The Washington times., 1914-02-15

ed as a cigar Indian of first base fol
a double play II he had thrown. But
he didn't and lost the double. Hartzell
fumbled the next hit, and the old ball
game was won for Wyckon.
What did I remark to your Con-
ME said to wyckon after the game. !
told you to stick and you would win.
That's some pitching. boy
Connie was more tickled over the
Kid winning that game than I ever saw
him over anything before concluded
my friend.
Victory Demoralizes.
The winning Of two or three cham
pionships often demoralizes a team
even if. the material is as good. After a
victorious season, managers say 1t IL
hardest to keep players on their toes
and hustling. 1 believe II Is due to this
reason that no team ever took more
than three pennants in succession. The
players get too sure of themselves and
begin to believe that they know al the
baseball there is to know and that no
one can tell them anything. In other
words, they become blase. 50
Look at the Athletics Of 1872 They
We're satiated with victory after hav-
ing won two worlds championships in
1910 and 1911, and they became careless.
They felt sure that they would win in
the end once they got started, and so
they never got started. Some Of the
pitchers and several Of the other MEM
bers of the team were careless about
keeping in condition. / remember how
sure the Athletics were up to within
couple of months Of the end Of the race.
''Oh, the Red Sox will crack and well
get them yet. one of the pitchers told
me toward the middle of Aungust.
But the Red Sox did not crack, and
the members of Connie" Mack's team
missed the wor DIS series money In the
two years. They made up their minds
to take no chances last season. and
were hustling from the getaway.
The Cubs were overconfiGent In l9O9.
and were beaten out by Pttsbur Sn,
while the Giants of 1905 ran away with
championship of 1905. Jennings, who Is
n great friend Of McGraw's. has told
me that the Giant leader thought 1t
would be a good idea TO give his world 8
champions a little more leeway In 1906,
after having won the high honor the
the Giants took the worlds champion
ship. McGraw had adhered to mis- resr-
lar plan of campaign. He is one of the
strictest bosses in the business. and not
a Giant steals a base during the regular
season or lays down a buEt or tries the
else, without direct orders from Nc
Graw, unless he desires to absorb
fine. In 1906. however, McGraw put 1t
up to his men.
Mac says they ran wild on the
bases Jennings told me. in discussing
it. They tried all sorts of plays at the
wrong stages
A Wonderful Performance.
Mack's achievement In winning the
worlds championship last year With Il
pitching staff Of two veterps and the
rest youngsters was a wonderful Eer-
formance. The man on whom Connie"
had depended to do oil the heavy Pitch
ing. John Coombs. was out for the
season. But both Bender and Plank
were in excellent condition. and they
were at the top Of their form all
through the race. Mack campaiSned
through his schedule depending on his
hitters and the judic.ous switching OF
his pltcners. The records show that
"CclIn.e'' changed pitchers 123 times
believer in the constant yinkinS OF
twir.ers. pressed him hard. changing
~ times.
Griffith Is funny manager and his
record shows the Inconsistencies OF
baseball. In Cincinnati. his rating was
low, DSt ne went 10 w
took hold of a second division team.
He ma le out of 1t a pennant contender
in one season and finished second. Many
time | have heard Grfff,ths pitchers
{ complain because he keeps them warm
ing up so much during game In case
he needs one to relieve the man Hho
Is in the box.
I'VE work one dav week in the
box and five in the varrn-Ip pen. l
heard one Of Griffith's pitchers COM
Plain last summer when 'Grin' m
self was nowhere in the neiShborhood
TO hear him.
Griffith also has a bal habit OF nag
,-ing opposing pitchers from the coach
.r's box especially a .oung pitcher He
is a nm. fellow OF the n'ld. but he
surely has "A nag;lag manner during
= "lns.
There has been 'ot Of nard feeling
l,tw..n the Athletics and wash ng'on
for somc tine. IL II ut'r hutcd To two
~ three "au4"E hv the hasrrall CrsSips
~omr rny ,rrt Grifhih had bets win
some ul the philudc'Uh'a mn"ldvrs that
Nlr rluh Wuu 4 beat ~" hhlnIi.s "ut
IN ~. 'tttT.' nn shed H"rund hni th"
hi'li's third
III. story - that "Grn h0s u''..
hrsn M, - cp'lr', NiE hrlH. ru1 H.r y"
''rid'a" In"sU men ubuut " Nhtu,frr
Tho Athletics UlnN - AcrivH with ~"
" ashingtun ciu., Especially he 'rJ.s