The Washington herald., 1909-08-29

Few fans who sit on the bleachers
and hurl anathemas at the home man-
ager because his team does not win
realize what hat same manager Is up
against He IS far more anxious than
they 70 have winner. and works out
Of season as well as IN 10 get together
a baseball club that viii be a pennant
winner
He has baseball intelligence and ex-
pends coin m liberal fashion. He knows
exactly what he wants. goes after II. and
fails
Money can do a variety OF things in
other lines Of spot. Il viii buy auto
mobiles and build yachts which win set
new worlds marks, but no amount OF
money viii buy enough hrst-class BAH
players to transform a second division
club into a frst-place certainty.
The late Frank De Hass Robson and
bis brother Stanley, now president Of
the st. Louis club. spent over 100000 IN
an attempt 20 get a pennant winner
The nearest approach they made to the
accomplishment Of their desire was ia
they were the owners won the second
half championship only 70 be defeated
by Boston for the years s honors.
/ Baseball Is fun OF just such instances.
A. J. Reach during the twenty years he
was 10 charge of the Philadelphia Na-
tional League team did not have a pen
nant winner though he spent money
freely, and had some Of the very great
est Of ball players on his pay roll Twice
IN that time the Philadelphia club fin-
ished second, but 4 could never quite
win.
The Case Of J. b. Day.
John B. Day. OF New York, presided
over two peunant winners In 1883 and
1889. but VIXEN his club was disrupted
by the Brotherhood movement he went
broke trying again 70 build UP hls team.
Henry J. Lucas. the millionaire brewer
or ST. Louis. spent large sums in attempt
ing 10 build mp his club, but was finally
obliged 70 retire disappointed
Chris Won der Abe had four-tine win
ner, thanks 10 the baseball eeneralship
Of his manager. COmiskey, IN the old
American Association, but IN the Ma
tional League MS club failed utterly. and
he retired from baseball in 1888 prae-
tically penniless. having expended al the
earnings OF his winning clubs, and more.
too. attempting 10 repeat
Buying minor league stars IS easy:
welding these same stars into winning
major league combination IS exceedingly
difficult. The best pitchers and hardest
hitters in a small league win fail down
IN a big league on occasions from pure
stage fright and at others for different
reasons.
Minor League players, Ike the sands OF
the ocean, are ever shifting. Rarely does
a team present anything Ike the same
line-up in successive seasons. style Is
unimportant; the players are never TO-
gether iOng enough 20 study critically
each other in the minors.
Different in Major Leagues
In the major leagues il is dtrerent.
The clubs are pretty much the same
this year as last. especially the first
division clubs. The players grow familiaF
I with the methods Of each other. with the
I result that the man Incapable OF initia-
tive, a player who has. for Instance just
/, one way Of batting. Is speedily fOCnd
out. In a minor league man can get
away with one style OF play whole
season.
In the big league he viii succeed for
. perhaps q fortnight The other fellows
size him up, and then unless he can
match them in the battle Of wits it is
all of.
A major league scout hears favorable
10 report OF a man on q certain club BE
L goes out and looks him over and passes
e a favorable verdict. Why not? Isn't
- the player making gocd2
. No amount Of study OF dope" will
assure the scout that the yOungsJer win
7. / make good higher up He can only sign
a him ana take chance.
IL To use one Illustration OF how much
minor league showing is worth as a
u criterion OF future major league ability,
!, In 1895 Billy Nash signed Phil Geier and
!. one other for Philadelphia lie declared
; GeIer would make good but expressed
X the opinion the other would go back 10
e the minors. The other man was Napoleon
= Lajoie.
e Clearly the building Of a pennant WIN
a ner is not matter Of money alone.
i Money helps. but without rare good judg-
: ment and considerable luck IL can accom-
= plish little.
e Don't be too hard on the manager. he's
y doing his hest, and that Is al that can
e be asked Of any man,
Then there is the competition with the
s Outposts of the other teams A hereto
Il fore unheard Of chap viii pitch a no-hit
y game In some minor league. AT once
N
l. his city TO look him over Two or three
= of them will be favorably impressed. and
e viii start bidding with the manager 10
10 land him. Then the scout has 10 use
o his judgment With very few exceptions
= he has unlimited authority so far as
money Is concerned. II he believes the
pitcher will be a success, he win pur-
chase him, cost what it may.
II the etRp comes up 20 the mark, well
\. and good: 'but II he fails. the man who
I / recommended him and backed HIS judg-
ment with money viii find himself n
{ the bad graces Of his employers. Some
men viii Immediately nail any player
who performs such a remarkable stunt
It provided. OF course. that he has favor
e able past record. but the general run
wish 10 walt and see a man perform be-
IL fore committing themselves.
SEYMOUR THE TWIRLER.
Jim McAleer Tells of stunt Of the