Evening star., 1912-09-10
CLARKE SAYS WAGNER WOULD
MAKE GOOD AS A MANAGER
Pirate Boss Finds Bench Duty Irksome- Says
Rube Wadden Was Greatest Pitch
er He Ever Batted Against.

ST LOUIS. September 1O.-"Is there
tire at the close of the present campaign,
and what do you know about the rumor
that Hans Wagner will replace you as
manager of the Pirates?' was asked Fred
Clarke. the veteran leader OF the Pitts
burgh Pirates.
MY contract with the Pittsburgh club
expires this year." replied Clarke. with
merry twinkle in his eye, land I've got
nice ranch out in Kansas to back up on
any time I get ready. 1 think the time
for a base ball man to retire is when the
going is good. I've had nothing but sue
cess for twelve years; the idea of hanging
on until they kick you out as player and
manager l don't like. However, my fu-
ture depends entirely on the Pittsburgh
management. If they want me back next
year and pay the price, I'll have to give
up that farming idea. As for Wagner.
you can say for me that Hans is one OF
the squarest guys in the world and one OF
my best friends He's a smart ball man,
too. He'd make good as manager, sure
as shooting. At least, l feel that way
about it,
Boosts Wagner for Job.
IF Pittsburgh don't care to pay me my
price I'd like to see Wagner get the job.
He's got the stuff in him to manage a
ball team. Wagner has always been a
smart ball player and no private in the
ranks ever had more friends than good
old Honus. All the boys like him and
would play their heads off for the Flying
Dutchman.'
I'm glad 1 inaugurated my base ball
GER said Clarke, because ! doubt very
much il l ever would have gotten off sue
cessfully as a bench manager.
Although it may not be apparent to
the spectator in the stand, big league
leader in uniform playing regular po-
sition on the field has a tremendous ad-
vantage over the man who is running a
team from the bench. At least, I found
1t that way.
Il managed the Pittsburgh team from
left field for twelve years. and during
that time the club was never out Of the
first division. We also won a few pen
nants. captured one worlds series from
Detroit and lost a worlds series to
Jimmy Collins Boston Americans
Harder to Manage From Bench.
This year felt that l was due to slow
up. and benched myself / thought it
would be just as easy to manage the
team from the bench but it hasn't proved
so, and if ! hadn't been schooled and
thoroughly experienced in all the fine
points of the game l think l would have
made the biggest 'bloomer' of my career.
Bench managers see too much. That
may seem an absurd statement. but it's
fact, nevertheless Bench leaders are al
ways 'bawling the men for 'bonehead'
plays. l felt myself doing it this year
twice as hard as l ever did when in the
game. A player who is in the game every
day can't help pulling a Barry now and
then. He realizes hYs mistake, sometimes
when it's too late to put on the brakes.
Your average bench manager will never
condone an ivory stunt: whereas the
playing manager knows that ne makes
'em himself occasionally, and Is more apt
TO excuse a player guilty Of an error OF
omission That's why / say bench man.
ager sees too much sometimes for his
own good.
Ball players are as temperamental as
grand opera singers. The least thing
will upset EN-, make 'em sulk in their
tents. chuck 1t up and play indifferently.
The men have to be handled with gloves;
some have to be driven, others require
coaxing. And the playing manager who
is in the game every day has decided
advantage over the gent who must run
his ball team from the, bench.
Waddell Greatest Pitcher.
Clarke is one of the greatest batsmen
the game ever produced. For years and
years he hit 800 and over. He was 300
batsman with Louisville fifteen years
ago. and he hit 800 for Pittsburgh last
year.
Who was the greatest pitcher you
| ever batted against" inquired the writer
of Sir Frederick
''Rube Waddell," replied Clarke. He
had more speed than any pitcher I've
ever faced. That goes for 'em all, from
Amos Rusie down. and Big Amos was
some pitcher. Contrary to the general
impression, Rusie was not a speed mer-
chant / know dozen big leaguers of
RuSia,s dav uha had more sneed than