Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-24
CAN SLUMP OF ATHLETICS
BE DUE TO MATRIMONY?
Connie Mack Reported as Having Such a
Belief, and Other Authorities
Concur in the Theory.

strated that the married men in base
ball are better average hitters than sim
gle men. He says he took twenty mar
ried men and twenty unmarried men. and
the result showed that the Benedicts bat
around $3.50. while the unmarried wobble
along at .235.
Best Pitchers Mostly Benedicts.
SO it is with pitching and fielding
The figures showed that the married
twirlers have won a percentage of their
games almost double that Of the unmar-
red slabmen. AS for fielding, the Bene-
diets are SO far ahead Of the baches
that it would be shameful to mention the
, figure.
OF course. matrimony has stolen some
celebrities from the game altogether, the
real noteworthy cases being those OF
Bill Lange, who quit at the height OF
his glory and married California girl!
and our own Mike DOnlin, who vamoosed
the diamond when he married Miss Hite
and embarked with her on his histrionic
career. Then again matrimony has gwen
several men to the game who We're more
or less useless during their single ca
reers. but who steadied down with mar
riage and became the players that ma
ture intended.
This profound discussion Of matrimony
sheds no valuable light upon Connie
Macks situation at the end OF that col,
uIIlU III tTle AIucIfCdu A0d6uC eSCS "
course. He says. according to his In
terviewer. that he is handicapped by bride
grooms. and lie probably doesn't care
what any one thinks to the contrary. The
or even the blithe Hughey probably con.
tain no interest to the perturbed CHIEF
Of the Athletics.
II They Looked Like Collins.
1t might be diverting. however. to learn
the ideas OF Bill Dahlen, Bobby Wallace
and Fred Tenney. They would likely be
willing to- accept all the bridegrooms
they could get hold of II they look any
thing like Eddie Collins.
Marriage is the rule rather than the
exception among bali players nowadays.
A majority Of the good clubs Of the ma,
jor leagues are what might be termed
married clubs-that is. most OF the play
ers work In double domestic harness.
They are not bridegroous. Of course, and
have been married such time that they
which base ball demands to the game
itself without their minds wandering
homeward the while they make errors.
and don't make base hits. as is said to
be the case with the Athletics.
Connie was perhaps in 3ocuiar mood
when he issued the bridegroom interview;
it Is hardly likely to be accepted RS a
serious solution of the Athletics tobog-
gan slide. What about a little lack OF
condition? What about a little Of that
bad luck which sometimes pursues the
best ball teams?
No Names; They're Married Men.
Many a manager even prefers that his
ball players be married, and encourages
them to the best of his ability. They be-
neve 1t does the player good. And they
don't care whether he gets married in
June, July or August. Other managers
would just as soon their men would stay
clear of family ties, but it would be un-
fair to print their names, because they
are married themselves. and they might
have to do lot of explaining around
home.
However. all this is depression from the
all-important question: What is Connie
Mack to do?
We give 1t I'D.