davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1912-08-18
Callahan, Holder of the "Con1e Back" Copy
jimmy JQLIdHQ1, HOLUeT
right, Tells About His Re-
turn to the Big League---
Explains His Attack on the

At present he is engaged in keeping the
White so1 in the straight and narrow
path, his duties in the wheelhouse not
preventing him from looking after things
on the port side of the Comiskey craft.
His long service on the diamond finds him
still near the head Of the procession. run
ming bases without the assistance of
+crutches, plucking 'em out of the atmos-
phere with either hand and hitting EN-
to all corners of the lot. Most of the
men who started with Callahan have de-
livered their baseball message and passed
on. Old Dad Time, the greatest
twirler of them all, has given up trying
to strike him out. He says he is the
hardest man he ever pitched to.
Got any old conversation you want to
release?" he was asked.
Lets get over here on the bleachers
and III see if can't dig up few" he
replied. my control isn't what 1t used
to be, but 1 may be able to put couple
across. How did you recognize me?"
You haven't changed much in ten
years. Why do you ask that?"
''Since did the Peter Grimm thing
Meaning the big -eturn?" interrupted
the writer.
Safe by a mile" laughed Jimmy" '1
could claim a blocked ball, but l don't
like to win games on technicalities. Since
I returned to the firing line most of my
newspaper friends and many of the fans
have been looking me over with the great
est surprise. They expected to see me
peering over a faceful of long. loose,
white whiskers, with old fashioned spec
tacles anchored back of my foul flags and
shaking ike a man searching for three
skies. They pictured me hobbling with
the aid of a stout cane and making a
noise like the old oaken bucket every time
1 moved. When they shake hands can
see their heart is not in it."
Its kind of tough to disappoint them
at that" was suggested.
I'll tell you how badly I feel about it,"
Jimmy" went on. I'm seriously think
ins Of getting the whiskers and the other
props and putting them on when l see
my friends coming. Some of them look
around the dressing room as if they ex-
pected to see an invalid's chair. I'm re-
ferring TO my old friends on the road,
of course. Out home in Chicago I was
in touch with my friends during my ab-
sence from the big league"
The Washington herald., 1912-08-18

able athlete was never permitted TO WIN
his varsity letter on account of a slight
touch of summer baseball received before
he got into college.
Ball players with regulations as college
stars receive enticing offers for the sum
mer and meet the best persons at the re-
sorts, besides being able TO enjoy all the
attractions of coast or mountain hotels at
a good salary. If they did not play base
ball they would probably be forced 10 spend
their summers in hot city, cooped up in
some banking house, or in an equally un-
pleasant position for a great deal less
money. \ man can hardly be blamed for
taking a chance. Colleges about closin.
time in June are flooded with such letters
as the following
High school and college ball players who
would like free board at the best hotels
on cool Cape Cod this summer and fair
salaries besides for playing in the Cape
Cod League about to be organized should
apply by letter to Webster L. Draper,
Terrace Gables Hotel, Falmouth Heights,
Mass. There will probably be openings
for other players, but students are pre-
ferred.
This one was shown TO me by a well
known player. The noted stars receive
especial attention from the promoters of
summer ball. Most of them who are not
of independent means play the game in
the summer for money, so that the rule
does not prevent professionalism, but only
Furnishes the few who are caught. l be
lieve in all my career as Il coach | have
never heard of one college star turning
down a good offer when he really needed
the money. 1t is plain, then. that the col
lege ranks each year are filled with pro-
fessionals, according TO the summer rule.
who have not been caught. The amateur
is the wealthy exception.
Some players do not take money direct
ly, but you can gamble that the star you
see representing hotel in the summer is
getting paid for his services in some way.
And my tip is that if you number among
your acquaintances Il college professor
do not mention to him the name Of the
young man you may see play at your
The Washington herald., 1912-08-18

independent baseball team and we played
to good crowds several times a week"
"And then you bought return ticketT'
Swinging nice, old man." said Jimmy
II had been away from the big show
for Eve years and I wasn't dny too sure
Of my ability to make it. Mr.. Comiskey
encoura ged me to try, and ! did. had
taken on flesh and slowed down to a
walk, but I took myself by the hand and
went through q severe course Of train
ing. After the first few weeks I regained
confidence and speed. could feel my
self improving every time / went to bal
or got on the bases I got a great re,
ception all along the line when / DOM ed
the spangles, and / guess that encourage
ment helped more than anything else"
How long are you going to stay this
time?"
Until they drive me out of the park,
was the laughing reply. And when they
put me out of the park I'll pick out a
knot hole in the fence and stick there
until the undertaken puts me out of the
game. When finish with the active
part of the game I'll apply for job as
-roundkeeper. When l get too old fol-
that I'll ask them to appoint me night
watchman at the park. You see, I've
got my campaign all mapped out"
You hate the old game, don't you?
"As a youngster hates ice cream. It's
the greatest sport in the world, and I'm
awfully proud to be connected with it."
The Washington herald., 1912-08-18
IN ZANZIBAR.

THE Arab ladies of Zanzibar are very
light in color. many of them in fact
being what might be termed cream
colored. Their features are regular and
good and they have very dark eyes and
silky hair. They paint under their fetch
ing orbs and stain their hands and nails
reddish color with henna. These faraway
damSels live in great secluSion in large
white houses. never going out in the day
time from one years end TO another. 4
little cooking and sweetmeat making is
their only recognized employment, though
some few of them can do beautiful en-
broidery To lie on their beds and be
famed by their slave girls is the usual
occupation of the richer women of Zanzi-
bar When they choose 10 visit or. as is
more often the case, TO perambulate the
town. they wait until larkEass has well
set i'll, and after gun has been fred,
warning all thar il is the last hour of
prayer. then they may go out. But they
90 entirely envelOped in a large mantle
and their faces are completely hidden by
very ugly gilt masks, with oblong Sits
for the eyes.
Many Of them even wear these masks
in the privacy of their homes. Their
other garments are trousers and tunic
reaching below the knees, which is often
embroidered and trimmed with gold
braid. They wear numerous ornaments
of gold anG silver, such as earrings. nose
rings, bracelets, anklets and necklaces.
Whenever these mystic women travel any
distance they ride through the narrow
streets on large white asses stained a
brick red, their slaves running by their
sides, and at night their slaves surround
them. each carrying lantern as big as a
street lamp. TheS all return to their
homes before four in the morning, when
another gun is fired, signalizing the No
hammedans' first hour Of prayes.
The Washington herald., 1912-08-18
Il Went Through Severe Course
of Training"

minutes for laughter-his way into the
affections of the Chicago fans, and ever
since he has occupied a fixed post in one
of the city's ball parks. When Chicago
starts pointing with pride the municipal
finger gets around TO Callahan before the
end Of the first inning. Orators of sight
trip to the Windy City is complete that
doesn't include Callahan handshake. In
return for all this confidence James leaves
no adjective unturned to let the neighbors
know that Chicago leads the municipal
League with several thousand points to
spare.
The Washington herald., 1912-08-18

permitted to continue our summer activi
ties and still represent the university, a.
the removal of all summer ball players
from the team would have left one of those
cavities which would have required q
crown. 1t never could have been filled.
The year the rule was passed young
chap from Vermont entered the university
and, in spite of the. keen competition fol
places on the team. won one of the out
field positions in his freshman year. He
was poor and needed the money which
he could make in summer baseball &c
carry him to his degree. He heard all Of
the rest of us talking about our summer
opportunities, and he received a very good
offer from hotel proprietor IN one Of the
popular resorts TO play for him that sum
mer, and in return he was to receive
excellent pay and his board. The young
man took the job and was found out by
the faculty, ole of the Eligibility Com
mittee happening to visit the hotel oil
whose nine be was appearing during the
summer. He was promptly called before
the Board as soon as college convened il
the fall, but gave the judges u battls
which still lives n the annals Of Brown.
Did you play summer baseball fol
money! he was asked.
Il did," he replied, without any hesita
tion. 1t was past time for hesitating
The professor who had seen him clear
up" for the summer resort nine wa.
sitting on the Board.
What have you got to- say for your
selfy"
"Send for Raymond and Colt" replied
the young man, mentioning the name.
of two itudents in his class. Their name.
were not Raymond and Colt. When thu
two had arrived the summer baseball
player said.--
The Washington herald., 1912-08-18

You must get many a laugh out of
the situation"
Give been laughing myself into the
lightweight division since came back.
It's a hit when the old timers hunt me
up only to think they've made a mistake.
They'll look at me three or four times
and then tell me my father was fine
ball player. Actually think I'm my own
son."
You're taking too big lead now,
James. You know you're no chicken"
GUILTY. he replied.
How old are you?'
Spare me. You promised to give me
all the close decisions"
Your age, jimmy"
Its so much I've forgotten the score,
stopped counting after l passed thirty.
I'm thirty-seven or thirty-eight or there
about"
"A ripe old age for ball player"
Il admit it and yet l feel pretty good.
eat and sleep well and have a few
teeth left My mind is fairly clear about
events that happened as far back as
1907"
do you use glasses?"
Thanks, but I haven't got any time
now. After the game I'll accept your
invitation"
Error for Callahan
Tough luck" said Jimmy. Il booted
that all right You meant eyeglasses,
didn't you? l have to use glasses when
The Washington herald., 1912-08-18

.Cahanan'
1 read bilboards. Outside of that my
eyesight is fairly good"
How long have you been in the game:'
Eighteen years. Strange TO say. l
was only a kid when l started
1T seems as if you had been playing
longer than that"
"Thst's because I've been in the major
leagues all but q year or two of that
time"
Didn't you start in the minors
Il jumped from the back lot in Fitch
burg, Mass, to the Philadelphia Ma
tionals."
Isn't that a recordT'
only a few of us have done it. That
was in 1894 / didn't stick very long.
l was tried and convicted of ine1perience
and was sentenced to Springfield. Mass,
then in the old Eastern League. served
uit lutlt anu lNAh AhaA
sas City. / reached Chicago in 1896 and
the fans out there made me feel like one
Of the family. I took root and have been
there ever since. I stayed with the Ma
tional League team FIVE years and then got
a transfer to the American League"
You Joined the White SoI in 19O1?'
"In 1901. Griffith and l Joined the
team at the same time. My activities
were confined to the pitchers box at that
time. remained with the Sox FIVE sea
sons and in 1906 l quit the league.
wanted more time for some of my out
side business ventures, but I didn't give
up playing altogether. l organized al
The Washington herald., 1912-08-18

Haven the preceding summer. There was
some talk of cancelling the game on this
account. it being realized, too. that we
had q much stronger nine than the blue
and that Yale was probably due for a
trimming l believe that the latter rea'
sou had as much 10 do with the holler
as anything. \ wrangle arose about
some of our players when We took the
field TO practice and the Yale manager
entered a protest.
Suddenly one Of our players ran out
into left field and brought person who
was effacins himself and making himself
look as much as possible like the scenery
in that neighborhood into the arguing
group. He was captain of the Yale team.
Hello, Bill" said the Brown player as
he shook the man by the hand with a
great deal of ostentation. Didn't think
Id see you playing with all these anna
toors, now they are getting so particular
down here. Do you know l believe that
| il you could have come through with a
hit in that last game Edgewater played
We q nave won II. bOu theS Sdii Sou
a pro? Well, you didn't act like one last
summer. I'll admit that"
The Yale captain had played left field
on the same Edgewater team with the rest
of us all summer for regular money. The
Yale men ceased to cry professionals afteI
that, and we proceeded to give the blue
the thrashing of its life.
These few incidents show the injustice
of the summer rule. Some men play all
summer for the three vacations they are
in college and are never caught, while
others are slipped up in taking part in a
single game. l knew a young fellow once
who was great high school star and,
being in need of money to go to college
played on a semi-professional team for IS
game on Saturdays and Sundays, while
he worked in a bank through the week.
Eventually he came to Columbia, but some
eagle eyed professor had watched him play
a single game with the semi-professional
team and he was barred from all athletic
competition while in college, although he
was also a great football player and Co
lumbia had an eleven in those days. This
The Washington herald., 1912-08-18

boy who doesn't aspire to be an all round
athlete is an exception. Public schools
are producing wonderful material in the
athletic line Girls have caught the
fever and are going in for healthful out
door recreations instead of eating up
novels and caramels. The whole coup-
try has been specded up and that speed
has made itself felt in baseball more than
anywhere else.
The youngsters who break into the
game now are lightning fast on their feet
in most cases. The slow, soggy recruit of
the old days, who could hit like fend
but who had TO lose the ball in order TO
reach first base, is a thing Of the past.
Youngsters come to the big leagues now
with a full knowledge of how to keep
themselves in condition. They don't have
TO be told. They know that unless they
are right they cannot stick. No need Of
advising the average player as TO the line
of conduct he should pursue. This desire
to keep in condition has solved the drink
ing and cigarette habits so far as the
major leagues are concerned. And /
think every other line of endeavor will
show a similar improvement as a result OF
the increased interest in athletics"
When does the next service begin"
81 guess / was talking like a preacher,
but that's just how I feel about it."
HAS the pitcher got it easier now
adays:"
a great deal Where the old time
pitcher used to work three and four times
week, the present day pitcher works
once or twice. Every thing is done 10
smooth the way for him, and this is as it
should be, because the pitcher will always
carry most of the responsibility. In the
old days a manager could stick a pitcher
IN the neIl, Dut ne eau uo 'hat on'
more"
Have you done any pitching since your
return to the game:"
II should say not. didn't come back
that far. I haven't tried to pitch for
several years returned as an out
fielder. my ability to land on the ball now
and then helping me to make good in that
department"
Who do you regard as the greatest
pitcher in the game to-day"
Il can only speak of the ones with
whose work I am familiar. / put Ed
Walsh at the head of the class. 1t will
sound like favoritism because he is mem
Der of my team, but honestly believe
him TO be the greatest pitcher in the busi'
ness at the present time. have all the
respect in the world for Mathewson,
Johnson and the other able bo1men. but
nv own personal opinion is that Walsh
has il on all of them. consider him the
greatest asset Il team ever had. He COM
bines wonderful ability with a willing
ness to work You don't have to coddle
The Washington herald., 1912-08-18

Ask Raymond if he did not sing on the
paid quartet at the Moonlight Hotel
where / played summer baseball
Raymond readily admitted that he did
Ask him if he does not expect to rep
resent the college on the glee club this
spring. continued the man on trial.
Raymond again said that he hoped to
if his voice held out.
Then" said the youngsman. IF he car
play a mandolin in the summer and gel
away with it, why can't l play left field
and still be eligible?'
The second student, Colt, admitted tina,
he had devoted his summer vacation to
lecturing at the Chautauquas and that
he expected TO captain the debating team
that summer and lead it in competition
These cases puzzled the Board so that il
had TO go into executive session, but
finally reported that ecturing and sing
ing for hire and summer baseball were
not parallel cases. 1t was not explained
why they were not.
The ball Mayer was therefore disqual
fled and continued to play summer base
ball each year and work his way through
college in this way, while the glee club
student and the debater were still am
ateurs in their activities. The young
man who was barred from representing
his college on the diamond is now one OF
the biggest lawyers in the country, and
he married the daughter of wealthy
banker whom he me. at the summer
hotel which he represented on the diamond
in the summer. The glee club man, the
last time / saw him, was a singing waiter
in a cafes while the debater was barking
for a Coney Island show. Both are evi
dently amateurs yet.
Once when the Brown team went tc
New Haven to play Yale while / was q
member of it there was big howl put ny
by the Yale students that the blue nine
was meeting a team Of professionals, be-
cause several Of Us had played on the
Edgewater semi-professional team in New
The Washington herald., 1912-08-18
I'll Pick Out a Knot Hole in the
Fence"

How does it compare with ten years
ago."
Just ten years faster. 1t gets faster
every season. It's bound to get faster
because of the great athletic awakening
of the entire country. Up to ten years
ago few persons outside college men and
members of athletic clubs were paying
any attention to athletics. Now every
body is interested in the subject. The
The Washington herald., 1912-08-18
BY BILL" LAUDER.

TO dodge the summer baseball rule
laid down BY the colleges students
resort to all kinds of deception and
tricks. 1t has been my experience as a
college coach that most young men who
can obtain positions on summer teams
do so and risk their amateur standing.
The other students, instead of regarding
these men as professionals, look at those
who play summer baseball and get away
with it as heroes. 1t is rather a mark
of genius in the eyes of the college de-
mocracy. Therefore many men lie awake
nights in the spring figuring out means
to beat the summer baseball rule when
they should be determining methods for
passing their examinations.
l knew a young man once who COM
bined exceptional baseball ability with
a good head and ready reply. He was
of the talkative type Of player and was
known on the campus as "Gabby." lie
played baseball all one summer and drew
down big money, wearing an assumed
name for the purpose of deception When
he returned to college some hint OF shis
summers work leaked into the faculty
board and he was ordered to appear be-
fore this tribunal
Young man." said the chairman, did
you play baseball for money last sum-
mer!
Il played for Love" promptly responded
the student, and his reply stood in the
minutes and his standing remained pure.
The manager of the team for which the
youth played bore the handy name of
Love. The young man in this way was
enabled to make money enough to finish
The Washington herald., 1912-08-18
They Pictured Me Hobbling with
the Aid of a Cane"

Anything to say about spiking the
poor old drama:'
1T was absolutely unavoidable. The
managers put me in as a pinch hitter"
How did you make outE'
Il hit for the circuit
You must be pretty good actor"
Play up close for bunt." said
Jimmy" as he prepared to put over
whisper. Il thought 1 was pretty fair.
and so did my wife and the two children
Ny father-in-law thinks I'm better out
fielder. But you can't expect a plumber
to have any artistic temperament"
is your father-in-law a plumber
a plumbing contractor. And he's got
everything"
You used your noddle when you picked
him."
Il think l used good judgment in not
passing him." observed Jimmy"
The Washington herald., 1912-08-18

his college course and still represent the
university on the diamond. The students
who heard of the incident, thought it a
great joke.
Gee, did you hear how Bill put one
over on PrexyT" was the common COM
ment of the campus.
Now, hold that the student body. and
not the faculty, should create the opinion
and sentiment toward summer baseball
Large universities are really small de-
mocracies run by the students, and if the
students attitude toward the summer
baseball player is one of commendation
why should the faculty lay down rules of
simon pure amateurism which are found
ed on the obsolete English theory that
any man who works for wages is not an
amateur, and which, instead of creating
the much vaunted love of sport for sport s
sake, breeds q race of lazy men, who
hesitate about working for fear that their
amateur standing may be questioned?
When was a student in Brown Univer-
sity several men who later became big
league stars were on the team with me.
There were Fred Tenney and Dave
Fultz, among others, and We all played
summer baseball. 1t was in our sophomore
year that the rule was passed forbiddins
men who worked on the diamond for money
in the summer to represent the college. 1t
was specified that this ruling did not af-
feet the students already in the university
when it was passed, as many of US frankly
stated that We were dependent on summer
baseball for the funds to carry us through
college. and that if such playing made rs
ineligible the Brown team would have to
stumble along without Us. So we were
The Washington herald., 1912-08-18

him. He'll take a game with the bases
full with as much cheerfulness as if the
team had two run lead"
That athletic fever you were speaking
about hasn't flooded the country with star
pitchers"
That's right. They're scarcer than
ever There are any number of ordinary
performers, but the first class ones are
few and far between. The good ones ar
rive at the rate of one or two a season.
I'll tell you what good pitching means-
Give me Walter johnson and the White
Sox will come pretty near winning the
American League pepnant. Give Walsh
to Griffith and Washington would back
into first place
The Washington herald., 1912-08-18

hotel Perhaps he needs the money badly
and likes to represent his college. too. His
only fault, according to college standards.
is in being found out. The science of sum-
mer baseball is getting away with it
The Washington herald., 1912-08-18

cOuectlOuS OF tIltHus OF
Uncle Sans diamond While his various
activities have kept the spotlight beating
on him for many years, Jimmy" will be
remembered chiefly as one Of the very few
athletes who boarded the Come Back
special and made the return trip without
any stops.
Sixteen years sgo he "jimmied"-ter
The Washington herald., 1912-08-18
Drama.
BY ]. A. FITZGERALD.

Owe along there now ana
make room for Jimmy"
Callahan, ball player,
actor and philosopher and
the sole owner and propri-
etor of one of the finest
M4: f f-:anI. an