Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-01-23
FANS CAN MAKE OR BREAK
THE AVERAGE BALL PLAYERS

what IS said 10 them and about them.
Nine others are for the time affected,
but soon shake of the sting Of the
criticism OF the fan or the adverse
comment of the press. About one In
every hundred is perhaps totally In.
different 10 what is said TO him by
the fans or about him in the papers.
"EVCIy now and then in my career
| have run across players wko in-
sisted that they never read the pa.
pers. the sporting page In particular.
have always figured that such fel-
lows were simply trying to Josh some
one. and have always refused to be
that certain party. There never was
a fellow playing ball who didn't read
the papers II he could. A compliments
tary notice always pleased him,
while knock usually made him pine
for the hearts blood of the writer
There Gre few Of us who can grace
fully accept the bitter with the sweet.
Every fellow Is human, liable TO err.
| have always tried to figure that I
have done many things on the field
that merited praise and pulled n lot
OF things that deserved criticism.
Occasionally one runs across q
player who really is actually indiffer.
ent to the roasts or applause OF the
fans. Lefty" Leifeld, who for years
was star on the Pittsburg stan OF
twirlers, was always looked upon as
such player. Such was probable
the correct siZe-up of the southpaw.
Leitield happened to be one OF the
group of players holding post.
norton on fandom, and he remarked
thusly:
Case Of LeifieId and 6riess.
Il can truthfully say that the atti-
tude of the fans toward me when
pitching has neither helped nor In
tured me. really believe am an
exception to, the ordinary run OF feI-
lows, ard I have often wished that
was differently constituted. Perhaps
after all it is probably Just as well
that | was deaf,s dumb and blind 60
what was happening in the grand
stand and bleachers. Most OF my
career has been spent in Pittsburg
have given some excellent exhibitions
during my career as a Pirate and
have been literally applauded Such
applause might have stirred me To
greater efforts If / was susceptible to
praise. On the other hahd, II I had
paid any attention to the roasts that
have been passed me / would be IN
the minors at the very best, IL not
In a padded cell. My style in the box
has always been rather shiftless, In
different, Just as though didn't care
whether won or lost. when In reali-
ty no fellow ever lived who liked to
win any better than me. A fellow
simply can't change the style that
nature has given him.
The American League for several
years had Just such q player In Art
Griggs, who started with st. Louis
and then was sold % cleveland
Gfiggs had a wonderful amount of
natural ability When Arst saw him
work / was positive that he would
soon develop into a star. Nothing
worried Griggs; even the taunts OF
the st. Louis bleachers never feazed
him. His appetite was Just as good
after a game in which he had made
several errors that lost the contest
as after game In which his hitting
had been the deciding factor I fig-
ured the attitude Of the fans In st
Louis was responsible for Griggs
failure to show to better advantage.
I felt sure he would pick up Just as
soon as he hit Cleveland, where the
crowds were not likely to be as cri-
| teal. Griggs was warmly received
in Cleveland, but his style was just
the sane. Never in his career did
, he doff his cap to the crowd. He
walked to the bench with the same
slow stride after. driving out a home
run as he did after making an error
You're a dub today and = hero to-
morrow with the fam, + once heard
him remark, land ! don't intend to be
either" Griggs and Leifeld are the
exceptions to the rule, however. as
the attitude of the fan makes or
breaks the average athlete.
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