El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-01-27

%HERE never was a prouder mo-
ment in my young life than the
= day they definitely made me the
bat boy for the Kansas City team
And from that moment it would have
taken more than human agency to dis
sUade me from my purpose of some day
becoming one Of the great ball players
Of the day.
Jimmy Callahan, then with the Kan
sSs City team Of the old Western
league, which was before the American
league took advantage of the expira-
tiOn Of the national agreement TO break
in as a major organization. was just
that time becoming one OF the great
pitchers Of the day
Kansas City had great team then
Jimmy Slagle, later the rabbit out
fielder of the old Cub machine. was
there and so was Jimmy Williams
Marty Bergen. undoubtedly one OF the
greatest catchers the game ever saw,
also was with the team. just before
going TO Boston as one Of Frank Selee'
great stars.
o, the Joy of being around all aft
ernoon with that gang,
Nothing that ] ever had afterWard
ever quite measured up to the measure
Of the enjoyment I took in working
with and for that bunch OF stars.
When they practiced in the morning
7 was out there chasing balls for them
but the biggest part OF my labor was
II
this is, you have no idea what real labor
is 1 got long beef ribs that were
sharp on one edge and rubbed the pats
until they were absolutely smooth and
also until I was black in the face and
nearly dead with exhaustion, They
said I was star at the Job and
wouldn't have anybody else do II. but
] know now they were merely joLyIns
me.
Worked As Paperhanger.
~ in he
way Of salary. because I would have
thought II sacrilegious 10 have limited
az such a thing. Once in awhile one
OF them would slip me little change,
and that made me the happiest fellow
IN the world
At the time I was working for a
paperhanger. They were going to teach
me the business. as I remember it Ny
job was TO paste paper and hand it up
TO the haI ger I also did some fancy
Jobs Of painting and calcimining when
there wasn't any paper to hang
would work until about > o'clock
in the afternoon, and then would invent
some excuse to get out OF the boss
sight Once gone. I'd never stop run
ming till I got to the players gate and
into the park
On an average Of once a day I was
fired by the boss when the team was
in town, but I'd always go around the
next morning and be taken back be
cause 1 was a hustler while 1 was on
the job.
Part Of this my folks knew about
and part of it they never heard
wasn't risking any walloping at home
by telling all of my escapades-
Ny real start in baseball was given
me by Marty Bergen. the catcher. who
was my real pal on the h c. ball team
Marty was an odd character. but he
was one Of the greatest Workmen in
the business and my real idol
Bergen An Oddly.
Jimmy Manning was manager OF the
team at the time. and later disposed OF
Bergen to Selee's Boston team. I've
often heard Frank remark that he
didn't consider he could win a game
without Bergen back OF the bat. Marty
sfterward committed suicide.
Bergen was different in many ways
from the average run of players He
used to ask me TO come to the grounds
early. and often he would be out in
uniform at 1880, merely 10 play catch
with me He was always hours ahead
Of the other fellows
Ny whole ambition at the time was
TO be a great player. and Bergen talked
70 me at great length about it
Got Good Tips from Bergen.
IF you've made up your mind to take
Up baseball as q profession" he used TO
say TO me. make up your mind that it
viii require every minute of your time.
Don't ever attempt to do anything else.
You'll have TO think of baseball all
the time. play il all the time, watch as
much of it as you can by the best
teams. in fact JUS WallOW in it. Then,
If you are physically fitted for the |