Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-15

ALEXANDER. Tue course VI the BaiN'
That same evening 1 met the batsman
who had been my real opponent in the
afternoon game, and we enjoyed ride
together in my automobile. This evening
spirit Of fraternalism between two enc
mics of the afternoon game surprised one
OF my fan" friends, who said:
"You tell me, Alex that baseball is on
the level and yet you have as your guest
in your auto three hours after crucial
game the man who was doped as most
likely to make a hit which would defeat
you in that game. 1 cannot understand
how a professional game like baseball will
permit OF friendship between two men
who must fight at the drop of hat
on the diamond"
I tried to explain to my fan friend,
as 1 will try to explain to the readers of
this article, that when a baseball player
hangs his uniform in his locker and re-
moves the dust of the conflict under a
cooling shower bath, he becomes diff
ferent man. There have been moments
in the heat of battle when l haze pos
itively hated men who have made hits
which have scored runs, or put me in a
position where have been compelled to
pitch harder than 1 wanted to. When
the game was ended however, l realized
that we were all out there trying to win,
and figured out in my own mind that
they had just as good right to be
peeved IL / happened to strike them out
as l had to get sore when they ham
mered one of my curves for base hit.
OFF AND ON THE FIELD.
The successful ball player is the one
who leaves the Quarrels and hatreds Of
the afternoon with his uniform in the
clubhouse and meets his enemies" as
fellow baseball laborers in the evening.
When Oulmet goes on the links and de-
feats Travers in championship match,
or Williams wrests tennis title from
Mclaughlin, 1t is expected that the VIC
tor meet the vanquished in the clubhouse
that same evening. The man who has
been defeated Immediately steps up to
the man who won and tenders his con-
gratulations. And 1 believe he means II.
Then why should not this be so in base
ball? There is no good reason: but the
public reasons that because we are pro-
fessionals working for the dollars. we
cannot be good sportsmen. That is a
great mistake and does the average ball
player a great injustice.
Some Of the best friends have in base
ball are members of clubs that are fight
ing us for the pennant. when 1 am pitch
ing against them on the ball field. look
upon them the same as 1 do any bats
man. l try to fool them and retire them,
But when the game is ended, they re-
main my pals and the game is forgotten,
PITCHING TO AN OLD PAL.
Last year I was Sherwood Magees
''roomie" when our club was on the road
lie and I were the best Of pals and
was sorry when he was traded to the
Boston Braves. 1t so happened that
was selected to pitch the opening games
in Boston and later in Philadelphia, and
on each occasion Magee faced me. Now
Mac" is a free-swinging batsman who
is likely TO get a hold of any ball you
pitch him, and / knew this. / never con.
sldered friendship when I got on the
mound but tried to hand him the kind
that he didn't like. l knew that he waE
up there doing his very best to clout the
ball. I don't remember the result anc
II doesn't make the slightest bit of differ.
ence how many hits Magee has made oil
has not made when he opposed me thii
year.
The fact remains that when pitched