The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-15
.CY FALKENBERG TELLS
WHY HE JOINED FEDS
Inside History Revealed for Firs,
Time in Simple Straight-For-
ward Language.
BODY BLOW TO CLEVELAND
Would Have Preferred Finishing in
American League-l'amily Con-
sidci1tiOns and Big Offer l.urcd
Him to the Gilmore Circuit.

Ihc reasons which led me TO join the
Federal League arc very simple, says
y f"lkcnbcrg in the October Baseball
Matalinc. had worked for years
more or less handicapped by i'll health
ana an occasional extra heavy blow
OF bad fortune. At the age of thirty
threc | found myself with a wife and
TWO children 10 support NV active
n'ScpaiI career drawing to n close, and
'hc hrst chance | had ever had to
nhhc an unusually good salary In
siIihs up the situation | said To my
sci After several seasons Of only
i.H iuck have pitched two years conc
u which was virtually wasted in the
hihors). of what might be considered
unusually good ban. 1t waY. at any
Ia'e' Tn" best bah had ever pitched.
NY reputation could hope 10 gain
W"S airc"dy won. cn that reputation
rested amy demands might consist
cntlS make for better salary And
NJ my time of life q baseball nlnvcr
SHOWS tha' ms days are numbered and
whatever OF this worlds goods h.
viii retire with from the good oII
, national game lac VIII get in that bricr
and uncertain interim which str.,rn.s
between thirty-thrce and nnis.
My relation with organized baschali
7 nave been, ! suppose. about on a mar
with those Of most other humble en-
ploycs OF King Baseball. | have had
my own grievances. some of which, (
natter myself. were not wholly Of my
own thinking. ana Doubtless I have nor
always been reasonable or right ia my
dealings with tho inagnatcs So fnr ;,s
am concerned. would, 10y preference.
! have finished my days with To" amer.
ican League, in which most Of nav :,C-
, tive career was spent II was nav
league, and there are ties OF r"collcc-
ton which bind the athlete to IN. mar
hcuiar organization in which his vic,
tories have been won and his defeats
chalkcd against his record
Not Matter OF Sentiment.
But nay going was not a matter or
sentiment at all. I felt that whatcvt,.
preference might have for organized
baseball. | owed Il more immediate debt
TO myself and my family. And so
chose. without any display OF ire
wor.-s, the best offer that was made me
which happened TO toe from the Fed
cral League
During the year when was with the
American League, won more HAM
half my games. This is "a good, rai.
10 travel for the average pitcI,.r. on.
which entities him to consideration.
Ihcr" was never amy complaint, 50 far
as ! know, about tho quality of my
pitching when was in good form rho
complaint was. rather. about the guam
iity. have always cudc:tNor.J to-
keen myself in good trim. and IN some
WAYS. I lave succeeded Nh arm lias
usually been in enc shapc because I
took all tn" precautions i'm iuN bower
10 nave my muscles supple uu5 sort.
and TO escape the dreaded muscle
bound condition that is 80 rrra, p,
ban" 10 tie pitchers arm. tut my gci,-
cral health. viii aay, bothered ,nt.
and the fact that W;,s usually under
weight for my height ann six fc.t
Tour ANA half inchcS--always pre-
vented 'lc from taking part in nay full
schedule Of games. So aH year tiriftcH
after year found myself handicapped
IN on" way and another FROM doiu-,
tho work | Was wolf able 10 ito NJ
could have beer ia prime condition
FINALLY. in Ia" season before llarrv
Davis took control ct Cleveland. was
taken sick with bronchitis. 1t made "a
big dent in my pitching record. md
perhaps actuItcd Davis ~ the course
ne pursued toward me. Doubtless no
mad no personal feeling, but / have
never thought hc treated mo right