Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-10

4 good, II not trife
u better, than any
s-.----l team in the Ma
touN j. McGRAW. tional League"
u, NcGraw, in an exclusive interview
IN ne EVENING LEDGER, declares that
csrpIe Mack, manager of the Athletics,
vas exactly right In his policy of ripping
u the old winning combination of the
Athletics and building a new team.
Coalitions which faced the leader of
N Athletics were different from those
saalnIng now in the National League,
the there might appear an inconsistency
hfhe position taken by the Giants man
assr. The fact Is, McGraw regards the
aalty OF National League baseball
ftoTer now than 1t has been in the 20
pars Of his operations in the old circuit.
h ether words, as good as his team is at
PRESENT, or as bad as 1t might be, he
links 1t is better than his opponents.
Hence, why tear 1t apart and undertake
n unnecessary task at this stage of the
fme? Since Connie Mack believed that
Il faced such q situation 1t was up to
Connie Mack to get busy, and John j.
srGraw gives Mr.. McGillicuddy credit
iaf the keenest business acumen and q
Borough understanding of what his task
and how to accomplish 1t.
me Giants are lowering about last
risee In the National League race and
both fans and baseball critics have been
ealek to pronounce the old Giants COM
hsaaAon all In, down and out. 1t must be
admitted that the percentage column
gguesthe correctness of these opinions.
But MeGraw declares that injuries have
bean his handicap, and that not until two
weeks ago could he present an unbroken
lineup In few weeks time, predicts
= Ascraw, the Giants will be right around
tao top hghtlng 1t out with the leaders.
The leaders? McGraw regards the
rlllss hlgh-class team. He does not
think 80 much of the Cubs, but the
HFaYes, he AYERS. are right up with the
9aHts so far as class is concerned. In
8 iaa the New Yorker declares the real
agas for the National League pennant
VII be another neck-and-neck battle be-
lFsn the Giants and the Braves.
% you know that the National League
seaker this season than 1 have seen
snes my advent into professional ball,
I'd that was more than 20 years ago?'
assd McGraw. There may be any num-
y Of reasons for this, but I think It is
s aas to the fact that there are only a
aFaln number of good ball players de-
soped every year and there are three
nguss for them now, instead of two.
hek In the early days of the American
tiAgne there were just few too many
l1s players for one league and that made
as second possible but at the present
ena there are Just about enough high
aasd men for two leagues and not
Afse
sene people imagine that II Is an easy
AaE 70 develop a ball player, but not
ne best manager that ever lived
~ not develop a man into a star II
nan did not have an unusual amount
MeFal ability. II he could. they
ei4 not be paying the money they are
saFs That is what I mean by say
nat the material is not available.
are thousands OF youngsters who
bs developed into good ball players,
ne5 what I would call high-class
leaguers and that is the only kind
"a laoklng for.
aont believe in taking any ones
apoat q ball player. For instance,
- Ieur college men under contract
present. time. Some OF them have
teasted" to me, while others have
soested TO the skies, but 1 pay no
9h 10 that. / look them all over
iiy am seeking certain qualifca-
and then / hope to do the rest,
collegiate or minor league records
lssf considered. l do not get them
et their records, and will not
81. myself to be influenced by them
nave also eight young players
aaaeF options.
ne National League AZ the pres-
mere are several men holding
suar positions who could not
lAsa utility berth six or seven
and Tor this reason I know
team must be up In the race
season closes. We are a better
han several that hold better
~ the present time, and we will
Up IN the race In a few weeks.
20 | think Of the PhilliesY They
Aeea better club than people
not because there Is anything
brilliant about Il as a team,
ea are pulling together and
me time which IS not notice
players In these days OF
Moran has his team play
eate baseball, and with good
is almost certain 70 keep
use 10 the top for some time
any club that has q pitcher
4sf Is going 10 be a hard club
~ Ia N@iA SUCK IN the Aale
sas1 Of august or the first part
the Phillies win make some
because Alexander Is almost
ehen in shape.
aaer as great as aIathewson
ealmy days2 We'll. that IS q
g answer. I 40 not think ]
pitcher IN AiatheRaon's elass
= psel 70, unless Alexander
ais present clip Alexander
&c best pitcher ia the world
must 30 On e his present
= H91e years before I would