Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Carpenter, Charles F. ???? - 
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Judy Banja http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00004.html#0000757 July 19, 2025, 7:38 pm

Source: Pen Pictures of Friends and Reminiscent Sketches, Altoona, PA: William F. Gable & Co., Mirror Press, 1911
Author: J. N. Tillard

 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.

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