BIO: Charles Carpenter, Tillard Pen Pictures, 1911, Blair County, PA Contributed April 2003 for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja Copyright 2003. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _________________________________________ Pen Pictures of Friends and Reminiscent Sketches by J. N. Tillard Altoona, PA: William F. Gable & Co., Mirror Press, 1911 Found Fame in Sporting World CHARLES F. CARPENTER, President of The Tri-State, One of The Fairest and Squarest Men in Base Ball THIRTY-SIX years ago today Charles F. Carpenter first opened his eyes in a world that was full and fond of sports. Now he is president of the best- advertised minor league in the country. Lots and lots of men work much longer than thirty-six years and do not attain the fame and the flushness that goes with being the head, middle and foot of the Tri-State. All his life he has been interested in sports. It was only natural, then, that eventually he would make a business of other men's pleasures. He found so much fun in it when he was a little shaver, rambling the lots, spinning tops and shooting marbles that he concluded then and there that he would like it for a regular job. When a man wills - that is to say, thinks - he can do a thing it's all over but lugging off the honors. Along with his marbles and tops, little Charlie learned to play base ball. Later he found interest in foot ball. Fishing was only another step in the right direction - the Carpenter direction. Also, he became a dead shot. President Carpenter was born in Altoona, March 13, 1873. After completing his education in the public schools of the city, he took up stenography and mastered it. Then he joined the ranks of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in the capacity of stenographer to the freight agent. He gave evidence of executive ability and was advanced rapidly until appointed chief clerk to the freight agent. He became known as a prodigious worker. He was also a rapid worker, which is equally important. They tell a story that the boss was away for a couple of days at a busy season, and returned expecting to find the work piled up to the roof. He was agreeably disappointed to learn that the chief clerk had kept the desk quite clear during his absence, and business had been disposed of with the usual dispatch and decorum. But the young stenographer had no notion of spending his days sitting at a desk. He loved freedom too well - that is, the freedom to go and come when he pleased. So he turned his attention to business, after six years with the railroad company, and bought out one of the best-established cigar stores in the city, which he conducted for nine years, getting out only when the building he occupied was sold over his head, and he could not get another suitable location. Meantime there was growing within him the desire to become a base ball magnate. Altoona had been out of the professional base ball ranks for several years. The town was just right for a fast team. So Charles F. Carpenter, Bertram Leopold, W. Frank Vaughn and John Rudolph Bockel got together and organized the Altoona Team. This was in the spring of 1902. Carpenter was chosen manager. The club played independent ball, opening Columbia Park. It was a success from the start. Toward the close of the season of 1903 George W. Heckert was here with his Penn Park team. Heckert and Carpenter began discussing the outlook for the next season. Carpenter said that conditions did not warrant continuing independent ball for another year and he was going to quit. Clubs broke their engagements, players did not respect their contracts and, all in all, it was an unstable business. Then and there the Tri-State was evolved. It was agreed that Carpenter should write a letter calling a meeting of base ball men in such cities as would likely join the new league. Heckert was to officiate as secretary. The meeting was held in Harrisburg a few days later and the league became a fact. W. C. Farnsworth was chosen president. The Tri-State was an outlaw. It was conducted independently of every other league. It bought and coaxed players from all over the country. It is a fact that some of the teams in the old days would compare favorably with the big league clubs in many respects. At length Farnsworth was succeeded by Theodore Cramer, and Carpenter, in 1905, dropped out as manager of the Altoona Club. All the clubs were losing money. The men behind them were game, however, and bore their losses uncomplainingly. In January, 1906, Carpenter was chosen president, secretary and treasurer of the Tri-State. He no sooner got comfortably seated in the saddle than he began to negotiate for "protection." He knew, and so did the others, that the league could not exist long standing by itself. Besides, he had always been a believer in the principles of organized base ball. Clubs were suffering from the defection of players, and other conditions made it necessary to get under cover. Communications were exchanged with Garry Herrmann, Pat Powers and Secretary Farrell, with the result that in January, 1907, the Tri-State was admitted to the big base ball family. It was a master stroke and the credit belongs largely to President Carpenter. It gave the league stability. Players became an asset. Contracts suddenly became worth much more than the paper on which they were written. Where before the various clubs had nothing, they immediately became possessed of personal property worth at least $75,000. President Carpenter did more than that. He eliminated a lot of mawkish sentiment that really was a detriment to the league. False "city pride," and for the "honor of your town" gave way to practical business methods. The salary limit was toned down to bring the expenditures somewhere near the revenues, and there were improvements that make for permanency all along the line. Then came Carpenter's non-fudgable agreement to compel the observance of the salary limit, said to be the best of its kind ever devised. Managers and owners, in their desire to produce a pennant-winner, always respected the salary limit for fear of the consequences. There is an opinion extant that prominence in base ball is contingent on one's ability to consume a lot of strong drink. If this were true, President Carpenter would have been left at the post. He has never in all his life put an enemy in his mouth to steal away his brains. He does not even know what the "stuff" tastes like. President Carpenter was a politician for several months, once upon a time. He induced the Republican Party to present him with the nomination for city treasurer, a job that pays about $6,000 a year. He never knew exactly what struck him. He is out of politics now. President Carpenter is one of the fairest and squarest men in base ball. That's why he is able to keep the rough places smooth. When he says a thing it is not necessary to have him attach his "John Hancock" to a piece of paper. He respects his word, and he respects your word. Common sense taught him that no other policy is worth considering a minute. He stirs up no unnecessary antagonisms; plays no favorites. He is possessed of a world of patience, and "patience makes kings." His official and private acts he squares with truth and justice; he does the thing and lets the mob howl. He probably has more real friends today than any other man connected in an executive position with the national game. #