The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-08
JEROME TRAVERS IS AMATEUR CHAMPION OF THE GOLF LINKS
Connie Mack Gives SeUen
 Reasons For His Failure
ASTUTE BASEBALL GENERAL DECLARES RED SOX ARE A BETTER TEAM-INJURIES AND AUTO RIDES AID DOWNFALL

Philadelphia, September 7-Connle Mack' the astute manager of the worlds cham pions of baseball, about to be deposed as such, today probably said his hrst and last word as to why the Athletics VIII not be the champions next season. Mack gives seven reasons for the defeat of the Athletics. Here they are:
 1. The Boston Red Sox is better team.
 ?. Certain Athletics failed to keep in proper condition.
 8. The failure of Cy Morgan, who is pitching semi-pro ball now.
 4. The young pitchers failed to fill in when most needed.
 5. The injury of Captain Danny Mur- phy in Chicago on June ?.
 6. The two weeks absence of Jack Barry at short.
 [. Claude Derrick's failure to make good during Barry's absence, because Derrlek was out of condition
 These are the seven reasons Mack gives, but he might add to them the fact that numerous of his players have been spoiled by their love for their recently acquired automobile and their joy rides. He could prove the assertion by pointing to the poor work of the Athletics at home, where they had their automobiles, and their fair work while away from home, when they could not use their autos
 ''Even had my team been in the plnk of condition" said Mack, "and playing the class of ball that won them the worlds championships in 1910 and 1911, II is doubtful to my mind whether they could have beaten out Bostons great team thls year We all have to take off our hats to Jake Stahl.
 1T never have made any excuses when beaten out for the pennant. It Is all fool ishness, for when team is beaten out that is all there is to it. There is such a thing as a club getting the worst breaks sometimes, but that is all in the game. If man gets hurt and is forced out of the game that's not his fault or the clubs either. We all have to run chances and if we get there it's all right and if we don't-well, it's not always our fault.
 T must say that had a couple of my men taken a little better care of them selves we might have been little closer to the Boston team today, but don't think for a moment I am trying to make any one think that we would have won the pennant.
 ..To say that the Red Sox are playing great ball is putting 1t mildly The kind of ball they played against us during the recent series was the biggest surprise 1 got this season. Every one of Stahls players has that snap with him that is bound to win games They have the fight ing spirit.
 Hike our once great asset the Red Sox nave acquired the knack of hitting when the necessity most calls for it, and this, with the fine outfield of Lewis, Speaker and Hooper, whose equal, for throwing at least cannot be found on any club in the country, accounts for the success of the team.
 'sThe chances of the Athletics were les- sended by our failure to get away to good start. This was hardly the fault Of tie players, as every one of our boys worked hard to get into condition. Still there was something wrong, and l nave Failed to find out what it Is.
 Ut is always natural that certain men show a certain lack of ambition, but there are six men on the Athletics with whom there is no fault to be found. l am not referring to pitchers now, but to the reg ular fielders.
 "These boys have not faltered in any way since joining the team. They al ways have given the hardest in them, and have worked hard when things looked worst.
 "Yet, at some time this season nearly every one of them had been unable to play. In several instances they have been working on their nerve.
 "Plank and Coombs have done every thing that has been expected of them in the pitching line. Coon.b< while slightly behind Planks record, has pitched splen- did ball, and before the season ends 1 eX- poet them to be up among the league leaders in pitching. Coombs' condition right now is better than it has been all season, while Plank is every bit as good lite r,,fd fdra