Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-18
MANAGER
LAJOIE
RESIGNS
Act Due TO Poor Showing of Team
and Demand of Patrons,


CLEVELAND, o, Aug. lI-Napoleon
Lajoie voluntarily tendered his resignation
as manager of the Cleveland American
League base ball team tonight to take effect
as soon as a successor can be appointed
by the directors of the team. Lajoie will
continue to play with the team.
LaJoies resignation Is due. to the large
amount Of criticism he has been subjected
to on account of his failure to make a
better showing with the team this year.
humOrs OF dissension among the players
on account of Lajoie's alleged personal I'M
popularity have been rife. This, coupled
with the teams losing streak on the last
eastern trip caused many patrons of the
game to demand his resignation. The club
owners defended LaJoie.
No successor for Lajoie has been ap-
pointed and the club overs say they are
undecided as to whom they will appoint.
In his letter Of resignation, Lajoie said
- hereby, tender my resignation as mana
ger, To take effect as soon as you can
select someone TO take up the duties of
Il feel that my obligation to you, to
the public and to the players compel me to
take this action at the present time. You
for the last five years, and | feel that il
any one can accomplish more with the
club than | have been able to do. YOU de-
serve to have an opportunity to take ad-
vantage Of the same.
The Cleveland public has been very
loyal to me under many trying circum-
stances. I feel that any criticism 6jrected
toward me in the past OF at the present
is not due to any personal feeling toward
iAt'i "a lldS bttl ana Is solely bees Use
OF a CONSCIENTIOUS desire 10 see Cleveland
have the winning team and II Is but natural
tul thtm To put the blame on the manager
VINO does not give them one, II has been
my desire 10 make Cleveland the pennant
winner, but II someone else can do this
more. quickly than / can. / feel that IL
would be a mistake for me to allow nv
personal ambition to stand in the way
because I want just what the public wants
"a winner-and I know that II Is much
more important that we all get our desire
'haH mat should be manager
Besides my obligation to yourselves
ana the public, as ABOVE stated. feel
mat II Is Iuy duty to the other PLAYERS on
the club 10 give them relief from the abuse
them, Just at present the boys are being
subjected to a lot Of abuse because Of orr
lallure TO win and they are being uniustIy
accused or not trying and being unwilling
20 play Tor me, In my heart / feel that the
players are being wronged. Not a man on
me cluh has ever refused TO do anything
l have asked OF him. My retirement Should
the players, because II Will remove the
loyalty. ~" us
In conclusion I wish to pledge myself
q. the patrons of the club who have ALWAYS
treated me SO royalty under ali circurn-
stances that l SHAH work just as hard as
q PLAYER 20 give them the winner which
'iti 50 flchly deserve.
Il wish TO thank you and the pubBc For
me loyai support which has been gwen me
curing the last five years and each and
every payer on the club for the hard and
conscientious work he has lone under nv
management. Very truly yours,
IN, LAJOIE"
Lajoie Joined the Cleveland team I'm 1872
jumping from the Philadelphia National
In 1904 he succeeded William Armour 30
manager of the club. II has been renortsd
'hat ne received a salary Of $40, 900 a year,
SnIIV Even ~ nVn.-