December 16, 1909 - Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia) Elberfeld to Washington
ELBERFELD WELCOMES HIS TRANSFER HERE
Gay Times at the "Kid's" Home When Notified of His Sale.
A reporter for The Star, carrying the telegram from Manager McAleer announcing the purchase of Norman Elberfeld, journeyed to Garrett Park. Md., yesterday afternoon to herald the news to the great little shortstop. The "Kid" lives about a half a mile back from the station, and when the reporter approached the house he heard him calling his boy Jack, a dead ringer for the father in miniature.
"Hello, Kid: How's the old boy," called out the reporter. "Fine as silk and awfully glad to see you. What's doin'?" replied Elberfeld. "I've got a telegram from McAleer saying he has bought you for the Washingtons." "What do you think of that? Isn't that fine?" replied the "Kid."' "Come inside, and I want to show the telegram to my wife."
Elberfeld led the way into his big house, and for five minutes there was something like an Indian war dance and jubilee being held, Mrs. Elberfeld leading the kiddies in joyful exclamations. After a few minutes quiet was restored and Elberfeld sat down to a serious confab with the reporter.
Wanted to Come Here.
"This is a great thing for me," said Norman. "I wanted to come to Washington for the past three years or more. I have sized up the crowds here and I know they will appreciate a player who is always trying his best to win games. I don't think President Farrell treated me exactly right, but we will let everything pass now since I am to don a Washington uniform."
"Why did not some of the other clubs bid for you?" the reporter asked. "They all know me," replied Elberfeld with a smile," and knew it would be useless to buy me if I didn't want to go west. I told Manager Stallings that I would play only in New York or Washington. New York if I had to and in Washington in preference. A player is absolutely no good if he is dissatisfied with his surroundings and I had certainly outlived my usefulness in little old New York.
"Two of the western clubs wanted me to play with them, but after I had bought this home here there was nothing to it but Washington, and all the managers knew it. Manager McAleer and I have been close friends for years, and the old boy knows I will play my head off for him. "I was never much in the dissipation line, and since I have been married I have never touched a drop of liquor. Under these conditions I believe I have a good many years of first-class base ball ahead of me, and I am going to demonstrate this belief to the Washington fans during the coming season.
"Manager Cantillon gathered a splendid club in Washington last season, and I believe the same as McAleer, that the team is about due to show something in the way of climbing up the pennant ladder.
In Perfect Condition.
"How about that bad ankle?'' the reporter asked. "Absolutely perfect, ' replied Elberfeld. "I have had no trouble with it for several months, and I have given it several severe tests to satisfy myself. Physically I am in perfect condition right now, and I think the outdoor life I lead here will keep me so until spring. Elberfeld then took the reporter in tow and showed him around the place. The "Kid's" home is quite a pretentions affair, being three stories in height and containing ten rooms, all of which is necessary as he is the father of six of the brightest children imaginable. A quick glance showed that Elberfeld makes an ideal father, as the childien crowded around him without that awe that goes with fear, but with the affection of true fellowship. Norman is proud of the kiddies and they of their father. Outside there is a lawn leading down to the road, and a fifty-foot garden on each side of the house. In the rear are play houses for the children and the homes of chickens. Elberfeld is a great chicken fancier, and he has about forty of the highest class comfortably housed for the winter. The Elberfeld home was purchased last spring, but only since the close of the base ball season has the "Kid" been able to get to work on it. Since early in October Elberfeld has built a grape arbor, erected several flower beds of stone, the latter being quite a job as loose stone is ouite scarce around Garrett Park, taken care of the two large gardens and many trees. This work pleases the little fellow, as he is a farmer from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and by spring he will have a most beautiful spot.
Short Trip Home.
What pleases the "Kid" immensely is the fact that he can make home after a hall game in about forty-five minutes. He has tried it and knows every inch of the way. When the electric line is extended to Garrett Park he will be able to save at least ten more minutes. As train time was approaching Elberfeld insisted on accompanying the reporter to the station, and on the way there the little fellow told many things in confidence that stamp him as a man of unusual force and will power, honest as the day is long and a credit to the national game. It is not generally known that McAleer and Elberfeld have been very close friends for many years. "Whenever I got into trouble with the umpires," said Elberfeld, "I either wrote or went to McAleer and he would intercede for me with President Johnson. Many of my scraps with the umpires were brought about through my desire to win games and under conditions that I thought were not exactly right. Of course umpires make mistakes, but it is hard to think that way when you are out on the field giving up your heart's blood, as it were, for the club you work for. Several of the umpires understand me and will let me go the limit, but there are others-- wow, wow-- who won't let me look at them. "The fans needn't have any fear about me not being in the games all the season. I know almost all the boys on the team and I'll make them my friends before we leave Norfolk. I have made up my mind to play ball for 'keeps' next summer, and with McAleer backing me up there is simply nothing to it." The train then swung into sight and as the reporter jumped on the steps he was given a cheerful good-bye and a hearty invitation to call again.
Gay Times at the "Kid's" Home When Notified of His Sale.
A reporter for The Star, carrying the telegram from Manager McAleer announcing the purchase of Norman Elberfeld, journeyed to Garrett Park. Md., yesterday afternoon to herald the news to the great little shortstop. The "Kid" lives about a half a mile back from the station, and when the reporter approached the house he heard him calling his boy Jack, a dead ringer for the father in miniature.
"Hello, Kid: How's the old boy," called out the reporter. "Fine as silk and awfully glad to see you. What's doin'?" replied Elberfeld. "I've got a telegram from McAleer saying he has bought you for the Washingtons." "What do you think of that? Isn't that fine?" replied the "Kid."' "Come inside, and I want to show the telegram to my wife."
Elberfeld led the way into his big house, and for five minutes there was something like an Indian war dance and jubilee being held, Mrs. Elberfeld leading the kiddies in joyful exclamations. After a few minutes quiet was restored and Elberfeld sat down to a serious confab with the reporter.
Wanted to Come Here.
"This is a great thing for me," said Norman. "I wanted to come to Washington for the past three years or more. I have sized up the crowds here and I know they will appreciate a player who is always trying his best to win games. I don't think President Farrell treated me exactly right, but we will let everything pass now since I am to don a Washington uniform."
"Why did not some of the other clubs bid for you?" the reporter asked. "They all know me," replied Elberfeld with a smile," and knew it would be useless to buy me if I didn't want to go west. I told Manager Stallings that I would play only in New York or Washington. New York if I had to and in Washington in preference. A player is absolutely no good if he is dissatisfied with his surroundings and I had certainly outlived my usefulness in little old New York.
"Two of the western clubs wanted me to play with them, but after I had bought this home here there was nothing to it but Washington, and all the managers knew it. Manager McAleer and I have been close friends for years, and the old boy knows I will play my head off for him. "I was never much in the dissipation line, and since I have been married I have never touched a drop of liquor. Under these conditions I believe I have a good many years of first-class base ball ahead of me, and I am going to demonstrate this belief to the Washington fans during the coming season.
"Manager Cantillon gathered a splendid club in Washington last season, and I believe the same as McAleer, that the team is about due to show something in the way of climbing up the pennant ladder.
In Perfect Condition.
"How about that bad ankle?'' the reporter asked. "Absolutely perfect, ' replied Elberfeld. "I have had no trouble with it for several months, and I have given it several severe tests to satisfy myself. Physically I am in perfect condition right now, and I think the outdoor life I lead here will keep me so until spring. Elberfeld then took the reporter in tow and showed him around the place. The "Kid's" home is quite a pretentions affair, being three stories in height and containing ten rooms, all of which is necessary as he is the father of six of the brightest children imaginable. A quick glance showed that Elberfeld makes an ideal father, as the childien crowded around him without that awe that goes with fear, but with the affection of true fellowship. Norman is proud of the kiddies and they of their father. Outside there is a lawn leading down to the road, and a fifty-foot garden on each side of the house. In the rear are play houses for the children and the homes of chickens. Elberfeld is a great chicken fancier, and he has about forty of the highest class comfortably housed for the winter. The Elberfeld home was purchased last spring, but only since the close of the base ball season has the "Kid" been able to get to work on it. Since early in October Elberfeld has built a grape arbor, erected several flower beds of stone, the latter being quite a job as loose stone is ouite scarce around Garrett Park, taken care of the two large gardens and many trees. This work pleases the little fellow, as he is a farmer from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and by spring he will have a most beautiful spot.
Short Trip Home.
What pleases the "Kid" immensely is the fact that he can make home after a hall game in about forty-five minutes. He has tried it and knows every inch of the way. When the electric line is extended to Garrett Park he will be able to save at least ten more minutes. As train time was approaching Elberfeld insisted on accompanying the reporter to the station, and on the way there the little fellow told many things in confidence that stamp him as a man of unusual force and will power, honest as the day is long and a credit to the national game. It is not generally known that McAleer and Elberfeld have been very close friends for many years. "Whenever I got into trouble with the umpires," said Elberfeld, "I either wrote or went to McAleer and he would intercede for me with President Johnson. Many of my scraps with the umpires were brought about through my desire to win games and under conditions that I thought were not exactly right. Of course umpires make mistakes, but it is hard to think that way when you are out on the field giving up your heart's blood, as it were, for the club you work for. Several of the umpires understand me and will let me go the limit, but there are others-- wow, wow-- who won't let me look at them. "The fans needn't have any fear about me not being in the games all the season. I know almost all the boys on the team and I'll make them my friends before we leave Norfolk. I have made up my mind to play ball for 'keeps' next summer, and with McAleer backing me up there is simply nothing to it." The train then swung into sight and as the reporter jumped on the steps he was given a cheerful good-bye and a hearty invitation to call again.
