Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-08
COLLINS SOLD
TO WHITE SOX

Continued from Paee One
| stead Of some OF his other players we're
as various as the reasons for his re-
trenchment policy in general In the
FIRST place, after The Federal League
made Collins an ofrer in Chicago last
summer, Mack was compelled TO accept
contract from his second bssemsn
which was dictated by Collins himself
in every detail The contract was, as
Mack stated, for a term Of years" and
while the White Elephant leader did not
say so the terms of the contract called
for tho largest amount ever paid .
local baseball player. Furthermore, there
had been friction between Collins and
Captain Ira Thomas. The cross-purposes
OF the captain nnd leading player never
reached q climax. At the same time,
something OF the kind would surely have
happened after Thomas allowed himself
to be quoted to the erect that Collins
had given away many OF the secrets of
the Athletic players in his newspaper
and magazine articles
Considering all of these things Mack de-
cided that It would be beneficial 20 his
club TO turn Collins over to another team
II satisfactory arrangements could be
made. The result was that on last Sun
day, unknown TO nearly every one In
Philadelphia, Connie Mack, Charles
Comiskey, Ban johnson and Eddie Collins
held a conference, at the Bellevue
Stratford Hotel. The result was the sale
OF Collins to Comlskey. 1t is not GUS
tomary for a player 20 confer with his
own and his prospective manager when
deal of this character is about to be
consummated. But owing TO the stead
fastness of the contract which he had.
Collins consent had TO be obtained be-
fore he was bound 10 play for any
manager except Mack.
Ever since he developed into a star
performer the name of Eddie Collins has
been the by-yord for baseball efficiency.
He was said by John j. McGraw to be
the worlds greatest baseball player
That remark was made by the manager
of the Giants after the completion OF the
worlds series of 1918. That he Is the
worlds foremost exponent of the ma
tional pastime is agreed universally by
critics. lie is not only batter OF Won
derfu ability, but he excels as a fielder,
on the bases and In all-round play, which !
OF course includes the 'headwork" end |
of the game. In that respect he probably !
outoasses any man In the game today.
His quick-thinking on the field In crises
OF many battles have time and again |
turned defeat into victory for the Ath-
letics. Had 1t not been for the terrific |
hitting OF Collins during the seasons of
1913 and 1914, the chances are that the |
Athletics would have been beaten out, |
and probably would have occupied at |
the finish of the season position below /
second place
On the field Eddie Collins displays as
much pep" as any man that ever played |
the game. He Is not what Is commonly |
known as a "crab.' but his attitude in
general is we'll explained by the nick
Cookie" That coguomon indicates that
Collins is always ready to look to his
own rights and to the rights of his fellow
players. That is true. Nothing ever
escapes his attention that is occurring dur
ing p game, and IL he does not think that |
his club is getting it's due he is right
after the umpire, not vulgarly protesting
but putting up a logical, though spirited
argument. AS far as kicking against de-
cisions of the umpire on close plays. Col
Inns is seldom seen In that role. He be- |
lleNes that the umpire does what he con-
slders right and let's II so at that
on the field Collins is one OF the
most likaole congenial men that ever
donned uniform. lie is highly educated
and Is conversant with more subjects than
any other player IN the American League.
Collins was student at Columbia Uni
versity, where he made an enviable repu-
tation in all branches of athletics, He
was a football player OF rare ability de-
spite the fact that he at that time weighed
only l4o pounds Collins last year as a
football player was the last that Columbia
had football team. On numerous occa-
sions Collins was chosen by the coach of
the football team to go in as pinch
runner and he invariably came through"
with the necessary gain.
During the last few years Collins has
developed into baseball writer of rare
ability. He writes we'll, and, thanks to
his intimate knowledge of baseball af-
fairs, has been able TO give tho public
a remarkable account OF several worlds
series besides special analytical arti-
,les. which were at once technical and
interesting, rare combination. Collins
s one of the few player writer's who
ioes his own stuff" He operates
typewriter rapidly and does all of his
work at his home in Lansdowne.
The hub of the Athletic infleld was born
m Millertown, n. Y, May 2, 1887, After
taking academic work at a number OF
schools, Collins entered Columbia Univer-
iity in 1908, where he applied himself with
.qusl diligence TO his studies and to ath-
etlcs. He made the varsity baseball team
lis freshman year. playing shortstop. He
wore the Columbia uniform up to 1906,
when he was elected to captain the 1907 :
cam, but did not return TO college.
Connie Mack was tipped on to Collins
n 1906 and had a scout look him over.
He was tried out with the Mackmen,
playing under the name of sullivan"
He used that name while he was playing
Independent and semiprofessional base
'all in New England during the summer
81 1906.
During the seasons of 1907 and 1905 Col
ms was tried at every position on the
nfeld and also in the outfieid by Connie
Mack He did not appear TO be a good
,uthelder but was often used because
II his rare ability as a hitter At short
top he did not suit Mack. Finally IN