The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-07-14
Frank Chance, the Chicago Veteran
Ball Team Head Tips Off
a Few to the General
Public.
CHANCE WILL RETIRE
Playing and Managing Too Much OF
strain for the Chicago Dia-
mond Hero and He
May Quit.

baseman of the Chicago Nationals, Ii
seriously thinking Of retiring from &C
tive service from his base ball team
The constant worry of directing The
club In pennant races added to the
strain Of being forced to cover the
initial sack, is the cause of his pro
posed stand Whether he will permit
the idea of becoming a bench manager
to materalize depends wholly on one
thing and one player-if the ardent
Chicago fans will stand for losing a
man of his abilities and If Fred Luder-
US can make good in covering first
base.
1t does seem queer for Chance to en-
terrain the thought of joining the
ranks of Clarke Griffith. Hugh Duffy,
Hugh Jennings and McGraw as a
leader directing his men from the
bench. He is going better thfs season
than at the start of any league race
for years. His managerial troubles
have not in any way interfered with
his becoming the best first baseman
in the league. As fielder he always
ranked with the best of them and in
hitting outclassed many. He finished
the 1909 season with a good average,
and If he continues his present work
he will surpass it.
With work like that it is doubtful
II the fans of Chicago will stand for
his retiring to the bench. He is too
popular player, and the magnetic
force he has in drawing the people to
the games and getting the work out
of his men is wonderful. There is
something in his aggressive manner
that puts an entirely different aspect
on game when he is on first base.
He is always fighting and never quits
until the crowd flows on the field after
the battle Is over When he is in
the game making the opponents wor-
ry about what is coming off, his men
have the same spirit.
Days Of Playing Manager Over.
Chance thinks that the days of the
playing manager are over. 1t seems
as if he is right. Years ago nearly
every manager in the clubs in both
leagues engaged in the game. Now
there is not one manager in the
american league who completes and
only four in the National.
Just let me give you little tin
Inc days of the playing manager are
over said Chance. "Of course that is
not saying or even intimating that I
am through. 1t is not the same now
as 1t was years ago to play a position
ana conduct the affairs of a team. The
crowds were not SO large and the fans
ald owners of clubs did not demana as
mucn from a manager as they do
now. Now all leader has to think
OF is producing the champion team.
TO do that and cover position enual.
~ as well as the star men on your team
are becoming irnpossibilities, and it
mas been proved by the manner in
which the playing managers have retir.
ed from the bench in favor of other
men.
have thought about giving my DO
sition to some one else but I can
hardly do 1t. as there viii be a howl
ron all angles. Besides getting a
man to take the job and fill it the way
1t should be is another question hard
TO settle. In Fred Luderus l think /
nave found the best first sacker in tha
league, When I make UP my mind to
give definite decision to quit
ne VIII be on the job. He
mas shown me sufficient I,
make him better than a logical candi-
GATE for the position He is a terrific
aieter and has improved enormously
in MS fielding. The way he gets
ground balls Is remarkable