Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-15

| have been accused
of telling the world what a wonder I am,
what | intend to do to all the pitchers
In the league and pictured as guy
wearing No. . hat Every day | ric-
up a newspaper and read about nSs'G,
and I want TO toll you right now that the
stuff is all bunk.
His First Interview
Get me right Just once" continued
Benny. as he removed his brown velour
hat. ~ want to give out REAL inter
view. and It is the first since Joining the
big league. The only thing want you to
do is to quote me properly. and don't
draw on your imagination to flll in things
I should have said That filling in stuff
has got my goat In New York a reporter
would visit me and say, good morning
fine day and / would say. yes, it's
swell day and tn" '"r would corr "nt
with column interview with me telling
what great player ! am and how snr s
I feel for moor buns like Iris Sneaker
Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, Joe Jackson and
scores of others. once more | want to
label It pure bunk.
listen my friond--lot mo ease you
some information which might como IN
handy some time providing you rcmcmber
IT, Ty Cobb Is the great st bail player in
the world. He iE IN Il Clasa all by hlm'r''
and the man who says he isn't eithnr
knows nothing of baseball or Is slightly
was as good "a Ty cobb. and vou oan
bet the family banlSro!l that l never made
the mistake of telling anyone | would
show Tyrus up. 1t can't be done.
" only wish I were ALMOST as good
,as Cobb. That is enough for me-"
Sidesteps Baseball Talk
IT was hard 10 get Benny Kauff to talk
fon baseball He seemed shy and sus-
plcious and preferred boxing as a topic
of conversation IIe is well vcrscd on ell
matters of pugilism and spent some time
in praisng Jess willard, Jack Dillon and
Benny Leonard before he felt safe in dis
cussing the national pastime.
We found Benny i'm an obscure corner
of the lobby at the Majestic Hotel yes
terday after a long search. This is due
to the fact that we expected to find him
in q more conspicuous place--on the no.
:. tel steps or sitting on the plano sur
rounded by n flock of admirers and tell
ing them what the bad, wicked Benny
Kauff would do to Alexander the next
would be before he lDocltod dcwn the
right-field fence at the Phillies' ball park,
This was the dope, according to the stories
we had read about him,
On the contrary. we found him seated
In group of players, quietly listening
to the conversation and taking no part
Whatsoever. He was ill Mt ease when we
approached him and presented our card.
(Big league stuff) He seemed reluctant
to leave and assumed the cheerful hap
'py expression that probably was worn
sby the poor guy who was shot at sun
rise for playing pnochle, wher he led
the way to "A couple of vacant chairs.
Pleasing Appearance
When Benny stood up he was as per-
:fect a specimen Of American manhood
.as could be found outside of Gibson
sketch. Short and rather broad for his
height, Kauff's physique impresscs one
with its great muscular power Not the
sheavy. ponderous power of a draft horse
but the sleek, nervous power of the rae
ing steed.
His features are regular and strong
Two frank blue eyes catch the listeners
and hold them while he talks, and from
time to time flash with anger when he
tells of the untruths which he says have
been printed about him-a topic which
causes his square jaw to become more
square and his strong, white teeth to
click together ominously.
When Benny talks his voice is even
and pleasing until he warns up to a sub
jeet. Then IT is no less pleasing, but 1t is
by no means even.
He talks fast He shoots out his words
with the same crisp energy that char
acterizes his actions on the ball field. His
hands twitch and his whole personality
seems TO radlate energy,
Confidence in Himself
Let it be said right here that Benny
Kauff has NOT got swelled head, There
is nothing egotistlcal in his entire make
up. He has confidence in himself-far
more than the average human being
but he cannot be blamed for that. He
does not know the meaning of the word
"FAIL." and everything he undertakes is
with the object Of making good.
"Am l a good BAN payer?" inter-
f.H IgaFa T4Ig
that question. If / couldn't play the game
wouldn't be on the New York team.
No; l am not boasting-dont think that
but am just the same as MerlSle Larry