The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-14

"Connie Mack the Wizard of Baseball
Pichers were not chosen last night,
or, if they were, neither manager
would divulge his choice.
The few Philadelphia fans who fol-
lowed the men over said they looked
to see Derrick take the initial sack,
but later in the evening it was stated
in quarters close to the management
baseman, would take his old position
| if McInnis was unable to play.
who will pitch?" The question re-
NAMED unanswered by Manager Mack,
who insisted that no advance an
nouncement would be made
TT may be any of u.s. said Chief
Bender.
Cornelius McGillicuddy, so named
at birth. but rechristened by the fans
as Connie Mack has been called the
wizard of baseball because of his
/ skill in developing seemingly inferior
talent into the superior player. Since
he organized the Philadelphia club
eleven years ago he has turned out
four champion teams in the American
league and has led his men close to the
front ranks in the league every sea-
perhaps, the most successful of any of
the socalled bench managers. Sitting
back away from the dust of battle, the
cool and crafty chief with pencil and
ress of the engagement and only oc-
casionally amends the orders he gave
his men before he sent them into the
field.
Mack, seasoned by six years more
experience than when he last matched
bats with McGraw, now meets the IA
nous Giant leader again for the
championship struggle. Two more di-
vergent types than McGraw and Mack
can not be picked in the baseball
world. The contest between the two
chiefs may be summed up briefly as
Mack=Aged 40. Born in New Eng
land. Tall and lanky. Calm and de-
liberate. Leads from the bench. Plans
battle before game. Never dons a
uniform Known as tactician.
McGraw-Aged SO. Born in New
York state. Short and chubby. Quick
and impulsive. Always on coaching
lines. Resorts to quick judgment. Al
ways in ball toys. Distinctly a strate-
gist.
And so on, with finer distinctions,
the divergence might be traced and
when the problem was finally worked
out it would be found that about the
only point of intersection in their
methods is success.
Philadelphia supporters take ac-
count of the fact that their favorites
are already world champions and that
Chicago National League club which
gave New York a close race for this
years league title. They believe that
General Mack has plotted out a win
ming campaign and that his men with
an average of 800 at the bat and
with what they consider the finest in
field in either league, will take world
honors as handily as they captured
the league pennant this year.
In batting the Giants lead the Ma
|tional League at .271, conceding %
points to the Athletics who lead the
American League with .294 In ex-
ira base hitting the margin of diff
ference is smaller, but still slightly in
favor of the Athletics. In the base
advantage to McGraw's men, six of
whom are leaders in fIeetfootedness
among the National League runners.
Altogether the men have stolen 346
bases this season as compared with
22S to the credit of the Athletics.
So go comparisons. which, made
from any angle, seesaW from the
Giants TO the Athletics and back again.
leaving both forces quite evenly bal
anced. If the weight Of any one play
err can tip the scale it viii be, ex-
perts agree, one of the pitching stars.
Tickets to the series. though still to
be had, are mainly in the hands of
spectators, who are charging exorbit-
ant prices.
Benjamin F. Shibe. owner of the
Philadelphia club. is also preparing to
handle a record crowd when the play
ing of the big games alternates to his
new park bearing the family name
The proximity of the two rival cities
enthusiasts from one city to the other
and by far overtax the capacity of
either park.