The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1911-12-28
His Responsibilities Are Great
and His Trials Are
Really Many.

A. G. Spalding, who has been both
professional baseball player and mag
nate, has written book OF nearly geo
pages, ent tied Americas National
Game, While IT gives short account
Of the origin OF the national pastime,
+. is not a. work of statistics, but main
ly OF "reminiscences OF some OF the in
cldents connected with crises that have
occurred in the history OF baseball. AS
irMr. Spaldlng's connection with the
sport began before baseball was the
! recognized institution that il is today,
/ and as he helped found the National
League. with the late William A. HUI
ber:, of Chicago, in 1876, his accounts
OF those early days are bound to be
Authentic and valuable acquisition 70
the history OF the greatest field game
IN the world. Mr.. SpaldIng treats of
II variety OF subjects in the various
kehapters OF the book, with numerous
anecdotes OF Arson, King. Kelly and
";her heroes OF a past era, but his plea
for the baseball magnatc. whom he
| calls "a much abused individual, who
carries burdens of which the public
knows little" is evidently written
from the heart, Mr.. Spalding having
been president of the Chicago Ma
tio1aa League club for a number Of
years and q dominating factor in the
game during its early struggles. Fol-
lowing Is an, excerpt from the chap
ter: :
The responsibilities OF baseball,
club owner are great and his trials are
many. While those who are ignorant
OF the troubles that beset his path
regard him with envy. he is an ever
present buffer, receiving the oft-re-
peatea blows OF opposing interests.
He must stand between the public and
its relentless demands for impossibIli-
ties He must provide grounds easily
accessible. and tit them up with elab-
crate grandstand. bleachers, club
house and toilets. that shall meet all
demands OF comfort, cleanliness and
convenience. His grounds must beslo-
Gated as close TO many avenues and
rapid transit as possible. He must
make sacrifice Of much money to save
time for patrons who want to come
late to games in great thronss and de-
part early in a solid body. If the
trolley lines provide inadequate facili-
ties for handling the crowds, the mag
nate Is TO blame!
He must stand between the press
land the interests OF his club in many
ways. AT least twice q day must he
receive Representatives of evening and
morning papers, and by soft words
turn away the wrath of adverse crit
Icism that is always seeking to dis
cover something with which 10 ind
fault. He must be ready to answer
automatically. satisfactorily and
promptly any !mpudent question that
may come from the lips of an ire
sponsiole reporter. Why don't you
release Murphy?' What do you play
j o'Brien on second for?' Why don't
You strengthen your pitching staff?'
Say, are You going 10 sell Corrigan?'
These are only a few of the many
characteristic questions that come TO
the club owner, and which he must
adroitly answer, sk!llfully parry or in
woke the ire Of tho interrogation, with
| MS enviablc results.
He must stand by his team. good
or bad or Indifferent. He must receive
the brunt of hostile comment directed
against hts players whether merted or
not, from both press and patrons,
apologizlng for Shortcomings where
they exist. excusius as accidental err
rors in play that cost him infinitely
more than they could possibly cost
anyone else on earth.
/ He must bear and patiently con-
slider the never-ending stream of COM
plants growing out Of jeaiouses and
ambitions among his players and must
for the sake Of the game, and in his
own personal interests, maintain the
esprit de. corps OF all members OF the
team. He must listen to fault-flndlng
on the part OF the men with the man
ager he has placed over them, and,
| NNAAAb a. JAAbNt IHuok uc pAbltll' lll-
partial and Just, insisting upon proper
! Difference being paid to the official and
at the same time requiring the mana
ger to be fair and reasonable in his
treatment of players.
Nor IS the league Official exempt
from his woes. AS magnate of mag
mates. he comes in for his trIbulations
too He, also, is called upon to act as
buffer Indeed, that seems to be his
special calling He must not only
stand between the players and mana
gers and mngnates of his team. but II
a member Of the commission, he must
at times receive the iolts of players
and managers and nadSnates of all the
/ leagues, major and minor. and what
ne does not learn of trouble In the
politics, management and playing of
the game. and III the administration
of discipline, he may find in the hos
pital for the insane to which his trials