Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-12
O'LEARY TO HEAD
DAVENPORT TEAM
Popular Rock Island Backstop
Engaged as Playing Man
ager for 1911.
Is GIVEN FULL CONTROL
The Unanimous Choice of Directors
Over Large Number of APP
pIicants.

Dan O'Leary, the heavy swatting
backstop of the Rock Island Three Eye
league team, is to manage Davenport
during the season of 1911 Negotia-
tons looking to the purchase of
OLeary from the Rock Island assocIa-
ton, which had been pending for
weeks, were completed Saturday. At
meeting of the directors of the Dav-
export club held this morning
O'Leary's signature was secured to a
contract to serve as playing manager
the coming season. While the DaV-
export directors had a number of ap-
plications for the berth filed last year
by Charles Shaffer and p. II. Holy
cross, a choice finally dwindled be
tween William Fox of Omaha and
OLeary, with a preference for the lat
ter. The Davenport directors were
unanimous for the engagement of
O'Leary. The price paid the Rock Is
land association for the release Of
OLeary is not announced
Long standby Here.
O'Leary has been with Rock Island
at intervals since 1902, he having
broken into professional league ball in
the latter season, having his first eX-
perience with the club of this city.
For years previously he had been play
ing with different professional
teams in Henry county, his home being
at Orion. OLeary and Arthur Lundin f.
composed a battery that was invinci- /
BILE during their semi-prOfessional /
baseball days. Lundin, who was one .
of the promising young pitchers in the .
Il g ,g,r ETr-n fll low
ed O'Leary as a member of the Rock .
Island team.
OLeary was twice sold by Rock Is
land to the Memphis club Of the South
ern association. in each instance bring
ing $500 to the local eXchequer. The .
southern climate handicapped Dan in
his work. and he did nOL maintain the
record with Memphis that would have
been the case could he have adjusted
himself to the new conditions there.
He returned to Rock Island last sea
son. and the fans Of the league are IA
miliar with the showing that he made
both behind the bat and with tn"
stick, having broken up many close
contests on the local grounds and away
from home He is regarded as one Of
the surest pinch hitters in the league
Directed Team Last season.
During last season Manager Jack
Eghe entrusted the direction of the
team to OIeary much of the
time, and he displayed his head
work in many tight places. OLeary's
greatest value 70 any team is his pa
tience with and encouragement of
young pitchers Where other back {
stops shout for the removal of a green
lurler, if Dan sees something in him, {
he hangs on to him and jollies him in {
to form More than one yOungster {
Who has gone up from the Three Eye :
10 faster company owes his start to y
Dan O'Leary. /
Rock Island fans will regret to lose a
the services of O'Leary. He helped :
in winning the pennant Of /
1907. and he was an important factor e
n landing the Rock Island team in s
irst division last season. One bunch h
hat the Davenport directors ought to /
AXE from this side of the river is in 80
full control of their team to \
heir new manager. II is understood j.
contract makes him sole di- {
'ector of the players. If the directors
tand behind O'Leary and don't praC-
ice tactics on him in the way OF in
difference as they have done with c
ther managers they will find that they h
ave a man who will give them the &
'enefit of a wise head and effective II
york in action as a player. If they y
ont, they'll find written resignation y
n their hands at the first display of O
ficial annoyance. The town-meeting h
ray of running a ball team will have ii
0 stop with Dan O'Leary on the job. T,
VIII Do Better Away From Here. N
O'Leary received an attractive offer ii