The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-19
Cheap Gamblers Do All In Power to Put Baseball In Bad With Public

The great national pastirne has it's fol- lowers and in droves, but there are also numerous people in the country that make it a custom to knock the game all they can. Some people secure pleasure from this, claiming to get better knowl- edge of the game, but can't see where they get it.
 Players are often driven to distraction by the talk that they hear that comes from some insignificant fan. In most cases it is one who doesn't understand the game and yet thinks that he knows it all. AS told in my last article, fel- lows that boast the game and try to help the player out, keeping in mind that they are human, are the fans that the game especially caters to. Nuner- ous examples can be related to show the ire that can be aroused only by mere ance and yet it touches tender spot.
 PLAYERS SELDOM GET BACK
 Fans sometimes go too far with players, but seldom do the players get back. But Eddie Mensor once won an argument and closed up the mayor Of an Ohio town. The executive was a portly, noisy, gray-bearded old fel- low and he rooted like a real citizen fan. Occasionally he grew personal and offensive, but we paid no heed. Late in the game, through no fault of his own, Mensor was trapped at the plate on 2 ''squeeze" play.
 "Ho, Ho!" laughed the mayor, shak- ing with mirth. Where's your gray matter, young fellow?"
 T don't know" responded Eddie, stopping and looking up at the mayor, "but folks heer tell me the only gray matter you have is in your whiskers." :"
 It is not fair to criticize ball play CT and call him big headed. etc, be- because he resents being bored by strangers wherever he goes. A little shop talk may be all right, and there is nothing I enjoy more once in a while than an intelligent discussion of the game with 9 man who knows it and is not talking for the sake of talk ing. A common expression that has bored me is:
 Hello, Honus, how are you hit ttn'?"
 That question bOres a man like the repeated inquiry on where you got your new hat. was seated in a box in 9 New York theatre one night in 1913 trying hard to enjoy a musical production. when I heard the cur tains move and slick looking boob carrying cane slid into a seat be- hind Hendrix and me.
 He laid his cane across his lap and slightly poked my knee. Very promptly he begged my pardon. It was the wedge of what he thought would be a conversa- 1 tion
 Great game today he remarked. | I paid no heed, for had to ask Hen | drix to repeat some joke that had
 brought a big laugh Just as was inter- srupted. I tried to keep cool, for I was tired and good show was just what
 needed
 Well, see you are still hitting that old ball, Mr. Wagner came the old
 wheeze as he edged his chair closer. His intrusion was 80 absolutely offensive and
 tiresome that I turned on him and ex. | claimed:
 1 T came here to see this show and
 not to chin lot of silly stuff with you Now, don't know you, and don't want
 to, so clear out of here or I will.'
 DISLIKES CURIOSITY SEEKERS l l don like men who seek curiosities i Bad enough for women to be curious always shun these chaps with canes ane | glib tongues who want to have minute with me. I prefer a word once in g while with an elevator man, policeman
 or some good chap whose duties ant tasks here on earth are such that lsint
 word means something.
 | Mike Donlin never carcd to talk shop 1 but he dotted on the subject of theatricals His friend Charley Grapewin loved base ] ball chatter, but drew a Yry face ever, time anybody started to talk about show and the stage. Donlin and were walk ing down Broadway one morning whei We bumped Into Grapewin.
 "aelio. Charlie" yelled Mike. cordially grabbing the actor by the hand. Seer tho Winter Garden show yet?''
 Say. lay off that stuff, Mike begged Grapewin in a bored tone. Don't yol
 think I get enough of that?'
 Grapewin loves baseball SO much tha