Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-18
CHANCE MAY BECOME
=
!. MANAGER FROM BENCH
Chicago First Baseman, Be-
ginning to Feel Strain,
Talks of Resting.
Special, Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
CHICAGO, ILL.,, May IS.-Frank Chance
is seriously thinking of retiring from ac-
tive work as first baseman for the Chicago
National League base ball team. The con-
slant worry of direc ing the club in PEN
nant races, added to the strain of being
forced to cover the initial sack, is the
cause Of his proposed stand. Whether he
will permit the idea of becoming a bench
manager TO materialize depends wholly on
one thing and one player-if he ardent
fans" OF the west s de cub will stand
for losing man of his abilities and if
Fred Luderus can make good in covering
first base.
1t dos seem queer for Chance to enter
tain the thought of joining the ranks of
Clarke Griffith, Hugh Duffy. Hugh Jen
nings and rNlcGraw as a leader directing
las IL IA ,.e ben IA. i.o > . H.
ter this spring than at the start of any
league race Tor years. his managerial
troubles haV- not in any Way interfeI ed
with his becoming tne best ms, baseman
in the league. AS ne der he always
ranked with he best of them and in hit
ting outciasSed many. &c iinished the
1879 season with d good av r9se, Ina ii he
continues HIS present work he viii sur
pass It.
With work Ike that it is doubtful if the
firing TO the IL, nch. He is too popular
player and the ma netic force he has in
drawing tn peOp.e TO The games and get
nS the WO!k OCt or has men Is Wonder
ful. There Is SQUEEZING III his aggressive
manner that puts an entirely different as
pect on game when he Is on nrSt base.
lie is always lighting and never quits I'M
til the crowd flows on the neid alter the
battle is over When he Is in there MAX
ing the opponents worry ABOUT what is
coming off nen have the same spirit
Chance thinks that the days of the
play .nS manager are over 1t seems as
If he is right. Years ago nearly every
manager in the clubs in both leagues en-
gageG 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 ZIP The
days OF the playing manager are over
said Chance. ''Of course, that is not say
ing or even intimating that am through.
1t Is not the same now as it was years
ago to play position and conduct the
anairS OF team. The crowds were not
so large and the fans and owners of clubs
did not demand much from u manager
as they do now New all leader has TO
think of is producing a champion team
10 do that and cover position equally
as well as the star men your team is
becoming an impossibility. and it has
been proved by the manner in which the
playing managers have retired to the
bench in favor Of other men.
Il have thought about giving my posi-
ton to some one else. but / can hardly
do II. as there will be howl from all
angles Besides. getting a man to take
the job and fill 1t the way il should be is
another question hard to settle. In Fred
Luderus | think / have found the best
first sacker in the league. When / make |
up my mind TO make definite decision |
on -retiring-fFem active work he will be |
on the job He has shown me sufficient |
to make him better than a logical candi- |
date for the position He is a terrific |
hitter and has improved enormously in
his fielding The way he gets ground
balls is remarkable