The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-09

worlds series in 190e-07-0s McGraw
hopes to achieve equal pcnnant h )nors
this year. for he has two straight anu
easy successes behind him and u team
which appears the class OF the field
Back in 1904 McGraw started a ran
that threatened Clarke's record. Pen
nants in 1904 and 1906 were supple
mented by a worlds series from tn
Athletics the latter season. New York
started out in 1906 top heavy favor
ties in the National League. But that
season the mighty Chance. in his first
managerial trial with the famous
Cubs. reeled off 116 victories, the
greatest showing In professional base
ball since 1t had become a national in
stitution. Luck played into Chances
hands at the expense of McGraw. who
finished as low as fourth for the only
time of his wonderful career. Mathew
son suffered an attack of diphtheria.
Bresnahan was seriously injured by a
pitched ball; Mike Donlin's leg was
broken, and any other number of pro-
voking injuries and illnesses devel
oped TO thwart the ambitions OF Nc
Graw.
So the Giant leader stands to-day
where he left off in 1905.
Only he is in much better position
to weather the combined attack OF his
Then his champion array
was comprised of a collection CT fast
falling veterans; now he has the
youngest and speediest collection OF
known to the game. Then he
had u buck both Chance and Clarke.
Now only the wonderful commander
Of the Corsairs remains. Chance has
gone over to the New York strong
hold Of the American League. leaving
to Johnny Evers, his successor in
Chicago. a team that is but the shadow
of the one-time Cub invincibles.
Let us investigate then. the worthy
foemen of McGraw Fred Clarke. the
Kansas ranchman. He has completed
his thirteenth year IL the helm OF the
Pirate craft, and in the past cam
paign showed far more consistent form
than even the Polo grounds champions
In thirteen years Clarke amassed four
remnants, four second places and a
tie for another, three thirds, and one
fourth. Clarke took charge of Pitts
burgh in 1902 and finished second. The
next year he tore loose and ripped the
organization all to pieces, returning
three straight winners. McGraw's
star then began the ascendant, and the
great general of Smoke Town was
forced into a back seat for a spell. In
the nine years since Pittsburgh and
Boston battled for the first worlds
pennant under the prevailing organized
baseball government, Fred Clarke has
won only one pennant. That fell TO
him in 1909. when he showed his most
successful season by winning 10 vic
tories. That year also he beat De-
troit after a very hard fght of seven
engagements for the worlds cham
pIonship. But IN all that time Fred
Clarke was never disgraced. Only
once did he finish as poorly as last
among the first four clubs.
When IL appeared as if Fred Clarke
had designs upon organizing a pen
nant trust among Hans Wagner and
his other pals, there arose a mighty
McGraw to check the presumption. And
when, in turn, McGraw began to aspire
along similar lines. Frank Chance
sprang into prominence. Thus came
into being the Great Three which
proved an ideal combination for the
parent major body. Each of the three
checkmated the others so that the bal
ance of power kept wavering about.
Honors passed back and forth con-
stantly. as it were, with no one city
"bagging- the laurels, and all three
New York. Chicago and Pittsburgh
very much in the limelight at all
times.
OF the three great National League
managers. Clarke, on account of his
length OF service. must be awarded
the palm, though both McGraw and
Chance have shown better averages in
shorter experiences In thirteen years
Clarke has won 1901, and lost 732
games. for a grand average OF .s21.
No other big manager has won 1000
games. McGraw is closest. with 956
victories for ten years Opposed to
the winnings are $50 defeats, which
produce a record OF .632. In seven
years Chance has won IA and lost
but 3ss, developing the wonderful
average speed Of .667. In other words,
he won two out Of every three games
played.
regretted that Frank Chance was
forced 70 discontinue his lebors with
the Cubs. il would have been inter-
esting Indeed to see him shoot away
az Clarkc's record for thirteen years
Chance may do greater things IN New
1rk than he die in Chicago. but the
way OF direct comparison TO the
abilities % his two erstwhi!e respect
d contemporaries will have been lost
u seems safe 10 say. however. that
. Is very doubtful II any league will
ever boast again three such wonder
fui managers as Pred Clarke. John
McG-aw and Frank Chance. They
have won more games than any tho
q any time. In an aggregate % thirty
seasons the Big Three" bagged ISL
victories out % ISIS played. showing
a total percentage 81 approximately
SO. They have registered consider
ably over three victories out % every
dvc starts. IL viii be interesting 90
note the duel between McGraw and
Clarke now that the common rival
Prank Chance. has looked upon new
heics Of conquest