The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12
FANS DO MUCH
 TO MAKE BASEBALL SUCCESSFUL

company of the aforesaid players I have been seen in various places when l have been rome and in my bed in old Carnegie I sat in a Chicago restaurant one even- ing and talked to a fellow who roasted tho Pttsburg club and for 15 minutes hammered me, not knowing who was.
 A fashily dressed poser, smoking a cigarette and carrying cane, would have fared badly onc night in Cincin- natl had George Gibson managed to run up with him. Two Pirate youngsters were tied in the hotei lobby discussing their team when Mir. Nebbinsky tapped one of them with his cane. q guess you don't know whats wrong with them guys. eh?" whispered the in- terrupter with 8 wise smile.
 "No what do you think?" baited one player.
 T uont think anything" replied the wise one. T know. Too much burning of midnight oil by some of 'em. Take it from me-"
 He winked the other eye. lit another cigarette, and by those clever bits of side play tried to prove that he knew lot.
 "Yes, sir" he added, why was out with Gibby and few other players the other night and had a royal time But keep that stuff quiet.'
 It dawned on the mind of one of the players that Gibby. the night before had occupied a box seat at Cincinnati the atre.
 Exclusing himself from the intruder and giving his pal the sign to stick, he hunted out Gibby and impart-d the story. Gib- son was like mad bull and with fists doubled up he came down the elevator and made 9 break for the spot But the crook was gone.
 I would not call a man like that fox f1,o, +, oI,1 gambler. There are too many millions of red-blooded fans in the country who form the bulwark behind the games honesty to be classed with suca.
 EVERYBODY LIKES BASEBALL
 I have seen great men, nlilliOnaires, professional men and others highsin pub lie life who were of normal temperament in all things but showed an enthusiasm for baseball that occasionally bordered on the eccentric One man, a prosperous lawyer, followed the Pirates on the road whenever he could. He awaited us at the hotel in St. Louis when we arrived from the south on opening day in 1912
 He loved to meet ball players and then introduce them to famous men in public life other vocations-it mattered not if it were the champion fighter, United States senator or the President of the United States.
 On this occasion. across the hotel lobby was big banner bearing this legend: "Missouris Choice fo> President-Ch Champ Clark"
 The offices of the democratic state com mittee were on the parlor floor. The enthusiastic lawyer wanted several ball. players to go up with him and be intro- duced to Champ Clark, but many of us pleaded that we were republicans and could not vote in Missouri anyhow. Final ly he settled on scribe with the party. T say, MT McAfee, will you not come and meet MT Clark?' NO, haven't time," responded the scribbler. T want to see the other Clarke -our manager-on business.' "Oh yes. to be sure" said the big 1 lawyer but Champ is charming fel- low and I know him well. I remember | night we had together in the New Will lard hotel in Washington and we talked 1 for two-''
 Here the scribe agreed to meet the democratic nominee. The lawyer fan took
 him up to the hotel parlor forced their way through crowd of Missouri poli- ticians, and faced robust man seated
 at a desk and dictating to stenog- | rarher.
 "Ah. good morning. Senator Clark" greeted the lawyer-fan. glowingly. Allow me to introduce to you MT. McAfee. a Pittsburg newspaper man."
 The portly man arose, halted his
 stenographer. and taking the party to
 the introduction by the hand said: "I am very happy to meet MT. Me- | Afee, but I am not Champ Clark. I happen to be Senator Stone of Mis- souri.
 l Some millionaires have gone in stronger for baseball than any other sport or recreation. There was one who followed the fortunes of the ! Pirates for % years and seldom missed