The Washington herald., 1913-02-23
PLAYER WRITER'S
JOKE OF SEASON
ce.t,-..a fr.- First r.s..

am out OF the game a. an active par
ticipant In II. and do not think VIII
then.
Il think 1t is foolish for any player.
especially those who take part In ths
worlds series. to write about the games
They are sure to get into trouble II they
do
II is q cinch that the majority OF
the player experts last October ran no
risk Of losing their batting eye or dis
locating their brain while they were COM
posing their criticisms.
Capt. Larry Doyle. OF the New York
Giants, wSs interviewed shortly after the
big series and asked how he liked the
Job of reporting the games.
1T was the hardest work ever
tackled" chuckied Larry. Il did not
write q line. but II was awful hard on
the nerves to listen to what some re-
porter wrote for me and then sign my
name to stun that looked to me like
inklings from the pen OF King Solomon.
But, you know. / got $500 in coin for
the work. and that's pretty good for a
reporter who is no reporter at ALL"
Walter johnson. the great twirier of
the Washington club. was also engaged
to do the series He was hired by the
Boston Herald, at rediculously low
10 touPufco u TIC uOucy pdlu sew
eral other player writer's Ralph Mac
MILAN. sporting editor of the Herald.
wrote Johnson's stun. and great dope
II was, too. 1t was SO good that the
Boston Herald syndicated the matter to
nearly fifty out-of-town papers. includ-
Ing q Capital publication.
The day after the opening day in
New York johnson left for Boston on
the midnight special reserved for the
army OF baseball writers, reaching the
Hub about o'clock the next morning
As he was walking from the Pack Bay
Station to his hotel he bought a copy
Of the Boston Herald, and. turning to
his friends. said with a smile: Well
guess I'll see what wrote about yes
terday's game. hope I have been cor
rectly quoted"
In New York this exporting has
become 4 Ilania. Last October Inem-
bers " the Giants and Red Sox raked
In the coin as baseball experts. None
thought to wonder how a player had
sufficient time to write all credited to
him for the morning papers. When
Manager McGraw handed out an alleged
story criticising Chief Meyers, the ex-
plosion came. McGraw told how he
received 4 fat sum for the use of his
name. and that an expert writer did
the real work.
The players expect to be criticised by
the professional baseball writer. Indeed.
they take that all In good part, generally
being the best friends with their critics.
But when a player reads the harsh criti-
cism of teammate. it's a horse of an
other color. No man wants to be held up
to ridicule by a fellow-player Continu-
ance of this practice may seriously inter-
fere with team work, and il is this phase
- =
called to the attention of the national
The writer during the last worlds
series made careful inquiry into the sub
jtct and had little dificulty in finding
out just what each ball player was paid
for the use of his name and who did
the real work.
Chief Meyers. the New York catcher.
was credited with turning out some
were written by Jim McBeth. Of the
New York Americans Christy Mathew
sens accounts were pounded out by
Jack Wheeler. a feature writer connect
ed at that time with the New York Her
aid. Wheeler also wrote the criticism
found under the name of Jeff Tesreau.
the Giants big pitcher.
Bill Farnsworth. connected with the
Hearst newspapers. interviewed Rube
Msrquard each day, and IL the Rube
told him all the dope printed. IL was
no wonder the southpaw got himself in
bad with his team mates. for Farms
worth spared no one in his scathing
criticism.
Walter Trumbull, of the New York
Sun. handled the feature stories
the fans supposed Manager McGraw
turned out.
BOston Newspaers In Line.
The Boston papers slipped this bunk
over on the dear old public just as NICE
ly as did the Gotham publications. Cy
Young. the veteran twirler, was engaged
by the Boston Post, and Sam Carrick
wrote hts stories. Capt. Heine wagner.
,r the HE'D Sox, was assigned to Paul
shannon. the baseball editor OF this
same paper, while Catcher Bill Carrigan
furnished the Boston American readers
with Interesting daily stories pounded
,ut by A. n. &. Mitchell
Iris Speaker and Joe wood were also
n the iimelight with expert criticisms
written tor them by Tim Murnane ana
i'm ULeary. respectively.
hughey Jennings enjoyed the serles
rom the press box as did Ty Cobb, both
II whom contributed to the syndicate
ield. Roger Tidden. OF the New York
World. helped Jennings get his data
nto shape. and Stoney MacLinn, Of the
Press, was right at Ty
cobb's elbow when the Georgia peach
acked a suitable word or a trite ex-
,ression.
The engaging of these player-expert
writer's worked hardship.on many we'll
ersed scribes who were refused by their |
arious papers the privilege of attending !
he worlds series last October. They
'ere simply turned down cold with some |
uch statement as this:- I'VE are going |
o let Chrfsty Matthewson and Joe Wood |
over the features Of these games and |
he press association will give US a good |
traight away story Of the batters, so |
Ihy should We send you, and pay your |
liz expense account
ucements to ball players for the use Of |
heir names. will the dear old public be |
unkoed into thinking that the stars
themselves write this expert stun. The
ritter believes that the D. o. p. should |
e told the truth OF the matter. then it's
p to the fans to Judge for themselves
8 to the merits Of any newspaper story
ppearing UNDER the name Of q we'll /
nown ball player. or, In other words. to
'onder II the player has been correctly
uoted.
Note to Sporting Editors-This story is
eleased for afternoon newspapers of Feb.
and morning papers OF Feb. a The
tory Is furnished gratis Is authors name
used.
Celumbia Trims Dartmouth.