Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-07-10
when MANAGERS
PASS UP clever
BALL PLAYERS
McGraW and Connie Mack
Seldom Let Go Any
Future Greats"
BY cHRrsrY MATHEwsoN.

BY cHRIsTY MATHEWSoN.
Many players have come up to the
big leagues, have tried to make good
and have been turned back by man
ayers, only TO show up season or
two later as stars. Look at Archer OF
the Cabs, for instance, who was once
with Detroit But you don't hear OF
many men turned out by either John
McGraw or Connie" Mack who bob
up with other teams later and help to
beat Mack or McGraw out OF a pen
nant. H..
McGraw did let Rudolph, the young
pitcher who came to the Giants from
Toronto, go back because he did not
like his size and build McGraw goes
in for big, rakish pitchers, and he real
lied that Rudolph had the making of
a twirler good enough to last in the
big leagues when he passed him along
but he did not figure that "Ruddy"
was good enough to last with the
Giants. After turning Rudolph back
McGraw went so far as to tip Stall
ings, good friend of the Giants boss,
off to him, and the little pitcher has
been working well for the Boston
manager ever since he picked him up
last season. ...
Trust McGraw and Mack. 1850 II
One reason why few players let out
by McGraw and Mack ever show up
in the majors again is because most
managers believe in the Judgment OF
these two leaders and do not think
that either one of them would let q
man 60 If he was of any value. This.
notion that prevails among the other
gives both McGraw and.
Mack advantage, since they can let
players go without the fear that they
are going to strengthen some rival il
he gets them. Many managers hesti-
tate long time about sending play
er back to the minors or asking waiv-
ers on him for fear that he may de-
yelop into star and help rob them Of
a pennant at some future time. This
has been Sdune. Steinfeldt, let out by
Cincinnati was an irnpcrtant chg u
the great Cub machine that took three
championships.
Let me tell a story that ] may have
used before, but it illustrates the point
| am trying to bring out Connie"
Mack once had a young pitcher who
carried all the marks of coming star
but he was known as bad actor,
and being good mixer, many OF the
players on the team sought
out the company of this pitcher after
games. Mack discovered that some OF
his youngsters were showing up heavy
eyed and without any pep He be-
gan to investigate and found that the
promising pitcher was responsible for
this condition, so he promptly releas.
ed him. An American league umpire
was talking to Connie" about the
twirler afterward
.'How did you happen to let that
fellow go. 'Connie'?" asked the umpire.
4 have worked behind him and he
seemed to have lots of stuff"
HE did" replied Mack "but he was
steering some Of my young players
INTO bad habits, and I wouldn't keep
my man on my team who does that. |
believe am responsible for the con.
luct of my youngsters. and frequent.
v promise parents who are skeptical
about their sons going into profess
;ional baseball that / will look after
heir behavior"
Nobody Wanted castoff.
But suppose some other club grabs
Tim off and beats you few games
With him. There is nothing he would |
ike better than TO make good against
you after you fired him." suggested
he umpire.
81 don't believe any other team will
grab him." answered Connie. Any
way, it is not worrying me much"
Mack knew well down in his heart
hat after he had passed up the pitch
n no other manager was going to
axe a chance on him, since they
would all think something was wrong
With him and he could not make good
Connie" did not want to say this in
20 many words He does not boast.
But often I've heard managers remark:
We'll, If McGraw passed that bird
up there is no use in trying to do any
hing with him. If there was base
ball in him Mac would have got it
)utn " z.s..r..
So far as | recall, there is only one
nan that Connie" Mack once had
Who went away from the Athletics
md who has since made good "Con-
lie" knew that this man was great
,all player when he let him go back
70 the minors. but he did not think
he could hold him. His name was and
S "Joe" Jackson. Jackson came up to
he Athletics twice and both times he
Jumped the club because he was
lomesick for his native South Caro-
ina. Once he ran out on the Athlet
cs when the team was playing a Sc
les in Washington and went back
rome without saying anything. Mack
brought Jackson back again and Of
cred to pay for the education of both
himself and his wife. Tie great slug
ser refused and returned home. Con
lie" regretted it. ....
That fellow is a great ball player"
lie said as he finally passed him up
Reds Sell Good Players. F.. 7.-..
On the other hand, the Cincinnati