Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-22
BASE BALL FANS ARE CRITICAL,
RESENT SLUMP OF STAR PLAYERS
Failure of Some Crack Athlete to Deliver in
a Pinch Causes All Kinds Of Wild
Rurnors, Mostly False Ones.

to allow any selfish motives to influence
him. He is for his team to win. no mat
ter what Carrigan does.
Almost Ruins Career.
l know of a star pitcher who was KEEP.
out of the game for several weeks last
year because of illness. The doctor who
attended him was a personal friend OF
mine. 1t was scandalous some of the
stories that were circulated because OF
his failure to pitch. One was that he had
been hurt in a barroOm fight when, as a
matter of fact, the player Is total alb
Stainer. Another was that he had injured
his arm while entertaining a bunch OF
joy riders in his big touring car. Other re-
ports were even worse.
The pitcher I refer to is one of the
greatest stars of the game. His club at the
time was in the thick of the fight He
would have been of great aid to his club
Criticism Of his failure to pitch became sc
severe that he got up from a sick bed
and pitched one afternoon when in nc
condition to work. l umpired back OF
him that afternoon, and several times he
was on the verge of tossing up the sponge
because of sheer weakness Fear of more
adverse criticism made him continue. He
won his game. but was all in at the fin.
ish. and, according to my doctor friend, he
might have ruined his entire career.
Happen in Clubhouse.
If it were possible for a couple of fans
to gain admission to the clubhouse of the
home or visiting team after each game, il
would be a sin the stories that would be
floating around the town every evening
Ball clubs that win are ball clubs that
fight for every point. players who are ag-
iG q
team should not be in the happiest frame
of mind possible after losing a game that
should have been easily won. It is only
natural that the players should argue out
things in the clubhouse. 1t is only nat.
ural that they should get after each other
for some bonehead play, lack of pepper OF
failure to take some certain chance that
would have won the game Usually the
conversation would not make hit in the
drawing room These things are thrashed
out after each game, then forgotten. and
when the game starts the next day all
are one happy family again. No one
knows what the evening will bring forth
81 suppose you will shake your head the
next time I call for a curve on that fell
low" says the catcher to the pitcher
about the fellow whose hit won the game
league" replies the pitcher. He MUIR
dered my curve ball the last time I faced
him.
That is only because you have nothing
on your curve. Tom always makes him
look foolish with his hook
That was swell catch you made of
that fly ball. remarks the first base
man to the right fielder. who has to play
bad sun field. Better get a mask If
you intend playing there tomorrow, or
we will all be sending flowers
Guess I didn't look any worse than
you on that throw to second" replies
the right fielder.
So it goes down the line. while the play
ers are changing from field uniform to
street clothes. The debate is often only
ended when the manager believes the
players have got all the venom out of
their system. Sometimes the discussion
gets so warm that the players make phys
ical threats. Seldom are they carried
into effect But to the unsophisticated it
would seem that harmony was unknown
on the club. That Is one big reason why
so many wild stories are circulated about
the players, who are just human after all.
Copyright. 1912. by w. G. Evans)