The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-31
Cy alkenburg
Hits Cleveland
Baseball Club

CLEVELAND, OHIO, Jan. So
Waxing more indignant with the ut
terance of each sentence. Cy Falken-
berg gave the reason why probably
he has deserted the ranks of organ
lied baseball and signed to play with
the Federal league. But Cy did not
say he had signed with the Federals
Read the following and draw your
own conclusions:
Who wouldn't jump after playing
under the conditions under which /
have played in organized baseball?
II was whisked away from Cleve-
land to the minors at time when 1
possessed major league ability. l
showed that by leading the American
association in 1912,
Il came back here in 1913. I was
a late starter. The Cleveland club
did not think a great deal of me.
worked under a salary almost eQuiva-
lent to that OF recruit pitcher. And
l won twenty-five games and lost ten
for the Cleveland club in 1913. That
means / won more games than any
other man ON the club.
Refers to Work in 1918.
without being egotistical / think
I can insist that /. probably more
than any other individual, made the
Cleveland team a pennant contender
during the season of 1918. / don't
say that because ] did so much. but
because / did so vastly much more
than was expected of me.
II was billed strong by the Cleve-
land club last year. Actually, I used
to feel ashamed when the umpire
would raise his voice to announces
that I was to oppose Johnson or
Bender or Plank or Dubuc or other
80 kno maid nftrhare
was expected to beat men who were
drawing twice as much salary as I.
II feel that my comeback in 1918
increased the profits of the Cleveland
club at least $4,000. You know the
difference between the clubs win
nings and the money that they would
have made If we had fingered around
fourth or fifth was at least $4,000.
And on top Of that when my last
check of the season was handed me
95 cents was nissing-95 cents that
tras In New York. That took my
breath away. 1t was the ingratitude
OF the thing that hurt.
did the club show any gratitude
for my work? Did 1t slip me bonus
or even an extra good word? No.
Small Increase Offered.
And then, to cap the climax. 1t ask :
ed me to work in 1914 for the prince
iy increase of 1888 per week.
Imagine it, Why. man. that offer
almost knocked me down.
Aftpg ali that did for the eicve-
land club In 1913. to have a puny lit
tie s5 cents taken from my check and
then to be offered an increase OF
sa.Ss. Can you beat It? You cant.
"As for the success OF the Federal
ieague--well, neither you or any one
else will doubt that inside of few
months. You wouldn't believe me II
/ told you the names Of the men who
we're lingering around waiting to con-
fer with the Federal league officials
when I was in Chicago.
men who have signed sre given out
1t will cause the greatest commotion
In this history of baseball.
Those Federal league men mean
business know that they have all
the financial backing needed and are
getting offers Of more every day, and
I believe. they will stick.
.If the league fails, all well and
good. I am thirty-four years old. At
the best N have only a few more
years to play. Put yourself In my
place. If you were offered twice as
much money as you are receiving and
that offer held good for three years,
and you felt fairly certain that you
could hold your present position not
much longer than three years.
wouldn't you feel Hike ctaddling up to
the big offer. But TIM On the fence.
as I said before, 30 there you are"