Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-31
JACK O'CONNOR To
MANAGE THE BROWNS
New Leader Is a Home Prod
uct and Has a Fine
Record.

ST. LOUIS. Mo-. October S0.-Presi-
dent Robert Lee Hedges OF the st. Louis
American League Base Ball Club made
official announcement yesterday that John
O'Connor OF ST. Louis would be tho man
ager of the Browns. as the st. Louis
American League club Is known. next
year.
This is scarce news. Since August last.
when Mr.. Hedges secured the release OF
O'Connor from the Little Rock club. II
has been understood that the st. Louis
base ball player would be the next man
ager of the Browns. The statement That
he would be has been frequently made,
and not denied by Mr.. Hedges, but posi-
tive announcement was not made until
yesterday.
The selection Of OConnor to manage
the Browns will be received with ap-
prevail. For twenty-five years he has
been regarded as a very capable base ball
general and tactician- He was with the
Browns from 1906 to 1909. in the capacity
of catcher and coach on the lines. Dur
ing that period his great reputation was
not enhanced. for the team did not play
the best OF base ball. Still. il made IT'S
best showingS In the years OConnor was
with II, and steadily improved from last
place to fourth In the three years he
was a member Of ii. Last year, prior to
the time OConnor's connection with. the
club was severed, It was felt that the
team could not be worse than third In the
American League race of 1909. The fact
that not at any time did the team show
any form of class. though better than IL
was In 1903, when II did its best work
and finished fourth. after being in the
pennant race for five OF the six months
of the season. many good judges held, the
loss OF O'Connor took from II whatever
base ball brains it had in 1908. and that,
had O'Connor been with ii. the club would
have justified expectations and finished
i'm the first three in the. pennant race,
Then his adherents pointed out that
O'Connor could not be held responsible for
the clubs inferior base ball when he was
with 1t, as McAleer. not O'Connor, was
procurator Of players and dictator OF the
scheme of play.
Deserves a Trial.
In any event, O'Connor is deserving OF
a trial as manager Of a major league
team For twenty-five years he has been
rated one of the cleverest OF base ball
players. At Cleveland during the early
nineties. when that club was always q
pennant contender. O'Connor was given
much credit for Its success. That he
helped Pittsburg and the New York
Americans while. with them was also
proven. The fact that the Browns did
their best years when he was with them
is also evidence I'm favor OF O'Connor's
capabilty as a director OF play. During
his many years of service OConn0r has
been unfortunate in being compelled to
act as lieutenant to friends who man
aged clubs Now ii seems but fair that
lie should have a chance to show what he
can do for himself. He has done much
for others.
New Manager q st. Louisan.
O'Connor was born in North st. Louis.
about the 2iOO block, on Broadway. forty
years ago. He played with the famous
ShamrOcks of st. Louis. crack amateur
team of the eighties. on which also play
ed the Tebeaus, Pat and George; Silly
O'Flaherty and others, who became ia
nous in base ball. In 1886 he played for
st. Joseph, his first professional engage
ment In 1887 he went to Cincinnati and
i'm 1859 to Columbus of the American As
sociation. In 1890 he played with Dem
Yer.
In 1891 he Joined Cleveland, where he
played until 1899. when with the rest OF
the Cleveland club he was removed to
st. Louis. In 1900 he was sold to Pitts
burg. where he played until 1902. when
he jumped to the New York Americans
There he remained until 1906. when he
Joined the Browns. He remained I'm ST.
Louis until 1909. when he was signed by
Little Rock. He played in that city for
four months and did good work until he
came to St. Louis I'm August, 1909. He
acted as scout for the Browns during Au-
gust. September and October.