The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-05-21
CONNIE MACK TURNED
BIG LEAGUE METHODS
VERY TOPSY-TURV|LY
BY His System of Scouting For
Players, He Forced Employ
ment of Sleuths
HE WAS SHOWN UP ONCE
In 1906 He Depended Too Much
Upon His Veterans and
They Fell Short
HE WAS SHOWN UP ONCE

The public sits in admiration and
awe OF Connie Mack's worlds cham
pion Athletics. The team which hum.
bled the Giants in the worlds series
last fall Is universally conceded 10 be
one OF the very best aggregations pro-
duced In the history of the national
pasume Yet, in its veneration OF the
capability OF that wonderful machine.
the public is prone TO overlook the
genius of the man who fashioned 1t.
Connie Mack did not fall heir TO any
such collection Of stars. He had to dig
up each and every one of them. His
ultimate success Is but a tribute to his
foresight and rare judgment For in
mis- own unassuming. quiet way, Mack
has changed the business politics OF
the great organized profession. The
leader OF the Athletics was pioneer In
his way. He foresaw ten years ago
the great development to which this
sport would attain in a decade He
realized that each year II would be-
come more difficult to secure desired
talent through purchase and trade.
Before the rival managers ever dream.
ed OF paying serious attention TO the
scouting end OF the business, Connie
Mack had raked the minor organiza-
tions and colleges with fine tooth
comb.
No club in organized baseball has
such perfect scouting system as that
OF Connie Mack. He himself Is the
great chief of the sleuthing depart
ment and his is the final judgment He
Is tipped of TO more good green play
ers than any other three managers.
simply because his great network of
espionage was established before riv-
ais woke up to his wonderful advan.
tage.
Until Connie Mack entered the
major league field, managers looked
little further ahead than the tips of
their noses. They were content 10
dwell upon the present 20 far as re.
suits were concerned. Mack studied
the future. He planned fully five
years ahead. He looked the situation
squarely in the face. He saw in a star
not his present capability, but the day
when he must begin to pale and fade
He figured to have by that day some
newcomer to step into the declining
veterans shoes; and he always plan.
ned on having in his substitute a man
Aol hiOiC NdpdOlC III CNCIy
of the game.
Connie Mack was caught mapping
just once. That was in 1906. He was
fooled by his champion aggregation
Of 1906, the bunch that was so badly
shown up by the Giants. Mack over
estimated the period OF usefulness of
many OF his veterans. The series with
the Giants opeend his eyes to his mis-.
take. There was general house clean.
ing the following year. Then II was
that the willy Quaker set out in earn
est to develop almost single-handed
the great machine he now controls.
His case was similar to that OF Nc.
Graw. The gallant leader of the Polo
grounders was in identically the
same fix as Mack, though he did not
know II. Half the old champions OF
1905 had cracked on McGraw's hanrs
during the hot pennant pace. The
worlds series of that year gave Nc.
Graw no warning. A disastrous cam.
paign followed the next season. The
New York leader Immediately began
the wedding in the wonderful team
now at home In Brush stadium.
Job Printing Done Right. Time.
Printing Co... 10 John R-st.