The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-10-29
.SPALD|NG DEFENDS
BASEBALL MANAGERS
Veteran Magnate Says That
Club Owners and Directors
Are Unjustly Criticised.
MUST ANSWER QUERIES
Interrogations of Fans anc
Reporters Are Sometimes
Very Embarrassing.
MUST ANSWER QUERIES

A. G.. Spaldne. who has been both
professional baseball player and mag
nate. has written book, America
National Game" As SpaIding's connec-
ton With the spor, began before base
ball was the recognized institution that
II Is today, and as lie helped found the
National league. with the lato Williarp
4. Hubert OF Chicago. In 1916, his ac'
counts of those carly DAYS are bound 10
be authentic.
spalding takes up the cudgels for The
managers who. Inc says, are often un-
justly criticised.
Following Is an excerpt from The
'"rhe responsibilities OF baseball CLUB
owner are great and his trials are many.
While those who are Ignorant ol tne
troubles that bcsct his path regard hilh
with envy. he is an ever present but :
fer receiving tho oft-repeated blows OF
opposing interests. He must stand ne
tween The public and Its relentless de
n,ands for impossibtliiies. He must pro
vide grounds easily accessible. and ilt
them up with elaborate grandsiand,
bleachcrs, clubhouse and toilets. tnat
shall meet ell demands or comfort'
cleanliness and convenience. His grounds
must be located as close to many ave
nues or rapid transit as possible. He
must make sacrifice OF much none! 70
|
late TO games in great thrones and 0e-
part early In solid body II the trolley
| lines provide inadequate facilities Tor
! handling the crowds, tho p1agnate is TO
blame
Must Be Diplomat.
.Iie must stand between the press
| and the interests OF his club in many
ways. At least twice a day must he re-
| ceive representatives OF evening ana
morning papers and BY S9n S[Irso woTds orIt
icsm that is always seeking TO discover
something with which TO find fault, ne
| must be ready 10 answer diplolneticalty'
satisfactorily and promptly any ques-
WHY don't YOU release Murphy :?
What do you play o Brien on second
| for Why don't you strengthen Sou'
pitching staff? Say. are yon gong to
| sell Corrigan?'
These are only few OF many char
acteristic questions that come to tn'
| club owner and which he must adroitlS
answer, skilIfully parry or invoke thC
ire OF the interrogator, with its newt
| able results.
| "IIe must stand by his team. good
bad or Indifferent. He must receive the
brunt OF hostile comment directed agains
his PLAYERS whether merted or not
| from both press and patrons. apologizlne
| for shortcomings where they exist, eN
cusing as accidental errors III play thai
| cost him Infinitely more than they could
! possibly cost anyone else on earth
| lie must near ana pAtleniiS cuIlntoNi
the never-en ending stream of complaints
growing out OF iealousies and ambitions
among his players and must, for the sake
OF the game, and In his own personal In
terests. maintain the esprit de corps oi
all members Of the team. Flo mus
listen To fault finding on the part OF tbs
men with the manager he has place.
over them and. acting as judge, must be
patient. impartial and just, insisting up
on proper Difference being paid to tht
official and at the same time requrns
the manager To be fair and reasonable II
his treatment Of players.
Magnates Have Troubles.
"Nor is the league official exempt
from Ills woes. As a magnate OF mag
mates he comes in for his tribulations
too He, also. is called upon 10 act a:
| buffer Indeed, that seems TO be hi:
special calling. He must not only stant
between the players and managers ant
magnates of his league, but II A mcmbe
of the commission, he must at times re
ceivc the Jots OF players and manager!
and magnates OF all the leagues, ma 10
and minor and what he does not learr
Of trouble in the politics. management
and playing OF the game. and in the ad
ministration OF discipline. he may find II
the hospital for the insane to which hi:
l trials are likely 10 drive him.
Concluding this plea for the baseball
magnate l ask, simply in the Interest,"
OF fair play, that When one feels in
clncd to bear down TOO hard on th'
man behind the club some consideration
he given 10 facts herein set forth: for
like that OF Mr.. Gibcrt's policeman. th'
lot OF baseball magnate>is not always
a happy one