Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-14
STORIES OF
The DIAMOND
Bill Dahlen of Brooklyn Tells of
the Hard Lot of the Base
ball Manager.
APPLAUSE WHILE WINNING
But When Club Starts Losing Streak
General Public Has No Sym
pathy for Pilots.
No. vi.
By BILL DAHLEN.

By BILL DAHLEN.
Copyright, 1910, by American Press Asso-
ciation-l
Very few people, except those who
possess inside knowledge, are familiar
with the trials of a manager of a
major league ball team and with what
he has to contend Let me tell you,
a managers path is not strewn with
roses; but, on the contrary, it is a po-
sition beset with tribulations, OF sleep
less nights and Of hopes often unfuI-
filed. particularly when conducting the
affairs of losing club. The fans will
not stand for a persistent loser, and
the team which is unable to make a
fairly good showing in the pennant
race soon loses support and is termed
lemons" "clucks" "dubs" and "has-
beens," and the leader Of such a club
Is set down in the same class.
In the present day baseball game
the manager is the man who has to
stand or fall. It's up to him as far as
the public goes. And yet how many
of the fans who go to ball games know
Or even care who the manager of a
team is as long as 1t continues to win?
But If 1t loses-wow! Then the man
ager gets it, and gets 1t good and plen-
ty. The fans only blame the manager.
They forget there is an owner behind
the manager, who may be more to
blame than he
In order to be a successful manager
in the major leagues today one must
possess large amount Of gray mat
ter, up to date ideas and knowledge of
the intricate points of play. Not only
must he have a full understanding Of
the game. but he must be able to in
still the knowledge into the heads of
the players comprising his team. The
majority Of the leaders In the big
leagues today have knowledge OF the
game through practical experience and
active participation as players. In fol-
lowing the game day in and day out
all Of its scientific features are pre-
scented to them. Almost every day the
plays that are pulled off are the result
of deep study and mature meditation.
One of the big woes of a manager is
the daily advice of patrons who by
word of mouth and numerous letters
insist upon telling him how the team
should be run. Of course this advice
Is thankfully received and Immediately
followed-nit- If these fans had their
way changes in the team would be
made every day and new players
would be coming in by the train load.
The hardest part of a managers
work hes in the selection of his team,
weeks and months being spent in
securing the country for promising ma
terial. If out of a half dozen selec-
tons one real diamond star is discoy-
cred the manager considers himself
very lucky. for the ratio of young
players making good In fast company
is only one in six.
When Tronble Starts.
In the spring. when reporting time
arrives, the manager awakens to the
fact that his troubles are to commence.
With twenty or thirty players from
which to select regular team his work
is cut out for him, and he passes days
Of anxiety and suspense. After many
trials his choice is made. Those who
have not displayed the requisite speed
are returned to the minors. The man
ager is filed with hope and fear. If
his team starts in a rut and every
thing breaks badly he knows that he
will pass a season of discomfort and
become the target of abuse. His hours
will be full of unrest and devoid of !
pleasure.
Then the fans will submit hundreds
Of letters telling him Of the players
that he should get, many of whom
could not be secured for love or mon |
ey. When he is recognized on the |
streets he is met with sour looks and |
coldly greeted. Then perhaps some |
one Will hurl the questions at him: |
why don't you do this?" "Why don't |
you do that?" What do you mean !
by letting the team go to the dogsT'
"Are you trying to kill the gamer
While the manager feels like soak |
ing the interrogation he is forced to
smile a sickly smile and work his |
thought tank in an endeavor to pacify
the irate fan. While sitting on the |
players bench he may have to listen
to such expressions as these: Bum
team" They're rotten Punk"
frank aggregation" and Get a new
manager" After listening to these
comforting words for couple of hours
each day the pilot of the team is
thankful when darkness envelopes the
land and he can retire in restful slum-
Der.
A managers berth in the major
leagues is no sinecure. 1t may con-
tinue for one or a dozen years, accord
Ing to the measure of success attained,
and the incumbent is always on easy
street In that capacity one may be
worthy Of a medal today, the tin can
tomorrow. The fans are prone to ap-
plaud the successful and heap Goals Of
FIRE on the heads of the unfortunate.
4 baseball manager Is up today and
down tomorrow.