Grand Forks daily herald., 1914-12-21


This year Collins led his league in
stolen bases, and he has carried off the
same honor on former occasions AS
run-getter no does not have. to
salaam to Cobb.
Without a question Comiskey gets
the top-notch tosser OF America. Ger
| tainly he is more valuable than Walter
Johnson, for he is in the gamo every
day. He ought to be preferred to Cobb
on the theory that a wonderful infield-
er means more to a team than a Won
derful outfielder. In addition, Collins
/ blends in with team work better than
the Dixie daredevil, and plays more
Eames in a season than the Georgian.
COBB and Johnson are the only players
e., be mentioned in the same strong
:nath with Collins, and he shades
both Of them.
Not a sharp strolling through Pea
| cock alley there was who didn't thin'
that Comiskey made a good bargain,
in spite of the fortune he paid for the
second baseman.
The old Roman himself justified his
| purchase better than anybody else.
IT'S this way" he explained, II
have been paying out sums like s1s,-
/ 900, $4,000 and $4,000 every year
| for players who are nothing more
than a gamble. AS matter of fac,
none of the players I have paid fancy
sums for ever made good. Only my
bargains, like Walsh, Russell, Weaver
| and one or two others ever came
through.
so I reasoned that instead Of pay
ing $4,000 for a bush Lacquer whose
ability to make good nobody could
foretell, it would be better business
to pay three OF four times that sum
and get a star whose skill was un-
common and well known.
"Rnf 11o, t,,,x, I,
player. My chance came when heard
that Mack might part with Collins
for an adequate offer. I Immediately
rushed to Philadelphia and didn't
hesitate to meet Mack's terms, bio
as they were. I think made a bar
gain, anyway, for I was able to buy
the best player in baseball, a man
height of his ability, for he is only
~ years old and has many more sea-
sons to CO."
The surprising part of it was that
man like Collins could ever be pur-
chased. No transactions have been
recorded for uncommon players since
the sale Of Mike Kelly. John Clarkson
1t has always been said that money
can't buy a great ball player" Mack
knocked the spots out Of this old gag
last week.
OF course, 1t is expected that some
fans will resent the sale of Collins
particularly those fans who never go
to Shibe park and they greatly out
number those who do. Had the fans
now grillins Mack appreciated Collins
by attending the games the Athletics
would never had to go to such an
extreme.
There are other rea sons behind the
sale of Collins which may come out
before the season opens. AS a veteran
baseball man said in New York:
"Macls makes few mistakes and he
must have had good reoso wher
he aereed to let man Of Collins
standing co.
Mack will never ret another Collins
hut he will have good man at second
next season. Fearing Federal leag,es
raids. the tall tutor has been quietly
developing youngsters in the morning
at Shibe park, and it Ia reported that
he has some good material. Then
there is Bill Kopf. who made good fast
season when called on to fill utility
roles. ~
Will Mack quit at Collins? There
Is q feeling that J. Franklin Baker
also will be put on the block. 1t is
certain that Mack will pay him no
transit president.s, salary. -s sss,3: