Omaha daily bee., 1915-03-28
TINKER TO QUIT BASE BALL
Not Managing, but the Playing End,
for Joe Says The Two Labors
Are Too Hard.
FINDS MAN TO TAKE HIS PLACE
nv FRANK q. MENKE.

~ FRANK q. MENkE.
Joe Tinker plans TO retire from the
playing end OF base ball at the close Of
the 1915 season-possibly sooner.
The rule about you can't do two
things az once and do them well applies
to base ball as well as to anything else. ="
says Tinker. II have discovered that in
my two and one-half years az playing
manager
When a man plays base ball he should
think Of nothing else but the game be-
fore him. He should have his mind
riveted on what he himself is to do.
Nothing should distract him. But there
Is lot of distraction when that player
is trying TO manage his club at the same
time.
II found that out when I managed
Cincinnati in 1913. and again last year
when ] managed the Chicago Whales.
Instead OF paying attention 20 my Job
OF shortstop-and paying attention TO
that alone-I had to pay attention to
what the other eight men were doing.
y think a ball club should be man
aged by bench manager. to insure its
success. The cases OF George stRillngs,
John McGraw, Connie Mack and Hughie
Jennings show what results come from
having a bench manager.
"A manager on the bench has II all
over playing manager when II comes 20
directing the team A bench manager
sees everything-and sees It from the
viewpoint OF spectator. a playing
manager doesn't see everything because
he Is occupied 20 a certain extent with
his own playing job.
TN probably start the season playing
at short but II that Kid Smith continues
TO show up as he has in the past. I am
going 10 shove him into my shortstopping
Job before the season gets along very
we'll. II he can hold down the Job TN
be bench manager from then on"
smith f. n Sensation.
The Smith In question IL n 19-year-oId
kid that Tinker discovered In an acct
dental way. His first name lie James.
and during these training camp days ne
IL assaying 100 per cent pure as short
stop.
Smith played with the Duquesne uni
versity team around Pittsburgh early in
the 1914 summer. Later he got lob
with semi-pro team that played at 81.
Mary's. o. When the team disbanded.
he went back TO Pittsburgh and looked
up Rebel Cakes. manager OF tho Pitts
burgh Federals.
would you object II l came out 20
your park and worked out with your
boys7" smith asked.
Certainly not answered Cakes.
Come ahead"
The next day. according 10 the story OF
Smiths discovery. the Chicago Federals
landed in Pittsburgh for a series. Tinker
TOOK his mon out to the park. Smith was
there and worked out with the players
Tinker saw Smith working around at the
short station and he was amazed at the
speed and the cleverness OF the youthful
shortstopper.
When oakes arrived at the park Tinker
sought him out.
who Is that kidr' asked Tinker
pointing to Smith.
Hes a town boy who wanted 10 work
out with us and told him 1t was o. X
| with me-" replied Cakes.
Have yer signed him."
No"
Are you figuring on signing him7''
asked Tinker.
mo; I don't know anything about
him" answered Cakes.
All right III grab him. said Tinker
And that same afternoon Smith affixed
his signature 10 Chicago contract.
That boy may prove 10 be bIooner. .
Tinker said TO us. but n he does IN be
the most mistaken man in the United
States. That hoy looks like one OF the
very best shortstopping finds since Wal
ter MaranvilIe hooked up with tho
Brave. He's fast. game 70 the core, a
fine thrower grand base runner. and a
pretty fair hitter"