The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-19
EDITED BY
HUGH W. ROBERTS
SOME GOSSIP OF
THE Big LEAGUES
BY MANHATTAN.

New York, July 1s.-"Who put that gin
ger into our Giants?" asked a fan at the
Polo grounds one day last week.
Ginger nothing" replied his companion,
Johnny McGraw has just got his boys
shaken down to the point where they can
play championship ball and the pennant
is ours this year"
That short sentence sums I'm tbe entira
situation. McGraws aggregation is GER
tainly playing great baseball and unless
the unexpected happens stands an EXCEL
lent chance to nose out the Pirates for
the pennant Chicago does not seem TO
figure in the calculations OF the fans now
The dissensions in that club Frank
Chances unguarded utterances regarding
the national commission and several other
things have aided in making those who
follow the game closely believe that Chi
cago has taken a slump from which they
will never recover
Chance has been called before the ma
tional commission to explain his comments
on the action of that body in recommend
Ing that every player who was on the
rolls of that club, and eligible to play in
the championship games of last year.
should be given share of the $4,000 d.
V1ded among the players at the close of
the series. The national commission has
no power to compel a division of the
money and simply recommended that it
be done in fairness to all of the players
and Chances criticisms of their action
mas 1ncensed them to such an extent that
ne may be severely disciplined.
Andy Coakley. formerly pitcher for the
CUBS Is now the manager for the Man.
hattans, local club. and intends making
many changes in the team.
Inc wonderful playing of Second Base
man Collins of the Philadelphia Athletics
recalls the fact that both the Giants and
Highlanders could have landed him two
years ago for nothing when he was
student at Columbia college. Collins
wanted to become a member of the High
landers and begged Clark Griffith to try
him out Griffith told him to come
around In about a week. and inside of
an hour after Collins had parted with
Griffith an agent of the Athletics signed
the youngster in hurry Mack has not
only developed Collins into a wonderful
baseball player. but has turned out two
other brilliant stars this season. Third
Baseman Baker and Shortstop Barry.
Furthermore, he has made Catcher Ira
Thomas, once Highlander under Griffith.
one of the best backstops on the dia-
mond.
Frank Selee, manager of the Boston Ma
tionals for IL years, who died In Denver
on July 0, was practically unknown in
New England when he took charge of the
Beaneaters. Selee took charge of the
Boston club IN 1890. He developed such
crack players as Tenney. Jimmy Col
Inns, Nichols the pitcher Bobby Lowe
and others. who won several pennants
for the Hub When he took charge of the
cubs he 1aidsthe foundation for the pres
ent crack Chicago team. securing Tinker,
Eyers, Reulbach, Lundgren, King and
others, at the same time making a first
baseman out of Frank Chance, who was
then a catcher Selee was forced TO re-
linquish the reins in Chicago on account
of Ill health, and went to Denver several
years ago, where he managed the West
ern league team with some success
Funny that very few players are anx-
fous to manage a baseball club But
there's a reason. In the big leagues now
adays every player knows every other
player. Most of them have been team
mates once upon time and few IL any
or them have ever held position out
side of the diamond When a man is
promoted to the managership, he must
tell his old mates to cut out all of the
things which are Objectionable to both
the club owners and the public at large
in many of which he had in times past
participated. The players as a rule re-
sent these lectures. remind the manager
of old times, finally ending by a disor-
ganized and disgruntled team. It is for
this reason that we see many of the
younger element, or perhaps outsiders,
in charge of the players of a team, and
the outsider as rule, proves the bet
ter manager.
Because big Frank Bowerman pilot of
the Boston Doves, was in this city for
few hours a week ago, a crop of rumors
about the possibility of the old Polo
grounds favorite again joining the Giants
was sown in baseball columns when news
was scarce. Bowerman has as much
chance to Join the Giants again as the
Boston Nationals have of winning first
place in this years race for the pennant.
No club seems to be able to stop the
Tigers. 1t was thought for a time that
Hughey Jennings would have trouble In
landing the rag this year, but 1t looks
now as If the Detroit aggregation would
Abreeze home unless some of the other
clubs get busy right quick.
1t was announced last week that Harry
TRULY had resigned and was no longer
connected with the National league staff.
Harry did resign, but 1t was coming to
him. He resigned just as did General
Bingham from the New York police force.
Many experts thought that TRULY was
worse than CusacK. IL is naroiy likely
that the staff will be added to this year,
as good umpires are scarce. Kane seems
to be the only one Of the new men who
will stick.
Though 1t is not at all certain that the
deal now pending between the Brook
Ign and Chicago clubs for the release
of Catcher Johnny Killing will go through,
eastern fans are roofing hard for the
deal Lunley. while not exactly I'M
nonular. does not seem to hold the af-
lection Of the Brooklynites. as have other
managers of the club.
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