The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-12-17
Highlanders' Future Boss at
Same Crossroads Senator
Leader Was
GRIFF MANAGED YANKS
WHEN THEY WE'RE GOOD
Wild Pitch by Chesbro Lost
Pennant for Clark and
Highlanders

Frank Chance Is at the crossroads
al which Clark Grifith arrived jusi
this time last year
Will "the Husk' weather the storm
and come through as triumphantly al
The "Oid Fox?''
miserable failure as a National League
manager, turned his attention tc
Washington. where he Is part own
er. II was announced at the league
meeting that Grinith would handle
the Senators during 1912 and the base
Lall world took loud. long laugh.
Chance IL coming to the American
league. the New York Highlanders
with trumpets blowing and the base
ball bugs confident that the junior
league will come into its own In The
metropolis for the hrst time since
1904.
Strange to say 1t was Clark GrIt
hth who managed the IIighlanders
he last time New York was repre-
sented by a good ball team in the
American league.
Griff deserved to win the pennsni
in 1904, but tough luck pursued him
throughout the season. and the pen
nant was lost on the last day OF lie
season, which Is some tougher.
On this day double-header was
scheduled between New York and Bos-
ton. II was necessary for Boston 10
. win but one game to cinch the pen
nant, while the Highlanders had 10
cop both to come out on top.
Jack Checbro pitched the first gamc
for the Highlanders and was schedul.
ed TO work both ends II he was sue
cessfully and he was going in Won
first pitcher to use, the spitbalI sue
cessfuily and he wa going IN won.
derful manner at that time. The
league record for games won by a
pitcher was hung up by Chesbro In
1904 and the mark has never been
reached before or since by an Amer:
can league twirler.
Jack had Boston shooting ducks for
seven innings and showed no sisrs
OF weakening. but his support wdb
bled and Collins men tied the score
The teams battled on until the tenth
| inning, when with Freddy Parent n
third and two men out, ChesbIo' s
splitter became unruly and he heayed
wild pitch to the stand.
That wild pitch won the pennant
| for Boston and proved the undoing OF
Grifith In the metropolis. Ii killed
| Jack Chesbro as a twirler. as he was
never the same after that severe
strain, while Grin went to the bad aud
gave many exhibitions of weird man.
agerial ability. He took a chance and
made trades which looked good on
paper, but which turned out to be
Gokes
But when all is said ard done II
seems as though lack of pitchers cost
Grin his American leagne prestige. a
condition which again cropped out In
Cincinnati
II ever manager made deals which
turned out worse for his club II is
hard TO ind that man. Everything
Grin did went wrong Any time he
made trade he helped build up some
other club while his own club was
weakened considerably.
Finally the worm turned and G-iff
hoped out of Cincinnati and into
the capital The start of the season
found the Senators much improved
team, but still Il looked TO be but a
eecond division club.
Grin gDt the bunch working right
and to the surprise of the baseball
world, 19 consecutive games were won
before John Franklin Bakers big bat
lifted one over the wall at Shibe Park
and broke the streak.
Had II not been for that one wallcr
u Baker II Is hard to figure just where
the Senators would have stopped, be
cause this ninth-inning wallop took
the heart out OF Griff's mel and they
dropped 10 out of the next IL games
which put the Red Sox out in front
never to be headed.
Griftith brought the Senators from
seventh place TO second, positioi
they were never known to occupy, and
right now Grin does not have to take
q back seat In the capital city eyeu
with the president OF the Uni'ed
States about.
Chances predicament was exactly
The opposite to that OF Grlffith. Tho
lormer Cub leader was a success right
from the start and won four Nati.Lal
league championships and two worlds
championship In eight years as man
sger.
His great success in the Windy City
earned for MIN the title OF Peerless