Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-15
Big League Managers Vary In
Their Methods And Successes
Star Players Are Hard to Purchase and Leaders Must Develop
Their Own Material in Most Instances - idelghs on
Some of the Masters OF Baseball

v -
Baseball fans often wonder why a
! manager with plenty of money cant
huy up the star players In the weaker
teams II would seem that the less
pecunious magnates ought to be more
than willing to sell few high-priced
men now and then and develop new
ones, but quite the contrary is true
In 1910. we are told, when the Wash
ington team was one of the weakest In
the American League, Hugh Jennings
of the Detroit Tigers decided to buy
Pitcher Walter Johnson and Catcher
Street He knew he was going to
the two would help him win 1t. He
called Washington on the telephone,
and asked II Johnson and Street we're
Cor sale, and the man at the other end
CT the wire promptly told him that
they were not Jennings offered $780,
COO, then SIS, 900, then $4,000, and the
Washington magnate Just laughed.
Street was a good catcher. but Jen-
nings was really after Walter Johnson.
He wanted him so badly that he would
have readily given up $4,000 for him
GtQuC. uC kl1CA0OAAL - RAOOA th0t 6OO4
seneralship. and not large bank &C
count. is what usually makes a good
ball team And some additional EVIL
dence bearing upon the same fact is
contained in an article signed by
Christy Mathewson, the famous Giant
pitcher. and published in the New.
York American. Some OF the news
papers have been saying lately that
most of the articles appearing under
the names of baseball players and
managers are whipt into shape by
trained reporters. It is said that
Is MattY'' signs articles written by
Charles ~ Wheeler, perhaps Just as
some of the worlds famous noyelists
used to sign books which they out
Lined, but did not actually write. Who
ever the author, he gives us more evil
dence Of the fact that the building up
OF good team usually depends nlore
upon the manager than upon the size
of the magnate's purse:
Griffith Original.
Grifith's style is peculiar to himself.
He makes changes for which not even
ball players can figure out the reason.
| l doubt II "Griff" has any reason in
mind himself, sometimes, but he al
Ways. wants it known he Is an au-
thority. He is the absolute boss Of
his players. and in this resembles Me-
Graw somewhat Griffith is also
great fighter, and one to keep after
the umpire IL he does not think he Is
getting q square deal On the field,
Griffith Is one Of the finest men In
baseball, but frequently. in the excite
lment--Of -tf1 ssasze, Ne viii talix n .
whine which is very Irritating 70 the.
young player.
''Griff" is great man to get out on.
the coaching lines and try to rattle the
opposing pitcher, especially II he Is a
youngster. They tell story Of how
he tried to shake the heart of Grover
Cleveland Alexander. the sensational.
twirler OF the Philadelphia club, the
| first year he was in the league. Grit
fth got after Alexander the first time
he started against the REDS, expecting
to scare the youngster cut of the pitch
ing box.
Now, boys" he began. lets get to
this busher right away so that he.
won't waste any time thinking he is
a Big Lacquer"
Alexander, 1t is said, just looked
over at Griffith, smiled. and said:
Hire hall.
The game was a tight one. and
Mike Mitchell was coming to the bat
with a man on second base along in
the eighth inning
Now, Mike" said Griffith. "this is
the time to make display of the
busher Mop up the bases.
Alexander turned and walked out of
the box and over to third base, where
Griffith was coaching.
Listen" he told Griffith, your pat
ter annoys me. I'm going to show UP
that big boob at the bat. You say
he has a reputation as hitter. Well,
they don't come too high for me. The
higher they are the further they fall.
Alexander then struck Mitchell out.
Griffith tried to get after me one aft
ernoon several years ago, and attempt
ed to talk me out of the game. But
never answer back. This coaching
conversation does not bother me. 1t
was Immediately after the time Crit
filth attempted to worry me that i
took twenty-five games in succession
from the Cincinnati club, and Griffith
win, first base; Low, second base;