Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-26
TROUBLES OF A MANAGER,
By James McAleer.

These managers have a pretty soft
time OF 1t. All they have to do is sit
there on the bench and watch the ball
games, and pull down about 5000 for
doing it," / once heard a fan remark
as he was passing out OF the ball field
Little did he know how far from the
mark his words were. II there's one
job above another In base ball that re-
quires an unlimited amount Of real hard
work. that OF the manager is the one
The players have to work hard during
the season. but with the close of the
championship games their labors end.
and they don't have to worry again for
some four or five months. But the poor
manager, alas. never can stop worrying.
His labors commence on the first day
of January and end on the last day OF
December. It's case OF go, go, go. all
the time with him.
During the playing season. though the
Lord knows he has enough on his mind,
ne really has the easiest time. Once a
team gets going. he is sure of his players,
at least. OF course, they do not always
come up to the mark, and 1t is up to him
to wake up and get hold of some more,
but when the season is on. this is gen.
sure, he can't land champions during his
time. but this fact Is generally accepted
as something that connot be helped, and
he is not knocked because of it.
In the winter, though, it's up to him to
get busy and sign up some real Al per-
formers He has to go running around
the country, investigating the record OF
this or that budding world beaten and
II he thinks the youngster can come to
time, he must secure him for his club,
despite the fact that six or seven other
fellows are after him, or be voted a dead
one. II he IS lucky enough to get hold
OF some minor league star, and the fell
low happens to lose his nerve and prove
useless. then tho unfortunate managers
Judgment is called into question. Thus,
you see. he Is always on the horns OF a
dilemma If he doesn't sign the player
he's after. he gets knocked, and if he
does land him and he is not up to the
mark. which is the case ninety-nine times
out Of a hundred. he Is in for some more
knocks.
In the or season, too, the old players
have to be swung into line. If the pre-
ylous season has been a good one, here's
another bunch OF trouble. Every men,
Der OF the team will be firmly OF the opin-
ion that 1t was his own particular playing
that was accountable for most of the vic
tories of the past, and consequently he
will inform the boss that II his services
are desired again he must be given an
appreciable raise in salary.
Time was when the manager had all
the work Of getting railroad tickets, fix
ing things up with hotel managers and
all sorts OF little knick knacks. But in
major league ball this at least is taken
off his shoulders. though the bosses In
the bush leagues still have to DO 1t in
many cases. Speaking Of minor leagues.
calls to mind the fact that here Is where
the managers have q whole lot Of real
trouble. The players. who are really
only try-outs. have the idea that they
are all sorts Of wonders and their serv-
Ices worth a small fortune They resort
to every kind of scheme to do the man.
agement. They see to It when at home
that they are paid every day for three
f1rst-class meals, sleep during the morn
ing 30 that they will not have to have
breakfast, and then go Off to some cheap
place where they can satisfy themselves
for Is or 20 cents. When the club pay
for the hotel bills. though. there is a re-
markable change. They get their three
meals every day and put away so much
food that the hotel owners are unwilling
to cater to their trade.
The care of the young fellows is an
other Of the burdens OF the leader He
has to gee to 1t that they do not lose
heart. because, perhaps. they may slip up
on their first appearance. When they do
make good they have to be restrained
lest they become imbued with the idea
that the league could not get along with
out them. Then, again, they are liable
to Incur the anger and jealousy of some
of the older members of the team. 1t is
but natural that a veteran should feel a
little sore when he sees himself being
shut out by some new conner. Perhaps
several Of his companions will feel the
same way, and then IL the crowd is not
handled with kid gloves discussions will
spring up and the teams prospects be
ruined. Invariably when there is feel
Ing" to use the popular phrase, between
the players on q team, the manager is
called to account for it and Is handed
his blue envelope. And it's no easy mat
ter to talk to couple OF disgruntled ball
players.
Then. there's all the difference In the
world between managing a leader and a
loser. The head OF the latter team re-
minds me OF nothing SO much as the pro-
moter OF new theatrical combine. He
has to buck up against strong combna-
lions, who have all the real stars under
contract for life. It's up to him to find
some new calcium attractors. develop
them and place them before a hypercrit-
ical public. This is likely to take years
Of effort and enormous sums OF money
One failure is likely to stamp a man as
out of his field and 1t takes superhuman
work to win back the respect and conf
dence of the pOpulace. which must be
had. II success is to be attained. When
big fellows get after them and as in q
majority of cases the under dog is short
of money and anxious to reap a little
financial profit. the owners are likely to
let the big one go and trust to luck that
something just as good can be found.