The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-17

liam, you know, was later president of the National league.
 In case you do not remember that far back, Barney Dreyfuss first owned the Louisville club and when the 12-club league was cut down to eight he took the whole club to Pitts burg, where he is now.
 Pulliam stayed around there watch ing me for five days. Some days would play good and at other times I would be bad. He decided, though, I had the makings of ball player in me. He wanted to put in a bid. S2,00O Good Price Then.
 Barrow, in signing me for Patter- son, after Pittsburg had signed me scheme that didn't go through agreed to give MT. Kerr, president of the Pittsburg club, first chance at my services.
 Harry Pulliam finally offered s2,000 for me, which was a good price wait. He then telegraphed MT. Kerr, who said that he also would give S2.000. That, of course, made 1t nec- essary for Barrow to sell me to Pitts burg, unless Louisville made a big Der offer.
 I'll make it s2,1oo." Pulliam told Barrow.
 This was telegraphed to Kerr, and as he never answered the message Barrow sold me to Louisville for S2,100. The funny part of 1t is that I went to Pittsburg later on, after all.
 There has been a good deal of talk about how I was sneaked to Louisville and all that, Nut the deal was made just as I have told 1t. Bar row kept his word. If Kerr had an- swered the telegram he might have got me.
 Personally, l didn't care where I went All I wanted was to play base ball. the bigger the league, the better.
 In the same deal that sent me to Louisville George Smith was sold to New York for s250. What do you know about that? George was a great ball player. He was later manager of the Giants. It was about George, I believe, that John McGraw had his first run-in with Andrew Freedman when McGraw first be- came manager of the Giants. The American league war was on and Me- He was particularly anxious to get Smith and signed him at a big sal ary, something like $5,000 or $6,000. That was a lot of money in 1901. seso For s5O.oOo Man
 Just the same Barrow sold him for S250 and New York thought they had paid a good price. For a player like that nowadays manager would have to pay at least s50,000. They are even paying big sums like that for minor leaguers who have never been tried out in fast company.
 It was at Louisville that l first met Fred Clarke and all the famous players with whom I later became acquainted. Fred. you know. was I l1F l.o to Pittsburg. What's more, he was one of the greatest managers base ball has ever known.
 Fred was first made manager while the team was on the road. Just to make 1t bad for him he pulled played as manager. It was some play on the bases; l have forgotten exactly how it went, but that doesn't matter.
 Fred came back to- the bench and refused to sit down, he was so sore at showing himself up before his players. He walked up and down in front of the bench and never said word The players kept looking around and also kept quiet. They knew their new manager had pulled a bone. but they knew better than to roast the boss right off. Everything was dead quiet, but everybody knew what everybody else was thinking.
 Finally Fred turned to the men on the bench.
 "Go on and say it." he said "Go on. I know youN think I'm a boob, so go on and tell me I'm one. Yes, pulled bone."
 He then sat down on the bench and the gang started to laugh. They told him, all right.
 By that action Clarke made him. self strong with his players. He never four flushed. After that they would tell him if he pulled one. And don't you forget that he would all ways tell them, too. There was no more secrets on that bench or any other bench that Fred Clarke ever managed.