The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1911-12-22
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
SPICY SPORT COMMENT
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
BY ToririY CLARK.

How quickly they come and go in
the world OF sport! Just two years
ago Little Johnny" Evers, the Chicago
Nationals second baseman, was the
most talked OF bali player In the game,
with the possible exception Of Ty
Cobb. Several club owners were
knocking each other down Offering
him managerial berths, theatrical man.
ayers showered him with offers to 20
on the stage. and publishers offered
snug sums for his literary efforts, all
simply because Evers was credited
with being the brains Of the great
Cub machine. His friends said he won
the pennant for Chicago in 1908 by the
cleverest piece OF inside ball ever pull
ed off on the diamond All these
things happened only few years ago.
Evers looked like the biggest man in
baseball for the next ten years.
All of a sudden, however, things be-
gan to break badly for the heretofore
Prince Fortunatus Of the Chicago club.
A business venture proved disastrous,
and shortly before the worlds series Of
1910 he broke his ankle. Right on
top of this piece Of misfortune he fig
ured in terrible automobile accident.
A prominent baseball writer, one Of
his best friends, was killed, and Evers
escaped death by the skin Of his teeth.
Last season he broke down. His
nerves went back on him and he was
forced to quit the game. He played
every now and then during the clos
ing days Of the campaign, but failed
to display the brilliant form that char
acterized his work Of two years ago.
Now they say President Murphy Of
the Chicago club is willing to send
Evers to Cincinnati to pilot the Reds
next season. but Garry Hermann
wants Tinker or Sheckard AS Evers
Is still young and the seasons rest
must have done him some good. Herr
mann may be making the mistake Of
his life in passing up the Little Tro-
jan" If Chicago is willing to let Gin
cinnati have Evers, Hermann had bet
ter make the deal before Murphy
changes his mind, provided Chicago
does not ask too much for Johnny.
Perhaps n change of clubs would prove
beneficial to Evers as it has done for
many other ball players.
While unpacking his steamer trunk
recently Connie Mack, manager Of
the Philadelphia Athletics, hauled out
some letters that were sent to him way
H., 10 a al Oh,
his veterans and try out his youngsters
and some unknowns. That year Mack's
team made a poor showing, and not
alone was he censured by the fans, but
by many experts. Some Of the things
the assistant managers in Philadelphia
wrote him may be thus epitomized:
you were always a gutter"
"You are trying to hand the pennant
to Cleveland"
"Why don't you admit the race is
fixed"
"Your action in going on the western
trip with team Of youngsters proved
your disloyalty to Philadelphia"
That year Mack's team was sho. to
pieces. Cleveland was picked to win
the pennant, and the Philadelphia men
lost several close games to the Maps
on the last western trip; hence the
suspicion.
And, 10 and behold, this same team
Of youngsters" that Mack tried out at
a cost in lost patronage to the Athlet-
les management Of perhaps 100000
during that season since then has won
two pennants. two worlds champion
ships and made barrels Of money for
the Philadelphia club.
OF course Mack is not the only man
ager who has received letters from the
bugs. Nearly every leader has been
the recipient of many pen and ink call
downs from the cranks.
Fielder Jones, the former leader of
the Chicago White Sox, one Of the
greatest managers that ever piloted
big league team, treasures as precious
mementos two letters which came to
him while the White Sox were fighting
the Cubs for the worlds championship
in 1906. Both, Of course, were anony
mous-assistant managers have
strange fondness for hiding their own
identity-and both were in the same
handwriting, although bungling at
tempt was made to make them look
unlike. In the first letter this assist
ant manager said:
"Of all the fool things you have
ever done, Fielder, the worst Is to play
Rhoe at third. He has never made
base hit yet. and doubt If he ever
will. You will lose this series, as you
deserve to-"
On the day the above letter was re-
ceived Rhoe made three base hit
with the bases full. and the Sox beat
the Cubs 3 to o. The next day this
letter came ostensibly from another
fan, but in reality in the same telltale
handwriting:
"Am glad you took the tip gave
you in q letter a few days ago and
played Rhoe at third 1t is these IN
knowns that break up a game and put
IT on ice. Glad my judgment has been
verified"
Kansas City to Hold Big Polo Meet.
II present plans Of the Kansas City