The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-12

league. Again | became a pitcher, b
ager, it seemed, was determined to
Though still in my teens, was get
ting baseball experience rapidly. I
also was beginning to get some in
teresting ideas OF the viewpoint of
the public toward the game. 1t was
always difficult to make baseball
managers and owners in those days
understand that the public was really
part of the game.
In one of those towns, or small
cities, our park was located on an
island. TIC get to the grandstand the
spectators had to cross a narrow
bridge at the end of side street.
The main street was up on a hill.
As usual in those towns, there was
half-witted young fellow who al
ways hung around the park, taking
personal interest in everything con-
nected with the team. At times he
was a nuisance but it was difficult
to get rid of him. He ran errands
for the players and took general SUI
pervision OF everything.
barred From the Park
One day the business manager,
getting peeved at this fellow, or
dered The gateman not to let him in
the park any more, saying that he
had become too much of a nuisance.
At the regular time, though, the
young fellow showed up at the gate.
Nothing doing today" the gate
man told him. You can't come in.
That's all there Is to it-orders from
the boss-theres nothing doing, 1 tell
you"
Not for a moment did the poor
fellow imagine that they were bar
ring him from the park. He felt
badly about there being nothing
doing, so he set about to save other
people trouble.
He stationed himself at the head of
the street leading to the bridge. AS
the regular every day fans came
along, whether walking or in bug
gies. the half-wit ran out and
stopped them.
Kept Crowds Away.
No use of going down there.
folks" he would tell them, there's
nothing doing today. The boss Just
left word for me at the gate. There's
no game-nothing doing"
In the kindness of his heart the
poor fellow turned them back as fast
as they came. AS a result we PLAYED
the game to an absolutely empty
grandstand. Outside of the players
and attendants there were not six
people to see the game.
To make matters worse, it was
pay day and there were no gate re-
ceipts to help along. The manager
had to dig down in his pocket.
Visited Cuba.
After my season with Wellesville,
I became a rover. I Joined AL Law
sons All-Americans on a trip to
Cuba. That gave me my first idea
of the rest of our own country and
of foreigners.
Landing at Key West on our way
back / got job with the Gainesville,
Fla, team and played there during
the early spring. Our team played
against major league clubs then
training in Florida, and that helped
me wonderfully.
The papers gave me quite lot of
publicity on account of the Cuban
trip. This. added to my work with
Gainesville against the big clubs,
brought me to the attention of many
managers. For the season of 1891 L
had offers from twenty-eight clubs
One of these was from my old friena
Kenpey at Olean. That, of course i
turned down. didn't know exactly
what to do and had no older man to
advise me.
Grabbed Best offer
looked over all the offers care
fully and then decided to grab the
job that paid the most money, no
matter wherevI had to go. This hap
pened to be Cedar Rapids. They Of
fered me $125 month, SIS advance
money and transportation. got the
SIS by wire and started.
All my life l have had deep senti-
ment for that Cedar Rapids club For
instance the right fielder on 1t was
Henry Fabian, now the ground
keeper at the Polo Grounds / was
signed as a. shortstop. Other mem
bers of the club were John Cedar, 3b !;
Jake Drauby 1b; waiiy Taylor, 2b;
Bill MCGEE. CT: Delos Woods, If; Kid