Evening journal., 1914-09-04
Clarke DENIES HE
Will QUIT Pirates
Fred Implies That He is Not
the Kind That RetireS
Under Fire

PITTSBURGH, sept. 4.-lhe question
Of retiring from the management Of the
Pittsburgh baseball club has never enter
ed Fred Clarke's head according to his
statement today. When asked concern
ing his plans for the future Clarke
said:
"Next season is too far away. My
contract is for 1914 only, and until
new one is proiFcred me ! win neither
refuse nor accept it,"
Reminded OF the fact that II has
been limited that he is ready to step
down and out, Clarke said; Those
statements were only guesses. have
told nobody concerning my plansi in
| fact. / haven't even discussed them
with Dreyfuss. Still, you can say for
me that the question of retiring hasn't
bothered me any. ! never have been
accused of being a quitter, and / don't
want TO give any one reason for calling
me quitter now"
There is hardly any doubt concerning
1 Clarke's intentions to come back next
season No man likes 10 quit under
! fire. nor does a baseball manager relish
4 the idea of retiring after a year Of non
success Fred is as game as they come.
While things have been breaking badly
for him this season his talk gave the
impression that when he does quit the
game IL will be only after his efforts
have been crowned with success.
In fact. during the talk, he sort of
gave himself away" by discussing
matter having to do with next sea-
son. Especially was this true when
Konetchy's case was touched upon.
"Is It true" was asked, that Ko-
netchy has been marked for slaughter
that he won't be with the Pirates
next season."
Il should say mott" came the en-
phatic reply. "Koney has had bad
year of It; his batting has been poor
but the best OF them suffer the same
way When a player slumps in his
hitting. there is no way in which he
can cure himself Koney's feldine
has been away above par, and ius
now he shows signs of rounding int
his old-time hitting form. You car
say for me that Ed isn't on the mar
ket, and that, so far as I know now
he will be with the Pittsburgh clul
next season."
Nor was the first-sacker the onl,
player brought up for consideration
And in each instance Clarke talked
like a man who was certain of hi
plans for next season-not like on
who wasn't decided as to what cours'
he was likely to pursue.
That It isn't his intention to "stan'
pat" on what he has, was evidences
by Manager Fred's reference to th
fact that new players are being sough
and found-against the 1915 season
Asked what truth there was in tn
report that the entire team woul
be shaken up. he said
well. we're buying lots of play
ers. Some of them may be good an
some of them will not be quite S
good. Still, there is no manner i
which a players worth can be de
termined unless he is given chanc
to show. And that's what we inten
doing"
Should Clarke return-and tn
chances are that he will-Joe Kell
will remain in centrefeld. The man
ager is satisfied that this youngste
has in him the making of a first-clas
ball player. Said he: 81 like Kelly
work, and while he is still crude !
some departments, he is willing an
will learn. We cannot pick up star
every day and must develop mel
Kelly looks the part, and fail to sc
any good reason why he shouldn't
continued as a regular member
the team"
Edgar Collins also looks good
the Kansan, but as yet the formG
Texas Lacquer hasn't been here Ion
enough to permit of anything like
definite conclusion being reache
"This player looks pretty good jul
now" said Clarke, "but I want to 81
more Of him."