The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-10-21
From Shoe Shop
 To Baseball Boss
Career of Connie Mack Who Makes Stars Out of Un-
 known Players

Brooklyn, Oct. M.-Twenty-seven years ago, when Providence was still on the baseball map, Cornelius Me Gillicuddy was at work in New England shoe shop. Baseball was his recreation. He determined to make his living on the diamond, and nam ed a day when he would quit. The time came and his boss asked him to stay another week and help take stock
 .Tve worked my last day in a shoe shop" declared Cornelius. He for got the remark, but this summer the man who had worked at the next bench reminded him of it-an by way of contrast. Mack was showing his old friend the Athletics ball park in Philadelphia-a plant that cost a half million dollars. A quarter interest in the enterprise belongs to Manager Mack
 After ten years in the National Lea que, two of which he managed the Pittsburg team and failed - Mack ''went to the minors" But it was his own choice.
 1T realized that I had a whole lot to learn about the game itself,' he ex- plained, land everything to learn about the business end of baseball. I got what needed in Milwaukee" And Mack "canie back''-tos manage the new American League club in Phlia- delphia; this was in 1901.
 When John J. McGraw leads the Giants on the field in the worlds ser phant embroidered on the sleeves of the blue jackets worn by the Athlet- ics, and if ''Muggsy'' has sense of humor he will smile-at himself. In 1902, to square himself with the pub lie for deserting the American league in mid-season, McGraw opined that the young major league was on its last legs, and that Mack had a white ele- phant" on his hands in the Athletics. This was hitting below the belt, for the courts enjoined Lajoie, Flick and three pitchers from playing with the Philadelphia Americans. Undaunted, Connie Mack rallied his men and won the pennant-won it with the White Elephant!
 The big hole at second, left by La joie, Mack plugged up with Danny Murphy, now playing right field for the Athletics. Danny cosh Mack a. thousand dollars. and that was a heavy investment then. Or since then! Mack to-day has an infield that is rated the best in. the business. OToole cost Pittsburgh $22,500 in real money. Bearing the baseball market, Mack s infelders would bring at least one
 
 they cost?
 "They didn't cost me nickel said Connie Mack. "I got them young and green-Collins and Barry just out of college, Baker from the Tri-State, and McInnis off the lots. All of them learned the game with the Athletics"
 Collins and Barry signed their first contracts with the Athletics. A next friend" had to sign for McInnis. He was only seventeen! Mack gave five young players to Reading in trade for Baker. And then he helped the man. ager of the Reading club to sell the five youngsters for $500; incidentally Mack advised him to get out of the baseball business. The manager did and his successor lost $7,0O0 the next season
 But my friend put that $5,50o in- to house and lot,' said Mack "He and his wife call it the Connie Mack home" That gives Cornelius McGil- licuddy more real joy than comes to Connie Mack over the success of Ba- Ter.
 Macks pitching staff is famous. His three mainstays didn't cost him a cent Bender he got from Carlisle. Plank from Gettysburg and Coombs from Colby college. Danforth, a young ster who has saved several games this season, comes from bush league col lege in Texas. Mack picks up youngs- ters and makes stars of them-and there's an exception that proves the rule. It is Lefty Russell, an lex ploded phenom."
 "He cost me in money and players $16,500." admitted Mack, with a grin.
 Russell was to be second Rube Waddell I always say that if I hadn't seen him pitch myself, I never would have bought him. In explanation. Many of the youngsters come to the Athletics on the say-so of scouts or many friends. Of the great infield, Baker is the only player Mack saw in action before his name was signed to a contract.
 You can afford to take a chance on a youngster when he doesn't cost you anything" said Mack