Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1914 — BALL PLAYERS STICK [ARTICLE]

BALL PLAYERS STICK

MIGHTY FEW OF THEM QUIT UNTIL THEY ARE FORCED TO. Holdouts Tell Many Stories of Rea* sons for Leaving, But They Come Back—Owners and Fans Often Fall for the Trick. Adelina Patti has often made her “farewells,” Barnum also, but neither of them equals the ballplayer who proclaims to the world that he is tired of drawing $6,000 or $7,000 a year, bays Ted Sullivan, Let us see how he first sounds the alarm. It may be he is to marry an heiress; or it may be a rich widow' who wants him to quit the horrid game and look out for her interests. Still it might be that some relative left him a mine in the far west. One or the other will be aA excuse anyway. His pet reporter will first hear of this and will say: “Oh, no; that can’t be!’’ The speaker will say: “Yes, it is so. He confidentially told me in the dressing room yesterday that this is his last year in the game.’’ “Has he told the president of the club?” the reporter will ask. “No; he hates to. He has been treated so nicely the present year.” Next morning, in large type, the newspaper will lead off. “Mr. So-and-So is to retire from baseball.” Holy Moses! The followers of this player are up in arms. One excitable fan will say: "I knew It! I knew it! I don’t blame him. He never could get along with that secretary and directors.” Another fan is on his feet: “I bet some of those other clubs are after him.” The first fan remarks: “Don’t you see he is to retire altogether? Going into business with his uncle in their mines.” A third fan speaks up: “Well, that will settle the club. I gave it my last half dollar.” The next day the president meets the player: “What, John? Is this true?" i The player says: “Yes, Mr. President; I am afraid It is. You see, I cannot play ball forever, and this chance may not come again. My uncle has been at me the past two years to quit the game. Then, you see, I bought some property lately on which $5,000 has to be paid, and uncle will do it if J quit” Here the president speaks up: “Why, pshaw! Stay with me the coming year and I will advance that amount and increase your salary to SB,OOO for a year. You know, John, I cannot replace you this year at least and you know I have always treated you well.” The player looks at the president in a sympathetic and innocent way: “Why, Mr. President, for that reason it breaks my heart to leave you, and I hate to have you believe I want any increase in salary; but I will write to uncle to allow me to stay in the business one more year at least just to please you.” Well, reader, this player remains in the game that year, and many other years afterward, and the only time he will leave the ball field is when the field is tired of him, says Scout Sullivan. The only ballplayer in the history of the game who retired when he said he would was Jim McCormick, the famous. National league pitcher who played with Cleveland and Chicago. This may be a little satire on the retiring ballplayer—but who can blame him? Don’t all trades and arts have their tricks? Indeed they do—from the minister of the gospel down. A minister out west was to retire and go into business. The congregation raised his salary, he reconsidered, and, he remained with his beloved parishioners simply because he loved them and his salary.