Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-10
WRECKING ATHLETICS
BIG HELP TO LEAGUE.
Their Superiority Has Made a Lean
Season.

There is much method in Connie
Mack'S apparent madness in letting
three of his veteran pitchers go and
in disposing of Eddie Collins, and
thereby breaking up that 100000 in
field of the famous Athletics.
There is much more beneath the
surface than the wise and shrewd
Cornelius MacGillicuddy has given Out
for publication. a first thought by
outsider would be that Connie was
getting even'' with Quaker City fans
for failing to support his world cham
piOns the past season.
But not so. Connie is not the ma j
who will bite off his nose to spite his
face. He thinks too much of money
to do anything so foolish. The Shibes,
his partners, dearly love the good old
coin, too, and the willy managers new
move, while startling, is made along
lines that will not only allow re-
trenchment in the clubs expenses, but
will also revive interest among Phila-
delphia lovers of baseball, and thereby
increase patronage. Bigger CROWDS
mean more gate receipts, and that Is
what Connie is working for.
He will, by the big shift in his line
up, be not only rebuilding his team,
but attracting the baseball public as
well.
Won Too Often.
Philadelphians have become Satiated
with constant victories of the present
Athletics. In the Quaker City, as else
where throughout the American league
circuit, the Athletics were considered
too strong for the other seven clubs.
There was but one club in each year ,
race, and that was Connie Mack's over
strong aggregation. When home
public will quit on a three-time world S
championship team and refuses TO sup
port it-well, there is the answer
1t was because the Athletics were
so much superior to the other teams
in their league that the Ban Johnson
organization had its leanest year du: =
ing the championship season of 1914.
Next season would be equally frosty
had Mack gone alone with his old
makeup. The baseball public wound
have again thought, and probably
rightly, that no club other than the
all-cnquering Athletics had a. chance
for the pennant.
The season would have thereby
| started with another heavy handicaI
on its financial prospects.
The proposed shakeup by Mack VIA
| therefore go a long way toward obvi-
ating the difficulty. for the other clubs
| will without doubt have more of {
show for their white alley
Scheme Foxy One.
In consequence, the move looks like
! a brilliant stroke of business policy
and reflects credit on those who con-
ceived the idea, and it would not be
| at all surprising to hear that Bal
| Johnson had a hand in the shrewC
| manoeGvre.
That Johnson has been consulted il
| shown by his announcement that HI
| knew who was to be the next mana
ger Of the Yankees, but that the new
| leaders name would not be made pub
| lie until the December meeting of til
American league. Hughey Jennings
| premature announcement that Macl
had asked for waivers on Bender
| Plank and CoombS probably forced tn
| Athletics manager to unfold his plan
earlier than he intended, but that is al
! in favor of the Winter league, il
which news has been woefully scarce
Will Add Interest to Race.
Connie Mack is a constructive man
ager, none better, and his building VI
| of another winner will be watches
with as much interest as has Away
surrounded his previous successful at
| teInptS. This alone will bring about
| revival Of interest III baseball and tn
| Athletics in Philadelphia, and the eff
4 forts of other managers to strengthel
| their teams viii add fuel to the new