Evening star., 1915-01-04
DONOVAN IS IN GOOD
Yankees Owner Impressed by
'Wild BilPs" Manner.
SMILES WAY TO SUCCESS
New Manager, Anti-Slave Driver,
Tells How He Will Lead New
York Team.

NEW YORK, January 4-Manager
Wild Bill Donovan of the New York
| Americans will be one Of the most in
terestingly unique managers in the big
leagues. He is of a new type; he rules
through a sunny disposition rather
than a rod of iron. Bill has been
| knocking around the diamond for al
most eighteen years and his closest
friends declare he has yet to lose his
temper
THE major leagues are very little dif-
ferent from the minors" said Smiling
Bill at the Imperial Hotel yesterday
afternoon. 81 think kindred principles
will get the same results in both
shows. Most people tell you that gen.
tleness will not go in fast company.
But honestly believe that you can get
far more out of any man by encourage
ment and good nature than through
abuse and invective. A ball player is
very much like every other human
contrivance. Put him on his honor,
treat him honestly and you will get
none the worst Of it.
up in Providence last year early in
the spring the rival managers were
telling me that had the rottenest club
on earth. They couldn't understand.
license to smile. We'll, 1 gained thirty
pounds last season. And would you
believe it, when the team finally
Strengthened out and started a winning
spurt my pessimistic friends were
around telling me l should have won
out by ten games.
After. Receipt.
Il called on Frank Chance one night
last summer. Bill he said, tell me
the secret of those jowls of yours.
Your club is almost as bad as mine,
but there you are fat as butter and 1
feel as If I had been drawn through a
knothole.' He looked the part, too. I
figured when 1 started in the game that
life wasn't worth a long and sorrow
full face. 1 believed then and 1 be-
lot of mourners hanging around. 1t
is possible to be quite serious and hap
py at the same time.
When 1 take hold Of the New York
club 1 shall endeavor to follow a few
simple rules that 1 think have earned
me some friends in my time. 1 shall
treat my players with every courtesy
and friendship, for 1 feel that 1 always
shall be one of the boys. 1 shall try
to encourage every man of the squad
and give all a square deal. I have not
the least apprehension that any player
will try to take advantage of me.
"Of course" continued Bill, Il have a
Few theories of my own that I intend
to try out-little tricks that proved
successful in. the International League
do not mind telling you one of these.
1t is to practice the outfielders on
ground hit balls. I think every fielder
should receive as many grounders as
flies during practice. Often you hear
remark that an outfielder is a won
der except for weakness on ground
balls. There should be no such a weak
ness if he is possessed of physical
qualifications. An infielder perfects
himself through practice; why should
not an outfielder.
excuse for wildness on the mart Of a
pitcher. Ninety-nine times in a hun
dred wildness indicates nothing more
than lack of opportunity. Control is
the easiest thing Of all to master. It
comes by hard work. I say this be-
cause there was never a wilder young
man than myself when I broke in.