The Washington times., 1904-06-26
LAJOIE A WONDER,
BUT POOR ON IDEAS
Connie Mack Tells of the
Frenchman'S Shortcomings.
LUCKY TO LOSE HIS STARS
Athletics Gained Much by Having to
Practically Reorganize
che Team
LUCKY TO LOSE HIS STARS

If 1 had kept Lajoie and the rest Of
that bunch the American League took
from the Philadelphia National League
club. 1 never would have won the pen
nant I'm the American League in 1902 La
joie has some Of the worst ideas on how
10 play baseball of any practical ball
player 1 have ever known"
This was the statement OF Connie
Mack manager of the Athletics. che
other day when discussing the team ne
is plotting this season and the success
that attended his efforts when he first
went TO the Quaker City.
Lucky to Lose Stars.
1T was a lucky thing for the club that
we lost Lajoie and that bunch, In some
ways. They were thoroughly imbued
with the ideas that had prevailed for so
long a time on the old National League
club that smuggling the ball was good ball
playing OF course. there must be plen-
~ OF good stick work. but there must
be team work. inside baseball as we'll
Inside baseball was absolutely UNI
known to Larry and is nearly so to-
day. though Armour has brought him to
the point where he will attempt 70 bunt
the ball In a close game with a man
on first and no one out. But Laioie is
not success as q batter in this depars-
ment, and chafes under the restraint
that compels him to do IT. He wants TO
nit II out. as the bleacherites say
IN saying this OF Lajoie / am not
Dehttlng bis ability as a ball player.
he Is undoubtedly without an equal in
the game today and probably never has
mad Tor general all-around play As a
sticker he IS the greatest and as a
nelcer there are none to approach him.
But on what is known as scientific ball
playing. the inside of the game, he Is
deficient. and am thoroughly convinced
that the Athletics could never have won
the pennant In the American League I'm
1SV- hao that aggregation beer retained.
AT the time We made desperate
hgnt 10 hold them, but the State courts
were against us. Since that / have
changed my mind about the usefulness
they would have been 10 me"
Credit for Connie Mack.
Connie Mack must be given great
credit for what he has done with the
Athletics. said a manager Of one of
the American League teams when ne
heard this tale OF Mack's regarding
Lajoie and the other old National
Leaguers he had lost
When 1t is considered what a blow
was struck him by taking away his
greatest players-I-ajoie, Flick. Bern
hard. Fraser. and Duggieby-it can
easily be seen that he was up against
II. So he hustled out and got together
a team OF youngsters and what was the
result? He trained them in hfs style of
ball playing and they won the pennant.
Look over the list of men VINO are play
Ing regularly with the Athletics today
and see what a lot OF them Mack has
developed.
AT first base is Harry Davis. who had
been given his walking papers BY al
most every league going. He couldn't
make good in the National and return
go 10 bookkeeping But Mack got him
when short-handed and nov Harry
Davis Is the best first baseman in the
American League.
Murphy a Find.
After Lajoie went Mack hustled about
and picked up Bonner TO play second
for time. He didn't last long. and was
sent TO Louisville. and in his place came
Dan Murphy. from the Connecticut State
League. Murphy has proved not only a
good helder. but strong sticker. good
base runner. and a thorough baseball
player In every respect
Monte and Lave Cross, at short and
tnlTo. respectively. were known quaint
ues, ana no youngsters have been tried
out for those positions though last sea
son, when Lave was laid up for a time
given trials.
ANAPCQ
Dave Sultz played in 1902 with the
Athletics in the Outfield. but Mack was
wise enough to let him go when he found
that his legs could not stand the strain
and Ollie Pickering played there last
season. Pick couldn't make good at
Cleveland, but he did grand work for
the Athletics. Besides that Mack picked
up Dan Hoffman. He has been a great
help as a substitute
Mike Powers. just out Of Notre Dame.
was given chance behind the bat. and
made good right away. Osee Schreck-
engost wasn't up 10 time al Cleveland
but has been Mack's mainstay behind
the bat since 1902. and always catches
Waddell
Losing nearly all his pitching stan.
Mack had 10 hunt for new material He
had been either fortunate in what he
had picked up or he knows how TO get
At any rate, he has brought out Ed
Plank, Bender and Henley. to say moth
Ing OF his ability 20 handle RUDE Wad-
You've got to give # to Connie Mack
as the greatest manager In the Amer
lean League. When up against It ne
went out and got together a bunch OF
old and new material. the old being
mostly cast-offs of other teams, and
nodded II over again into a champion
ship aggregation. In doing this ne has
tried out host of youngsters and some
has beens.' too, but his judgment In
selecting only what was best has proven
MENTAL TEMPERAMENT