The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-25
George Tweety Stallings, the Miracle Man.

George" declared Cobb. who naturally
was pulling for an American League
victory in the series. but old Plank is
liable to make your boys throw away
their bats tomorrow"
Il don't see how you figure that"
answered Stallings seriously. "A LEFT
handler hasn't beaten this club OF mine
since July 2S. know enough about
Plank from the time I managed the
New York Americans in the same
league with him To- beat him"
He really believes IT," remarked Cobb
10 the rest Of Us as Stallings stalked
away from the group. And I'll bet
he has talked TO his players in Skull
practice until they believe It, too. But
! don't look To see them win from OLD
Plank tomorrow II he is right He Is
too smart"
Stallngss team however. made Plank
pitch his heart out that next day. never
Offering at bail unless It was over the
plate and forcing the aged veteran Che
is 39) 10 work 10 the limit. Stallingss
team also won 10y the score of to O.
Perhaps word OF explanation OF the
meaning OF skull" practice would not
he amiss.
Before h" was winner Stallincs
was frequently laughed at by other
baseball men because he called all his
players together each morning in the
clubhouse when the team was at home
and in his room AZ the hotel when II
WAS on the road. and drilled the players
in front OF a portable blackboard II
was the uuicl, Drained Johnny Evers
who chiistcned 1t skull practice But
I'll bet hat there Will be- .ess laughing
- IL q. -
teams of the big leagues next season.
George Stallings has been in baseball
| twenty Ave years and ne has Away
| shown remarkable aptitude to hav"
clubs wished on him To- manage and
resuscltatc that had few assets besides
| a franchise IN the league. lie took
charge of the New York American
League club when it was IN last place
| n the standing and lifted it up 70 second
I in less than two years, with fine
chance 10 win the penuant in tn" sec-
pnd season he had charge, when som"
baseball politics resulted in his release.
| lie has said that the first time no
| To- lled at the Boston club II struck him
a. being a baseball horror. He began
| 10y firing every man of whose gamcness
ne was not convinced He telk him
| self of one pitcher he discharged he
cause he was such temptation. This
man would warm up in practice like a
Mathcwson or a Johnson only To crack
| in the pinch.
Perhaps New York fans recall a long
| thin. young man with the Giants a
| few seasons back who dragged himself
aimlessly and YEARLY around the field
m practice and who never attained To
playing in a game until that particular
contest was hopelesslv lost. This young
man. ambitlonless by his every move
ment. was obscurely listed on the score
card as Il substitute named Gowdy. He
was the hero of the last worlds series
Stnlllngs took Hank Gowdy and
made him catch Ii was once Hanks
| habit 20 complain when he was forced
10 catch Two days in succession. But
! Stalllngs soon overCamc this attitude Of
Ciowdy toward his art,
Doesn't Evers play second base every
day? Doesn't Maranvllle play short
stop in each game asked Stallings.
Els there any reason why YOU cannot
catch every day?'
Gowdy got 30 many tongue lashlngs
| that he awoke to the pos Utilities OF
baseball and soon complained II he was
not assigned TO the catching regularly.
| y
not very many years ago deliberately
stuck his bare hand into II fast one and
split open his fingers 30 that he could
yet a couple of days of when McGraw
| had previously refused him permission
TO leave the club
"Now | guess | can get away" he
said triumphantly,
! Stalllngs has the faculty Of getting
every bit OF baseball there ~ IN "A man
and little more ont OF him. The Boss
| ton manager believes that putting a
player in the right mental attitude Is
| half of the business of winning. lie
wants his club up on its toes and fight
| ing, and he does not care how many
suits of clothes a season are necessary
to attain this end
BY his activities In aiding around on
the bench in winning the National
League championship and the worlds
series he wore out five suits last sea-
son. But he can take a lot OF material
| which looks like dead wood and put the
sap into e. In spite of all his rawlings
he has never fined a player on his club,
and they all come 10 regard him as a
sort OF father confessor, always going
to him first with their troubles.
Stallngs winters on his plantation
In Hnddocks, Ga. where he has an
enormous place and raises cotton.
Right after the season he takes week
and goes Off by himself on n big black
stallion to clear his mind Of baseball.
The Boston manager started out to be
q physician and was attending the med