New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-31

business. and l am glad to say that |
took the first policy he ever wrote.
He IS now scouting for Detroit. Selee
had been with him for twelve years in
/ Boston, and, when it came time TO give
Bobby his release, Selee wouldn't do
/ it. Williams, Of the Chicago club,
finally gave il 20 the veteran, and a
grand player passed out OF the league.
/ The members of the Cubs bought
Lowe a diamond watch fob as a mark
OF esteem before he hung up his
"spangles" for good. ! want to say
| that ! believe Bobby" Lowe had more
10 do with me making good than any
other man in baseball, with his kindly
advice and valuable tips which he had
gathered during his long experience. |
was sorry 10 see him go.
The Cubs were under Selee in 1904.
but he was taken Ill in the season OF
1905. 1t was customary for Selee TO ap-
point a team captain in the spring Of
each year, but King and Casey were
both the managers intmates, so that
. lie did not want TO name either one a.
the risk Of offending the other. There
fore nc posted "a notice in the club
house of IN election OF a man to re-
Place Lowe. who had been the captain
OF the team M TO the time when he
was released. King. Casey and Chance
wanted the job, but the result was a
surprise. Chance, the second string
catcher received eleven votes, Casey
five and King three. ] don't need to
say which way my support went
This was really Frank Chance start
toward the job that was to make him
one of the best known men in baseball.
# either of the other two candidates
had been successful the captaincy
would probably have led 20 the man
agership the next season. when Selee
was in such bad shape he could no
,onCer continue in the job SO Chance
finished the season as the manager In
1905, after Selee's health forced him 10
quit. Frank had been on first base for
some time, but, strangely enough, he
did not want TO play the position. Selee
had insisted, however. that he stick
there until he could find a capable man
20 take his place. II would be difficult
10 discover a more capable one, as !
know the work Of Frank Chance around
that bag as well as anybody. He was
always complaining in those days, how
ever.
Ill stay here" said Chance to Selee,
until you get some one else, but
won't play that base signed to be a
catcher
Chance Forced to Stay.
Selee was lust wise enough never to
find any one else, and Chance stayed
there, where his value to the team could
be realized upon, and where he was not
constantly being banged up, as was the
case when he worked behind the bat.
Il is history that Chance developed into
the best all-around first baseman the
game has ever known, according TO my
judgment. Even after he became the
manager himself, he could not discover
a man as well suited for the job.
Charlie" Murphy got short option
on the Cubs in August, 1905. through a
stroke of luck, and that luck resulted
in a fortune for Murphy. He was at
the time the publicity agent for the
Giants and he arrived in Chicago ahead
Of the team. Harry Pulliam had had
an option on the club, but Murphy
found that il expired on a certain date
ard he got the news that Pulliam was
not going to take ii up. Murphy was
sitting in the grandstand with Hart
when he discovered that the club could
be bought, and he did not tell any one
of his purpose, but ducked out for Gin
/ cinnati that night. He had once
worked on the Cincinnati Times-Star,"
/ the newspaper owned by Mr. Taft
| Murphy had some trouble getting to
Mr.. Taft. and more inducing him to put
up the money TO buy the Cubs, but he
was finally successful The history of
that deal has beer told too often TO
stand repeating. He paid 100000 for
the property and $4,000 TO Hart for the
option, as | recall IL.
After closing the deal Murphy stayed
around Chicago for q couple # weeks
and decided 20 continue Chance as man
ager. He sent for Frank TO come TO the
club Offices in the Fisher Building. in
F Chicago. and Frank asked me TO meet
him there. e had been good friends
from the first We met in the lobby.
What do you think ] ought 10 get ?"
/ Chance asked me before comforting
with mis- new boss.
4 81 haven't any idea" | replied. get
as much as YOU can" thought he
would be on the safe side. anyway, If
he followed this suggestion of mine.
/ went into Burns's place TO wait for
Chance. 1t was not long before he
came in.
"Well." he said. 81 have Just signed
20 manage the Cubs for three years"
| congratulated him. and we stayed
there and talked for some time.
have always been proud OF the fact
/ that | was the first one among the
nIavers 70 know OF Chances good fort
/ une. His first big year was in 1906,
when Murphy made enough to almost
clear his investment. He had $50 in
/ extra profits.
Lets go eat" he invited Chance.
They spent the entire $50 on the
dinner From this time the Cub ma
chine crushed its opponents for sew
eral seasons and went TO four National
LEAGUE championships and two worlds
Championships. winning Murphy a fort,
une IN the mean time. Ihen ne showed
~ anpyeciation by turning loose all
! his old stars.
,co,,risht 1915. Is ne Wheeler syudiosts lncl
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