Norwich bulletin., 1909-10-22
HOW CONNIE GETS THEM.
Money No Object-Car Tickets and Trolley Rides, Says a Philadelphia Writer

Trolley Rides, Says Philadelphia
 Writer.
 While other owners are giving the price of skyscraper for their experi- ments, Connie Mack dodges the class A. A. circuits with their hold-up fig ures and looks to the Pumpkin valley and Roan Mare leagues for his finds. If somebody says that Biffer of Balti- more or McSwatt of Columbus ought to make Ty Cobb look like a faded lily, Mack says can the chinstuff, so murmured a Philadelphia funny man recently. But, if somebody says that there is a fellow in Barrel Slave, Nev. who is strong enough to bat a ball \ovef the city hall, then Mack boards the next train for Barrel Slave and soon puts the Nevada wonder in Amer ican league bondage, it possibly cost ing Connie the price of a safety razor to gratify the demands of the Barrel Slave management But for the most part, Mack doesn't do any business with the minors at all. Most of the men who are bearing the brunt of the Athletics fight for the pennant didn't cost Mack one penny in release mon ey.
 First, There's Eddie Collins.
 Look some of them over There's Eddie Collins. the infantile star, who is so young that he is afraid to go home in the dark. Collins once lead American league in clubbing and ranks second in crooked work on the paths. but Eddie didn't cost any Marquard fortune. Connie got hep to Eddie while the youngster was leading Co., lumibia university in Milton, Homer, Euclid and ball playing. After some correspondence Collins joined the Ath- letics. and Connie trembling lest he should be bowled out for overspeeding the expense limit turned over to the Shibes the following items of expense defrayed in landing the collegian: Monday, postage, two cents; Wednes- day, postage, two cents; Thursday, rail road fare from New York for Collins and myself, S5: Thursday, incidentals. five cents; total, $5.09. Connie ex- plained that the incidentals were due to hold-up on the part of Collins while waiting for the Philadelphia train in the Jersey City she'd At the last minute Eddie baked and refused to budg an inch unless five cents worth of sweet eating chocolate was forthcoming. There was nothing for Connie to do but to stand for this hold-up. It was risky business, but Connie has conviction that Collins work since joining the team has justi- fled that s5.09 expense bill, including the Jersey City hold-up.
 Then look at Eddie Plank. the left handler, who can't wear out. Connie didn't wait until Eddie worked his way to a class A. A. league and then mort gage Shibe park to get him. Plank somes from Gettysburg, and amid keen bidding from the Chew Travellers of Germantown, the Castle Wheelmen, the Arrow Juniors, the ex-Northide L. made the most liberal offer and copped Plank, but it took a first-class railroad ticket from Gettysburg to Philadel- phia and a copy of the Police Gazette to land the man.
 Bender and Captain Davis.
 Mack also had to dig deep to get Chief Bender. The Chippewa was pitching for a rubber collar team at Harrisburg when Mack started nego- tiations for his services, After a three hour conference Mack and the Indian compromised on railroad ticket and four bits advance But the most dar- ing speculation of all was the acquisi- tion of Captain Harry Davis Harry had big league experience with Pitts burg and New York, but subsequently, retired to do extra base penmanship for the Pennsylvania railroad. One day Mack found he was shy a first baseman. Suddnely he recalled that Davis was wearing out his throwing arm pushing pen for that heartless corporation.
 At cost of five cents Mack called Harry up on the phone and told him that he was a real ball player and that he must not dare contradict him. Come over to Columbia park tomor- row. and start putting the ball over the right field fence" sternly ordered Connie. TO show you what confidence have in you,' he concluded. 'Ill wire you five cents. so that the trolley ride to the park won't be out of your pock- et." "All right" responded Davis, eff you are willing to take d chance like that I'll do my best And Harry hung up the receiver, fnutterfng how the baseball war had cau.ed managers to throw away their money. And that's what Harry Davis cost the Athletics five cents for the phone call and five cents for de luxe ride on the beau tiful and scenic Philadelphia rapid transit.
 krause Game High.
 To land Harry Krause, the phenom- enal young left handler, who leads the American league pitchers, Mack had to put hole in the Athletic bankroll big enough to drive a horse through. After hooking the old Columbia park bleach- CTS Mack scraped together enough to get a ticket from San Francisco to Philadelphia, and in this manner ob- taiued kIauSe, who was pitching for the St. Mary's college nine when his left arm began To attract attention. Mack also had to pay heavily to ob- tain the release of Jack Barry from Holy Cross, When the faculty at Colby college learned that Mack had his eye m atx he ran h.aH t,.ff.