Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-16
MidWinter Diamond Converse
tiOns Worried Him.
PESTERED BY FANS CHATTER.
Wherever He Went Pittsburs Young
ster Was Quizzed by laxative Bugs
About National Pas.ime-fred Clarke
Also Talk Victim.

Nothing is SO nauscating TO the ball
plavcr as the peSlifernuS fan who in
sists upon talking TO and making the
acquaintance OF every pill tosSer. The
bug who calls the ball player by his first
name ON the street is never liked By
the exponent OF the national pastlme.
On Tie contrary, h. is dospiscd. The
travelling man who butts into the ball
paycrS' conversation In the hotel lob
b, is lucky to get AWAY without his
snciaI architecture materially changed.
But 50 long as the baseball is the ma
tional game so long will the ball play
erS be pcStertd by The bugs.
We know or one Instance where 4
great young player gave up n lucrative
position on The diamond because he
couldn't stand 10 be The target FOR an
endless amount If inane questions shot
his way hr t!!c idol wnrShipcrS. The
player IN question Was Vincent camp
bell. who lately returned 10 he Pitts.
burg club.
Campbell quit baseball a the windup
Of the 1910 season. after 10 had made
one Of HE greatest records Of any
yullas fielder in the game. simply be-
cause he WAS obliged In talk shop
everywhere he went during the WIN
ter. Whether in Il cafe. ballroom,
drawing room or on the streets. Camp
bells friends invariably made baseball
The sole lupi,. uf conversation wren lie.
was around. II seemed ~ Tough
these friends" figured tlral unless
they talked baseball they w"iid nor
make Il hi" with Alr. Iampbcl!.
Now. quite The contrary Is true. Had
they talked ut reciprocity. or which
Campbell knows little, hc would haTs
been Infinitely more pleased.
Or had they talked about l"%a.iihms
or anything else but baseball! Vim
would he much more at home.
Campbell is not IN exception RaliI'
or lIn IS the rule. BALL players
never want Ia talk shop They nerel
want Ia discuss "tDday'& game. eS
pcciailr with man who IS not i play
rr. Occasionally Il bail player VIII
become much enihuSed with base
ball argument il some technical poIn'
OF the game is involved. II he can tax
with 4 man who can converse lntelll
gently on he great game ir IS pleased
bnt there are s.. few who really know
baseball that player is taking y
chance all he tilue.
Fred Clarke. manager "f The Pirates
was driven 10 an obscure farm in Kan
sas by the T.stiferuns fan. Most bal
ulayerS who realize that they can
make Il bit % money out Of baseball
hike To q farm in the off season sin
ply 10 avoid the t:lkntivc bug. MhnS
players like Campbell quit the game
raj her than he peStCrcd IL death WIlll
the life!rss arguments OF their allege'l
friends aud admirers.
When Campbell was requested Ia
rcj0in The Pirates In 81. Louis regent
IS be was asked Why he didn't report
III the start Of the seaSDIl.
Didn't you like y"lir contract: said
Clarke 10 The young broker.
Yes" was tampbrIi's reply.
"Wril. didn't you like the rlagcra:'
continued Clarke.
Yes" WAS EamphrII's answer.
"WhaI's The matter. them demand
rd Clarke.
"Wrll.' said Campbell. II can't stand
10 BIZ talking baseball all winter
"'rhal'S my fix exactly" said Clarke
Il can't stand the bugs, :" every win
typ | hike AWAY 10 Il farm in Kansas
Tile fans have driven me- I" that farm
for refuse 70 have my peace Of mimi
upset all winter"