Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-03-21
few Baseball
PLAYERS QUIT
with Number CT Men Retire.
ment Gag Is Usually a Cluit,
NOTABLE EXAMPLES THIS YEAR
Several Stars Who Announced They
Were Through With the Game Are
Back Again on Duty-Fieder Jones
the Only Ono Who Really Retired.

Back Again on Duty-Fielder Jones
the Only Ono Who Really Retired.
star baseball players are going to quit
the game. Il can make more money
In business" says one. II realize that
I'm about all In and don't want to
be sent to the minors" asserts anoth-
er. All Of which sounds very well and
gives the baseball writer's some win.
ter dope" But
How many of these men, who &C.
tually love the game aside from the
big salaries they command, are sin
cereY OF course we know at the out
set that some are only blufing and
their real object Is to frighten the
club owner or manager and get an In
crease in salary; but. on the other
hand. it Is a fact that there are ball
players who believe what they say
when they say it. These men, who
have served long and faithfully on the
diamond, think they can make more
money In business and are afraid of
the day when the manager will say.
@T'm sorry, old boy. but you're done.'
They want to quit with their boots
on"
It's hard, though, isn't It? Look
over the "comebacks" Of the 1912 sea
son and you will realize that a ball
player who really loves to play the
game Is seldom sincere when he quits.
There is still an Unborn suspicion that
he can pitch, bat or field the ball
equally rs we'll as if not better than
the youngsters. And seldom does he
overlook the opportunity to come back
If he can convince the manager that
he can still deliver the goods.
Chief among the comebacks this
season will be Jack Chesbro, former
star American league pitcher. He quit
the New York Americans several years
ago after long and brilliant career.
"My arms gone." he said. But he rest
ed and worried too. He tried his arm
secretly and believed 1t as good as
ever. Then he went to Harry Wolver-
ton. new manager of the Highlanders.
and asked for chance to show. 1t
will be given him. He may not make
good. but it will not be because he has
not supreme confidence in his own
ability and strength
Another" player who wants chance
to shine again in baseball uniform is
Harry Mccormick. former Giant and
Philly outfielder A Bucknell graduate,
he quit several years ago to enter the
steel business. declaring that he could
make more money in that line Of en-
deavor He was a young man COM
paratively. and. while never a Ty Cobb
or Sherwood Magee. he was fairly
good batsman and fly chaser Posi-
bly Mccormick did make more money
in the steel business. but he is back
. trying to land major league berth
Jake Stahl, who will manage the
Boston Americans and play first base,
is another 1912 comeback. He de-
serted the Boston club to become a
banker. If all reports are true he
was successfui. But with a bright
financial career before him Stahl could
not resist the "cal of the bat and ball"
Stahl's case may be bit different, be-
cause it is said he would not play with
Boston last season owing to trouble
with President John l. Taylor of the
Red SOx. However. he is anxious to
get back into harness.
Kid Gleason is another example.
The irrepressible Kid was not &c.
lively engaged in the diamond pas
time when he quit the Phillies three
years ago. but he was an excellent
coach and assistant manager and could
have remained with the Quakers or
gone with another team. I'm DONE
said the Kid. But he did not mean
it, for he has grabbed an offer from
Jimmy Callahan to assist him in di-
recting the campaign of the Chicago
Sox.
And so 1t goes The men mentioned
are only notable examples There are
many others. Probably they have been
Influenced by the brilliant comeback
performance of Mike Donlin. who don
ned his uniform after Il two year stage
career and battcd .316 during 1911. or
they may be Jealous of "Old Cy"
Young. who recently signed his TWEEN
ty second consecutive contract to pitch
ma ior len"uc baseball Anyhow. just
remember that when Il man tells you
he is through with baseball he does not
really mean it. He still has that fever
and will jump mt u chance to get back
into the game.