The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-08-02
BY r. F. Wilson.

PHILADELPHIA, aug G.-COnnle
Mack led the way; the others are
following him. He is reaping the
reward; the others are still paying
the tolls for failure to see first what
the American league fox discov-
cred
Two years ago Mack tore to
pieces the all-star aggregation that
composed the almost-good-enough
Athletics and recruited a team of
youngsters fresh from the timothy
AS star after star-Jim Collins.
Lave and Monte Cross, Rube Wad-
dell and others-were divorced
from the pay roll by the ruthless
hand of Mack, even the men who
were then investing million in
the new Shibe park trembled and
wondered what madness the silent
manager was pursuing.
Next season the Kid Athletics
were anathema and laughing
stock. Last year they finished a
strong second. This season these
boys, not a star among them out
side the pitchers. have run the
other teams off their feet, and with
out accident should lope home easy
winners.
The fact that this team of young
sters is off in front is an indication
of what the Mack brand of base
ball will do.
The relations between Mack and
his men are different. Connie is
always Mister Mack" to his play
ers. The Mathewsons. Cobbs and
Lajoies, would laugh at Mack's
schoolmaster attitude, and resent it,
like enough. But the boys Mack
has rescued from the oblivion of
bushdom are proud to sit at his feet
and drink in baseball wisdom.
Each morning at 10, all the mem
bers of the tribe of Mack, regulars
and subs. file into the manager
owners office. or room at the hotel
when on the road, remove their
hats and wait until the boss turns
from whatever occupies his atten-
ton. 1t is the hour for "cOnsulta-
ton"
First the game of the preceding
day is given searching analysis,
play by play. Errors of skill are
lightly passed over, but noted. Err
rors of judgment, however--espe-
cially if there has been previous
coaching on the point-that's diff
ferent. Mack isn't harsh. The cul-
prit is never offended by the criti-
cism. But a red flush comes be-
meath his coat of tan, and you may
be sure he will never again commit
a similar error.
Then Mack. who is TIE sharpest
observer of players in the big
leagues. takes up the opposing play
ers, man by man. discusses their
peculiarities briefly and the con
sultation" is over.
Mack has been accused of being
niggardly. This is a canard.
Some years ago, to strengthen his
team at a critical time. he paid
for Jimmy Collins. Within the
past month he has given $4,000 and
two players for Lefty" Russell, the
Baltimore phenom.
The purchase of Russell brings
into relief the remarkable cam.
paign Mack has devised to win
the pennant.
Close baseball observers have
noted the frequency with which
he has been working Coombs and
Morgan.
Early in July Coombs and Nor
gan pitched 10 successive games.
alternating with each other and
winning IL of the contests. Coombs
won four games in week, an
unparalleled record All of this
time warming the bench were Ben
der. regarded as the best pitcher
in the league; Plank, the premier
left-hander; Harry Krause, the
brilliant youngster who burned up
the league last season.; Dygert and
Atkins. men any club would pay
big money for.
But in working Coombs and
Morgan, Mack was showing base
ball shrewdness. Time was when
neither Ctombs nor Morgan
ranked high. They had strength
and endurance and speed, but lack
ed control.
In the year Mack spent getting
his youngsters into playing form
he learned that the oftener