A Boy's Best Friend Is His Mother

[From the Chicago Tribune, December 3.]

Robert L. Caruthers, the famous pitcher of the St. Louis Browns, for whose services next season the Brooklyn and Cincinnati clubs of the American Association have been having an active struggle, supported by offers of $10,000 for his release and $5000 salary by each, arrived home yesterday morning. He looks well, and, notwithstanding his sickness during the summer, appears improved by the season's campaign. A Tribune reporter found him at his mother's residence, No. 530 La Salle avenue, last night. His mother, who is opposed to his playing ball, does not like to talk about the game. When she met him yesterday morning the first question she asked was: "Have you signed a contract to play ball next season, Robert?"

"No, mother, I have not, but I would have if you had not sent me those three telegrams not to," was the reply. This was all the talk they had on base ball during the day.

"I have got my son home and I want to keep him here," said Mrs. Caruthers to the reporter. "I don't want him to play ball, and don't care for the salary he gets or is offered. He does not need the salary, and the only reason he plays is because he likes the game. What I dislike the most is that it keeps him away from home through the whole season. I sent him to Europe to keep him from playing ball, and he came back, and now I have induced him to go into business with his brother James, and I hope he will stick to business and let ball alone. I have never seen a game of base ball, and will not go to see one as long as he is connected with the game. I want to go to California this winter and would like to take him with me, but we won't go together unless he will agree not to play ball while there. He telegraphed me from New Orleans asking permission to go to California, and I answered that I wanted him to come home. During the last two weeks I have received telegrams from base ball presidents and their agents, but paid no attention to any of them. I didn't even answer them. Some of them have sent word that they are coming here. I don't want a single one of them near this house, and will not let them in if I find out their business before they get inside the door. Von der Ahe called here a few times, and we treated him very nicely, and after all he took $100 out of Bobby's salary because he didn't stay in bed all the time when he was sent home sick from Philadelphia. That provoked me, for I coaxed Bob to get up and move around in the fresh air. Why, he knows Bob is not well at any time. Over three years ago Bob had the pneumonia, and since then he has been unable to rest on his right side. We have to build up his bed so that he can lie on his left side and rest easy."

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, December 4, 1887