Evening star., 1911-08-29

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
PHILADELPHIA August eo.-1n these
days, when minor leagues are Ike A'ad-
dins lamp. with star players the genii
to drag the large and luscious wacs from
the pouchy and persuasive major league
magnates it IS strange 10 turn from this
commercial contemplation and see four-
hundred -thousand-dollar infield that cost
its owner few par.cr-oar tickets. several
players Of poor caliber and a little cash.
Four hundred thousand-dola infield.
you state. Where the deuce is that?
Well, Connie Mack says that the Messrs
McInnes. Collins. Barry and Baker could
not be purchased for $4,000 each. al
though he cheerfully admits that nobody
in his sane mind would make any such
offer
The American League at least. holds
no quartet that, for combined excel ence
in the various departments of the game,
compares for moment with the notables
who guard the inner sanctum for McGil-
licu6dy.
The west has been taken by the ears
by the work of the young men, Even
such an anti-Mack parsonage as Hugh
Fullerton states that in no league Is
the young men of McGillicuddy.
Connie Tells of Their Start.
In view Of the admitted worth of these
four stars who form the in.fe!d dadem,
it is interesting to find out when fate
first knocked at their door to have each
and every one OF them enter the gigantic
field of the great national pastime.
This little tale will deal with starting
points, and not with careers, and Connie
Mack himself will narrate the circum-
stances of signing the four stalwarts who
comprise the youngest, slickest infie.d in
the country. the infieid with the greatest
OF future prospects.
Rounding the paths one starts with Nc
Innes' advent into the coral of Cornelius.
"A friend Of mine. said the tall tactician,
named Tom Madden, kept telling me
about a little SQUAD down in Gloucester,
who was the fastest thing in shoe leather
and a real bear cat all the way through.
I told Madden to go ahead and sign this
wonder and bring him up to Boston when
we played there till l got a squint at
him.
'Tll never forget the time I first saw
little Mac. He looked about as big as
schooner Of beer. had little cap perch
ed on his head, and l laughed at him.
Honestly, / thought he was Jockey
/ never suspected that he was ball
player. But as long as he was signed
took the chance.
well. little Mac kept improving with
the Dat, ndQ plenty Oh sense LII Lfidt
noodle Of his, but 1 couldn't make an
inaelder out OF him. that Is. a short
stop, or one of the other sackers. But
couldn't let his hitting get away from
me- l wanted to make an outfielder Of
him, but I had q happy thought. Down
south. after the regulars left, 1 tod
Stuffy to go on. first every chance that
he got and see what he could do. So he
always grabbed the glove and was out
there in minute
Right off the bat I saw that IL he
was going to play anywhere regularly
we would have to make first baseman
out Of him. Harry Davis had the same
l1unch, and that's how little Mac came
to be on the first sack. Now, l wouldn't
swap him for anybody who is playing
the game: anybody within reason. OF
course He knows more about playing
the base now than anybody among the
kids and has learned to use that one
hand. If a first sacker can't use his
glove alone he won't ever do on that
spot Well. so much for Stuffy.
rolls~e