The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-01-02
= = = = q = 9 Q O Q 9 9 q
WHY is CONNIE MACK?
BY Henry Beach Needham.

Twenty seven years ago, whe1
Providence was still on the baseball
map, Cornelius McGillicuddy was al
work in a New England shoe shop
Baseball was his recreation. He de-
termined to make his living on the
diamond. and named q day when he
would quit. The time came and his
boss asked him to stay another week
and help take stock
| I've worked my last day in a shoe
shop" declared Cornelius He forgot
| the remark, but this summer the man
who had worked at the next bench
reminded him of it-all by the way of
| contrast. Mack was showing his old
! friends the Athletics ball park in
Philadelphia plant that cost a half
million dollars. A quarter interest in
the enterprise belongs to Manager
| Mack.
After ten years in the National
league, two of which he managed the
Pittsburg team-and failed-Macl1
went to the Minors But it was his
own choice.
1 realized that had a whole lot to
| learn about the game itself" he ex-
planned, and everything to learn
| about the business end of baseball. [
got what 1 needed In Milwaukee"
And Mack came back'-to manage
the new American league club in
Philadelphia; this was in 1901.
When John J. McGraw led the
Giants on the field in the worlds
series he did not overlook a white ele-
plant embroidered on the sleeves OF
the blue jackets worn by the Athletics
and "Muggsy," who has sense of
humor. must have snarled-at him
self. In 1902, to square himself with
the public for deserving the American
league in mid-season. McGraw opined
that the young major league was on
its last legs, and that Mack had a
white elephant on his hands in the
Athletics. This was hitting below the
belt, for the courts enJoined Laioie.
Flick and three pitchers from PLAYING
with the Philadelphia Americans. I'm
daunted, Connie Mack rallied his men
and won the pennant-won it with the !
White Elephant!
The big hole at second left by Ia
Joie, Mack plugged up with Danny |
Murphy, now playing right field for |
the Athletics Danny cost Mack
$1,000, and that was a heavy invest
ment then, or since then. Mack TODAY
has an infield that is rated the best in
the business. O'TooIe cost Pfttsb,1rg /
$22, 800 in real money. Bearing the /
baseball market Macks infielders
would bring at least 100000 What
did they cost?
They didn't cost me a nickel" said
Connie Mack. Il got them young and
green-Collins and Barry, juts out of
college, Baker from the Tri-State. and
McInnis off the lots. All of them
learned the game with the Ath-
letics"
Collins and Barry signed their first
contracts with the Athletics. A next
friend had to sign for McInnis. He
was only H. Mack gave five young
players to Reading in trade for Baker.
And then he helped the manager of
the Reading club to sell the five II
youngsters for $500; incidentally. Il
Mack advised him to get out of the
baseball business. The manager did. II
and his successor lost 81 1000 the next II
sea- SON. il
But my friend put that $500 into
4 house and lot said Mack. He and II
his wife call it the Connie Mack H
home" That gives Cornelius McGf-
icuddy more real joy than comes to
Connie Mack over the success of 4
Baker.
Maek's pitching staff is famous. His
three mainstays didn't cost him
cent. Bender he got from Carlisle. |
Plank from Gettysburg and Coombs
rom Colby college Danforth, a
zoungtser who saved several games
asst season, comes from a bush league
college in Texas.
Mack picks up youngsters and
makes stars of them-and there's an
exception that proves the rule. 1t is
Lefty" Russell, an exploded phe-
lom.'
He cost me in money and players
16,6oo," admitted Mack with a. grin.
Russell was to be a second Rube
always say that if I'll
hadn't seen him pitch myself I never
would have bought him.
Of the great infeld, Baker is the
My player Mack saw in action be-
ore his name was signed TO a con-
ract.
You can afford to take a chance on a
youngtser when he doesn't cost YOU /
nythfng," said Mack 3
: