Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-07-10
when MANAGERS
PASS UP clever
BALL PLAYERS
and Connie Mack
Seldom Let Go Any
"Future Greats"
BY cHRIs1Y MA1HEWsoN.

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 a season or
two later as stars. Look at Archer OF
the Cubs, 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
McGraw did let Rudolph, the young
pitcher who came 10 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
twirler good enough to last in the
big leagues when he passed him along,
but he did not figure that Rudy"
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.
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 go If he was of any value. This
notion that prevails among the other
managers gives both McGraw and
Mack advantage, since they can let
players go without the fear that they
are going to strengthen some rival if
he gets them. Many managers hesti-
tate a long time about sending play.
er back to thg minors or asking waiv-
ers on him fer fear that he may de.
velop into STAR and help rob them OF
a pennant at some future time. This
has been done ASteinfeldt let ont By
.Cincinnati an imA ortant cor In
the great Cub machine that took three,
championships.
Let me ten story that ] may have
used before, but it illustrates the point,
I 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 a good mixer, many OF the
younger 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.
81 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 l wouldn't keep
any man on my team who does that.
believe | am responsible for the con.
duct OF my youngsters. and ! frequent,
ly promise parents who are skeptical
about their sons going into profess
sional baseball that will look after
their behavior" 4
Nobody Wanted castoff. s.....
But suppose some other club grabs
him off and beats you few games
with him. There is nothing he would
like better than TO make good against
ycu after you fired him." suggested
the umpire.
81 don't believe any other team will
grab him." answered Connie" ANY
way, it is not worrying me much"
Mack knew we'll down in his heart
that after he had passed up the pitch.
er no other manager was going to
take 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
so many words. He does not boast.
But often I've heard managers remark:
well, If McGraw passed that bird
UP there is no use in trying to do any
thing with him. If there was base
ball in him Mac would have got it
out"
So far as recall, there is only one
man that Connie" Mack once had
who went away from the Athletics
and who has since made good. Con
ME" knew that this man was a great
ball player when he let him go back
to the minors, but he did not think
he could hold him. His name was and
is Joe" Jackson. Jackson came up to
the Athletics twice and both times he
Jumped the club because he was
homesick for his native South Caro-
lima Once he ran out on the Athlet-
les when the team was playing a Sc
ries in Washington and went back
home without saying anything Mack
brought Jackson back again and Of
fered to pay for the education of both
himself and his wife The great slug
ger refused and returned home. Con
ME" regretted it. II
That fellow is great ball player"
he said as he finally passed him up.
Reds Sell Good Players.
On the other hand, the Cincinnati
Club is famous for passing up ball