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Joining Nashville, Errant Pltoher SaysBig League Wages Disappointed Him and He 'Done Himself Wrong'ANFORD. Fla.—I can explain everything. That was the attitude of Clctus Elwood (Boots) Poffenberger, baseball's problem child, who reported here last week to begin the comeback trail under that talented man-handier, Larry Gilbert of the Nashville Vols, who purchased him outright from Brooklyn.Poffenberger was placed on the ineligible list last season after he failed to report to Montreal on' orders from the Dodgers. Previously, he had been in repeated jams with Detroit. Judge Landis recently reinstated him.I realize that all' tho things I have done wrong have hurt no one but me, says Boots. I did them, because I was either mad at myself, or felt that I had been mistreated.’When I would go out and win for Detroit, everything was all right When I happened to lose, they would accuse me of carousing and breaking training rules. Brooklyn did the same thing.I drink beer, but 1 hardly know what whiskey tastes like. I have stayed out late. I've done wrong, but how about the men I’ve played for? Are they perfect? I’m not talking about their morals, but how they treat a kid.When 1 had a good year at Charleston, W. Va., in 3936 and went to the Detroit farm at Beaumont the next spring, I had a hell of a time getting $175 salary. I won nine and lost one and when Detroit brought me in, they gave me $400 a month. About two or three weeks before the end of the season I had won nine games and helped the club to get in second place and was promised a bonus.Got Scared Holding Out.1 not only failed to get a penny of that, but on a record of ten games won and five lost from mid-season, they offered me only $500 a month for the 1938 season. I held out, but got scared and finally came in. -Naturally, I didn’t have the right attitude.It was the same way last year with Brooklyn. I had a bonus arrangement with MacPhail, $1,000 if I won ten. $2,500 it 1 won 15, and yet 1 went along six weeks without getting to start a game. I quit and went home.When I got os far as New York on the way to report to Montreal, 1 found out my wife was undergoing an operation and I went to Charleston, W. Va., to be with her. They didn’t believe that.Sure, I've done wrong. I-guess I came too fast. Before the day I reported to Detroit I had never been in a place that big. The bright lights got me. I was young and dumb.I’m no old worn-out person now. Tm just 23. But I’m smarter, I think. Tm headed back up. • 1*11 have a good year with Nashville. Next spring I’ll be back with some major league club.”Poffenberger is listed as a Vol starter along_ with George Jeffcoat, Ace Adams and Sam Nahem, the last-named to come from Brooklyn. Nashville has an infield of Sam Leslie, John Mihalic, Dick Culler and Bob Boken, with an outfielder coming to join Oris Hockett and Gus Dugas. The No. 1 need is - a first-string catcher.FRED RUSSELL. ’ *I
Newspaper Details
St Louis Sporting News
St Louis, Missouri, US
Thu, Mar 21, 1940
Page 1
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MD, USA 18 Mar 2024
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