Evening journal., 1912-09-12
LEADERS OF
The NATIONAL
NCGFaw, Clarke and Chance
Are Stur6y Generals
Of the Age
AVE BEEN CHAMPS
SINCE 1901 SEASON


whatever their personal preindices'
yates and shortcomings IN general IT
.annot be denied that John J. Nc
5raw. Frank Chance and Fred Clarke
are the three sturdy musketeers Of
the National League. Ned Hanlon
nav have been a bear in his day. and
he surely proved it in his pennant
trust activities in Baltimore and
Brooklyn. But Ned has passed 70 the
great beyond as an approved leader
Of modern baseball machinery and IN
his venerable decline must don bis
sap to The little brotherhood Of three
who for the past 12 years have had
he National League pennant policy
al to themselves.
Fred Clarke is the veteran Of the
trio. and holds the record OF pennant
achievement. Since 1901 his club has
oever finished below the first division,
and in that time the Buccaneers have
annexed four flags and one worlds
pennant. Pittsburgh vonsthree gon-
falcons in row, beginning In 1901
Then New York broke in for two
successes in 1904 and 1905, respect
lvelv. McGraw, a newcomer In the
National League. had begun to make
bis presence felt But his old team
crumbled up after their second
straight victory in 1905. Then came
Mr.. Chance. the peerless leader, and
nresent thorn in the side Of Manager
John J. McGraw. of Gotham. He but
ted into the limelight in 1906 with q
record run of 116 victories for the
season. and though he won very
humiliating trimming at the hands OF
his neighbors, the White SoX, that
fan in the worlds series, he never
theless engineered such an array OF
talent together that the gathering OF
three pennants and two worlds cham
nionships the following seasons was
simply a matter Of form.
The peerless leader fell down on
the Job In 1909, losing to Pittsburgh
which in turn cheated the Detroit
Tigers out Of their third straight bid
Tor a worlds championship. the Cubs
having turned the trick in 1907 and
1908. MoGraw. who has always been
there or thereabouts, was quite pew
ed by this time He had been knock
/ ine about for a team Of young blood.
rllt made a gallant bid IN 1910. but was
vlo' quite seasoned enough, and when
81 Pirates fell by the wayside In the
dx otch run. old "Husk" Chance and
- 2earcats we're found showing the
-. ,,.->to the field on a comfortable
- gin. a grim satisfaction that had
ome Of its edges taken OF when the
aletics walloped the wadding out Of
t'eae same Cubs IN the annual world g
series unpleasantness.
NcGraw was ready last year,
though His youngsters had Just the
proper seasoning, and when the Cub
pitcher went 20 pieces and old Hans
Wagner broke an ankle, little john
nv's Giants nosed out Chicago and
Pittsburgh for the pennant, raised at
Coogan's blum few days ago. That,
ladies' and gentlemen, Is n brief synop-
sis Of the lives and accomplishments
Of the Three Little Musketeers of the
National League
McGraw deserved some luck after
the manner IN which rude technicality
thwarted his pennant ambitions In
1e0S. There was pennant earned
II ever valor deserved reward But
be didn't get it--no, not az all. Curses
on YOU. Johnny Evers. That regretful
year. by the way. proved one Of the
most striking illustrations Of the real
class OF the Big Three in the Ma
tionai League II was a nip-and-tucb
drive down the stretch among the
New York. Chicago and Pittsburgh
teams. with the prospect Of a posi-
BILE triple tie Had the New York'
lost one Of their games in the las
series with Boston and then heater
the Cubs in the famous play-off. th'
three clubs would have had identi
cally the same standing. and a three
cornered- -play-of would have beer
necessary, with possibly no world
series that year. When this possi
bility arose. Fred Clarke had already
disbanded his club. but he gamely is
sued a call for his forces to be n
readiness TO accept the issue If It be
came necessary.
That 1908 episode Is responsible 70
hi TIC IAnOOI indl Mdo IuuA alAIAAa
the attitude Of New York to Chicag,
and vice versa this campaign. Chanc
and McGraw are sworn enemies
Clarke is a rival Of each--a feared
yet respected rival. With both Nc
craw and Chance his relations ar
friendly, vet he will fight either o
both al the drop of the hat. Their
is no such thing as favoritism in hi
makeup. II he cannot win the per
nant himself. he will do everythin
in his power to have the best club vii
Clarke is a general without any alibi
He accepts fate as It comes withol
murmur. But for a lot OF toue
luck he would have won several mol
pennants within the past few yea
that fell to New York and Chicag
He has always had his share Of tous
luck. Many believe he would ha'
rosed out New York last year hi
Wagner not been hurt Just at q
height OF a winning spurt that p
Clarke within striking distance Of {
~pacemakers. He has a good club Il
ryear, the best staff OF pitchers in {
league, but he has too many old m
on his stan 70 stand the gaff, II
believed. II Clarke only had at 1T
more speed IN his array what a ma
velous collection II would be.
MAT0Vr RPATg pvtN