Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-21
BY J. ED GRILLO.

System undoubtedly means much in
base ball Players who are failures
under one manager often develop
into stars under another. There are
innumerab BILE instances of this. and as
might be expected the manager who
improves his players also has a win
ner
Take Ira Thomas of the Athletics for
instance He was nothing more than
an ordinary catcher when Mack got
him Both Clarke Griffith and Hugh
jennings tried him and found him
wanting and yet under Mack he be-
came one Of the leading catchers OF
the country.
Briscoe Lord of the same team was
never star with any other club, but
under Mack he has proven most val
liable individual.
The St Louis Cardinals have three
ball players, and they are perhaps
Bresnahan's most valuable men, who
were turned down by Clarke Griffith.
Higgins, MoWry and Cakes are doing
much TO keep that team in the Ma
tlonal League race. and yet they We're
not good enough for Cincinnati.
The manager who simply lets his
ball players do the best they can
without ever making an effort TO i'm
prove them cannot expect to be cut
ting any figure in pennant race.
velop it makes winning teams. The
mere sitting on the bench and direct
ing teams play does not require
ability or bring success. No manager
can win without material but great
deal depends on what he makes out of
the players he has under him. Play
ers like Collins. Baker, Oldring and
others on the Philadelphia list were
fortunate TO get started under man
like Mack. for he undoubtedly is re-
sponsible for their success.
Detroit is again on a fair way 10 show
its superiority over the other western
teams and if ii makes anything near as
good a showing against them during the
present series the Athletics Will have a
hard time catching the Tigers for a
while. If there IS such thing as class
telling in the long run there is no way
to beat the Athletics. Mack has a
stronger team than Jennings. for the rea-
son that he has one Of the strongest
pitching STATS, and this advantage is sure
10 tell in long campaign Only the
great lead the Tigers got during the first
month of the season has made il possible
for them 10 lead the race. Had the two
teams got even start tile Athletics
would now be far in front
From a spectators standpoint the De-
troit team is by far the best TO see III
action. Jennings team always does
something sensational, principally be-
cause Cobb is member of it. There i
more dash and spirit displayed by the
Tigers than any Of their rivals. and Jen-
nings' coaching contributes much - tins.
But il is going t. be no easy matter To
keep the Athletics from passing Detroit,
Mack'S team is playing most consistent
ball now, aud II will be hard 10 stop
This will probably prove the most dis
astrouS year III Col. Hedges base bali
career With his Browns in last place
and showing no signs Of emerging from
that unenviable position. and his rival
club the Cardinals, making a desperate
effort 10 break into the first division in
the National League. public interest Is
naturally not centefed in the american
League race in st. Louis. and the result
is that the attendance at Col Hedges
park is down To the minimum. On the
other hand. this is the most successful
year the St. Louis National League club
has ever had The money is Just rolling
into Mrs. Britton, the club owner and
there is. therefore. not much Of A chance
Of her disposinG of her interests which
may mean that for the first time IN ha Sc
bah history a woman will attend the
meetings of the league.
OF the numerous and varied excuses
that have been handed ont to explain the
low standing of the Nationals the latest
is that the team Went stale while in
training al Atlanta. There may or may