Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-24
TOM LYNCH CAN
FEEL PROUD Of
HIS GOOD WORK
National League President Was
Not Given Fair Chance at Head
of Old Organization.
By Sam Crane.

nth Governor John K. Tener
w the next president of the
National League and Will
bert Robinson manager of the Su-
perbas, two old timers are again
brought together in baseball, and the
sport will be the better for it.
In the passing of Tom Lynch,
though, it will be well to give him
the credit that is his due. Under
circumstances and conditions thar
made it impossible for him to make
any new plans or to become force
full executive of prominence, still he
has filled the important office with
becoming dignity, much more so, III
fact. than some of the magnateS o.
the league have shown.
Harry Pulliam, by his personal
characteristics, made himself much
more prominent as president than did
either Nick Young or Tom Lynch,
but it is a question with me if the
latter did not give even more salts
faction and better results than did
the lamented Pulliam.
1t was Harry's disposition to get
into the spotlight and stay there. In
this he succeeded, but it is doubtful
if all the hurrah and excitement that
surrounded his regime was as bene-
fetal to the league and baseball as
Lynchs more quiet and sedate aC-
ministration.
johnson Has Full Power.
Ban Johnson has been foremost in
baseball and has made the American
League prominent not so much by his
force of character as because he was
made the real boss of the younger
sway and power.
There is a whole lot of difference
in being the president virtually for
life than from year to year, as was
Lynch. Under the same handicap ii
Is doubtful If Johnson could have
established the reforms that he has,
although l acknowledge that he is a
very smart person and the man for
the position. His personality has
lots to do with his success and that
Of the league, but possibly Lynch
would have branched out and in
stalled reforms had he been given the
swing-the power. But that was
never accorded him, and he felt thar
he was kept under the bushel ana
he remained hidden there.
I would have preferred to see
Lynch make regular visits to the
cities in his circuit and see person
ally how his umplres were doing
and that he failed to "mingle' as he
hIOulu nave WIN the cIuD OWHSIs
was held against him.
Took Things for Granted.
Lynch took it for granted that mis-
umpires could not be wrong. He was
elected president on that issue-and
nothing elSe-to straighten out the
umpire tangle, and was most consis7-
ent in supporting the fellows OF
whom he had been one in his early
days of the game.
He stuck to his umpires through
thick ana thin, and he can not be
blamed for that, possibly. 1t may
have resulted all for the best that he
did so, for if he had listened to all the
kicks made and released any of his
staff by reason of the fault found
with them, that would have been an
entering wedge that would have
meant chaos
The National League started wrong
by electlng its presidents for only
one-year terms. Good natured, easy
going Uncle Nick" Young, although
he was head of the organization fol
twenty years or more, was fearfuhy
afraid of strife, and he avoided it y
every opportunity. He was mere
figurehead; but, nevertheless, a dear
old soul who was completely wrapped
up in the National League and the
game.
League Has Prospered.
They say of Otis Crandall that he
would be twice over the valuable
player that he is if he would hold
MS head up'-that is, be more chesty.
And that has been the trouble with
Tom Lynch as president.
1t can be said of the latters ad-
mnistration, though. that the spot
has had its most, successful days un-
der it. He can look back to his term
Of office with pride and satisfaction,
Lynch did come to the front when
he Set his foot down against Horace
t,ogel and his scandalous talk. The
elimination of Fogel was one thing
that will stamp Lynch's regime as
historical and little less momentous
Tor the weIl-being of baseball than
When William A. Hurlbut, of Chicago, |
VINO, while president, stamped out
'rookedness by blackltsting those +
players who were found guilty of it. |
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