One of the shark fishing
expeditions offered Schaefer an excellent
opportunity to put one over on the tourist
guests at the Plaza Hotel. When shark
fishing. a good revolver is just about
as necessary as stout line. Col. Jose
Estrampes. who played prominent part
in the Cuban war, and was a great ad-
mirer of the Detroit players, always fur
niShed the firearms.
While the boys were out shark fishing
one day some thirty tourists arrived at
the hotel from various parts Of the coun-
try. AS they were returning from the
fishing expedition some one informed
them Of the late arrivals. Schaefer i'm
mediately decided that these late arrivals
offered chance to pull Off a good joke.
Just prior to entering the lobby. Schaefer
pulled his hat down over his eyes and
with guests at the time, over half of
whom had never seen Schaefer before.
AS he entered the hotel with revolver in
hand he announced in stentorian tones:
Il haven't killed anybody for twenty
minutes: I guess I'll just shoot up the
lobby for practice
Those who recognized Schaefer enjoyed
a good laugh, but the tourists who didn't
know him beat a hasty retreat to places
OF safety. Some of them were a long
time before they appreciated the joke.
Any team that ever goes to Cuba in
the near future will make a very wise
move if they Immediately engage Schaefer
to be a member of the invading aggrega-
ton.
When Altrock was with Chicago lots of
the fans over the American League cir
cult would go out to see him, even if the
play of Chicago didn't interest them. l
once heard a fan say that it was worth
the price of admission to see Altrock play
first base in practice. and give limitations
Of Hughey Jennings after the contest
started. Nick, however, didn't need to
initiate to get a laugh, for he was one
of the most original chaps that ever
lived. Always delighted to get into an
argument with a rooter. always ready to
reply to the wittiest sally of the fan.
Nick never would have won prize at a
hoa show. referred
to as Handsome Nick" A certain fan.
evidently not pleased with Nick's style of
beauty, once remarked:
II can't see why they call you hand
some, Nick
In a most effeminate tone Nick replied,
jealous, jealous" in such a way that
the rooter retired in embarrassment.
During a game in New York one day a
big. husky rooter in the bleachers yelled
Say, Altrock, amt you ever going to
pitch instead of pose on the coaching
lines
Altrock had been out of the game for a
couple of months, due to a bad arm. 1t
looked as il the laugh would be on him,
He realized at once that the speaker was
a workingman and quick as flash re-
Piled:
You see. it is this way: I'm one of
the few union ball players and my con-
day, when all my pals can get out to
see me. and l just refuse to break the
wording of my contract. l insist on union
hours"
1t made big hit with the crowd, which
consisted practically of union men, and
during the rest OF the afternoon Altrock
was more popular than any of the New
Workers..
The fans like such players. Too bad
there are not more OF them.