The Washington times., 1909-07-26
HINTS ON HANDLING
OF AMATEUR TEAMS
Manager O'Connor, of the
Columbia Athletic Club,
Gives His Views.
Washington. D. C.. July .. 1909.

Washington. D. c.. July .. 1909.
Mr.. Thomas 5. Rice, sporting editor
Times.
Dear Sir: 1 have noted with interest
the timely hints YOU have given the
amateur leagues Of this city in regard
to their future welfare, advising them
to get together and lay plans for the
post series
The trouble with the presidents and
managers of the various teams is the
little interest they take laseaeh other.
The presidents. as a rules 90 not take
the trouble to attend the meetings.
When the Amateur Commission was
ormed last season ! am frank to say
that not more thar two presidents at
tended. and that WAS for the first meet
ing only. Afte.' the season was over
and all the business cleared up tie
commission adjourned until the second
Thursday in January. At that meeting
not more than five of The twenty-One
members attended. TIE next meeting
was about the same, so we gave il up
as bad job.
While my teams chances are very
slim and do not expect to have the
honor Of playing in the post series,
am willing to do all ia my power TO
help make this the greatest of all post
season contests, and, to start the thing,
l VIII try to get the use Of either the
Armory rooms OF some other suitable
place for Friday evening next
Need Firm Control.
! read with much pleasure al article
from Cincinnati that the amateurs of
that city had formed an association 10
control the leagues and players. That
is what we should have here-a body
that could govern all players. The
greatest fault here is that the players
try to play on too many teams on my
own team I have men that play in a;
least three leagues, but will not have
a player that will not give me first
choice, except those that play in the
Departmental League. The most Of the
players in that league get their positions
for playing bail, and a manager cannot
expect them to give him first choice.
The greatest trouble a manager has tC
contend with is the jumping of the
players from one club to another. Wher
some of the men find that their team
| has no chance to win the pennant they
! look for one that has. Let any reader
/
were running One-Lwo-three two week,
ago. and look over the list the coming
week. and you would not think il TIT
| same team.
| All a player has TO do TO get I'm TIT
! pOst-seasOn series is to be in five games
/ / think every player that takes part il
/ the series should have been in at leas
| half Of the games played by his team
| Another great trouble Is, the manager
/ will bench the men who have beef
| faithful all the first part of the season
| and use the stars acquired later. Whel
/ ne wins the pennant in his particula
/ league he frequently finds that his oil
! stand-bys have left and the stars ar
/ playing with a better team that ha
/ also won a pennant.
! After the post season is over and n
| gets the money coming 70 his team
| then the managers real trouble begins
| / love my manager, but oh yoI green
| back, Perhaps he gives one player
| cents more than another. That mean
his finish. His fond hopes Of some da
] becoming 4 Connie Mack are dashe
10 the winds The next season will fin
him on the side lines telling his friend
how many cold suppers he had las
year.