The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-21
From the Angle Of the Bug
by ASA ROTNTREE, JR.

New that Johhy Dobbs is firmly
established in his new berth at new
Orleans and is making great prep
arations for putting a strong team
in the Crecent City next year the
question is being asked by fans
who have followed closely for
years the affairs in the national
pastime whether or not he and
Charley Somers, the boss mogul of
the Clevelan1 and New Orleans
clubs, can work together AMIGA
bly,. The question Is indeed timely
for nearly ever since the Nap
president made his debut as a mag
nate he has had trouble in holding
managers. No matter how lavishly
he expended money or however
lard he tried, Somers has never
held a manager any length of time.
This is not only true for the Maps
but also for his minor league
farms. In almost every instance
managers working under him have
held their tenure of office for only
a few seasons. Some have been
given the can, but most have sew
cred their connections in man
agerial capacity by resigning.
These troubles that have beset
the Cleveland mangate are not of
recent origin, nut date back to the
early days of the American league.
James McAleer, formerly president
of the Boston Red Sox, was the
first of the long list of Cleveland
managers. His regime lasted for
only two years, 1900 and 1901,
when he resigned to go with tile
st. Louis Americans. W. r. Armour
succeeded him but after three years
of labor decided that plotting
Somers' club did not agree with
him, so he, too. handed in his
resignation.
Succeeding Armour was Nap
Lajoie, who from 1906 to 1909 held
sway, but in the latter year he de-
cided that as leader he was a
failure and so in came his resigna-
tion. Deacon" Jim Mcguire was
the next to receive favor from the
Cleveland boss, but in 1911, at the
beginning of his third year as
manager, he threw up the job with
disgust. George Stovall was given
charge of the team for the re-
mainder of the season, but al
though he managed to bring the
team from the cellar into third
place Somers handed him the pink
slip. The following season saw
Harry Davis, captain of the 1911
worlds championship Philadel-
phia Athletics-at the helm of the
club, but in the fore part of Sep
tember, of the same year, he fol-
lowed in the footsteps of his pre-
decessors by handing in his resig-
nation. Joe Birmingham was then
put in charge and has remained at
the wheel since, but how long he
will stick is matter of con-
lecture and Cleveland fans are now
enthusiastically pulling for him to
rid the club of the jinx that has
steadfastly pursued it since the
launching of the American.
In the minors, Somers is also hav-
ing the same misfortune with his man.
ayers. AT Toledo, one of the Nap
farms, two managers have been tried
out within the past four years.
Hinchman was in control for two
years. but in 1912 he was supplanted
by "Topsy' Hartsel.
This same dilemma has now confront
ed him in New Orleans. Before Somers
came on the scene "Cholly' Frank had
for 10 years held sway over the base
ball situation in that city without any
serious internal friction ever arising.
But as soon as the Nap boss acquired
control rumors began to float around
that the Pei manager and the owner
of the club were not working in har-
mony with each other. This proved to
be the case, and the elimination of
it was that Frank was given the can
after he had performed 10 years of
satisfactory service with the Pelican
club.
Th prospects are exceedingly bright
for .IGhnpv Dohhs aud II NAV he that