Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-05
HOGAN PLANNING
FOR NEXT YEAR
WILL STRENGTHEN VERNON
TEAM FOR 1910
YOUNG LEADER MAKES GOOD AS
A MANAGER
Happy's Efforts Under Big Handicap
Have Proved Him Capable Chief.
Will Be in First Division
Next Season
BY a. e. DUNNING

BY \. E. DUNNING
OF all the CHEEKY optimists who have
dreamed rosy dreams. and sometimes
through fortuitous circumstances or
mayhap through the force of their own
personalities have seen these dreams
come true, Happy Hogan, leader of the
Vernon team, is the kingpin. OF all
the leaders of a losing cause who bat
tied day in and day out in the face of
heavy odds, and came out at the fin
ish smiling and bright-eyed and glow
ing with the visions of the future, un-
dismayed by the past, Wallace Bray,
the Hoganite, deserves the post of
honor Close defeats have found this
veteran of the diamond undaunted
Bonehead bits by some of his men have
weighed not too heavily on his shoul-
ders. The caustic comments of a few
prejudiced critics, ever jealous of
young manager have passed into one
OrifiCe and out of the other, leaving
no trace Of malice, only a determine
tion to make good. The seasons toll
may find him away down near the foot
of the ladder, but when 'tis all said
and done, when the umpire calls the
last man out and the season is closed,
the careful students of conditions and
results on the Pacific coast will find
that the latest recruit TO Coast league
managerial circles has merited the
"well done" of the followers of base
ball and their confidence in the season
of 1910.
Hogan No Gutter
Not even Haps worst enemies-and
every energetic leader of any cause
has a few active foes-can say of
Hogan that he ig q pniftPT When
Happys character was moulded in
the long-gone days that unfortunate
characteristic found no lodging place.
Hogan is essentially a fighter and his
plans for next season demonstrate
that he is in Coast league baseball to
make good.
Ensconced in a quiet corner, with
Wild Bill Devereaux, his twin noise
maker, stationed opposite to play an
approving accompaniment, Hogan last
night permitted a brief glimpse into his
plans for the coming year, just enough
to assure the interviewer that he will
be in the game with a stronger, more
aggressive and machinelike team next
spring 1t will be the same Vernon
team, with several changes. Los An
geles will keep continuous baseball, and
Hogan's plans take cognizance of
nothing less than a team which will
compete In every standard of the game
with the Champion Angels. In other
words, Hogan is going into the fight
prepared not only to produce first
division team, but pennant-Winnins
team as well.
Now, there are a few simple people
who might laugh when this Is read.
But a careful summing up of Hogan s
work with his team this year Justities
the prediction that if he gets the ma
terial his Vernon boys Will be heard
from, loudly, before the next season Is
in full bloom.
Hap Has Made Good
Jumping into the position of manager
of an organized" baseball team for
the first time in his life, with com
parative youth but wide range OF
playing experience behind him, leading
an aggregation of which the best that
could be said is that some of them are
mighty good players, Hogan has IN
reality made a remarkable record TINS
wear. For a moment stop and think
it over. Place Dillon, Mohler Reidy
Graham or McCredie in command OF
such a mixture as Hogan was called
upon to lead when the season opened.
Some of them youngsters, others OLD
veterans, a complete team system 10
fight. and pitchers scarce and demand
ing high salaries-this combined with
the faCt JQdI Hogan 1du W SllON - 80
fellow-directors a reasonable proht tor
the wear. When the totals are cast
m Hogan is deserving of high credit
for what he has done. and it is doubt
full If the other leaders could nave
But as Hogan has done, so we will
do. The past is behind him; 1t VIII
be behind us. Hap's thoughts are
centered nowadays on what the COM
ing year will bring forth.
Several Changes Coming
"There will be several changes on
the Vernon team next season. ana
Happy tilted a "home-run" cigar Dor
roWed from Brick DevereauX, toward
the ceiling. 'In the first place. I am
negotiating today for two new eastern
PLAYERS one is an infielder. another
an outfielder / also am after thlrd
easterner These men | expect 10
strengthen my team greatly in hitting.
7 am also after pitcher whom l am
not at liberty to name at present put
who is so well known that his name
on the Vernon payroll will give me
added strength. Next year this team
will be playing far better ball. Those
men who stay with me will by that
time have been accustomed to my
leadership, and l venture to say that
bonehead playing will be largely
eliminated.
'I have been assured by the league
directors that no move will be made
looking to the dropping of Vernon from
the league. There is no reason why
such a step should be considered, for
continuous baseball has proved de-
cided success. We have drawn one
third bigger crowds here this year than
ever before, and that speaks for itself.
Every team that has come south, with
the exception of Portland, has been
highly encouraged with the gate here.
McCredie is crying about poor at
tendance for one purpose--the substl-
tuition of a northwestern team for YER
non-so his plants can be thrown out
The south will give better baseball by
far in 1910 than ever before, and this
will prove a benefit to the league.
For pitchers next year 1 will have
Vance. whom we certainly will keep
despite the draft for him; Bracken-
ridge, Hit, Schafer and Willett All of
them are pitching in fine form, and
they will prove a steady and reliable
list. Our drafting season opens Sep
tember Is and continues for fifteen
days, and that is the time / will secure
my new men,"
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