Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-05
PH|LL|E FANS NOW SAID
TO Be DESERVING MACK
Athletic Followers Think Great
Machine Was Wrecked
PurpOSely.
DIsCREDIT CoNNIE's
Statement Made Public by White
Elephant Leader Hootcd-Rcfused
Big Increases in Salary to Stars.
May Build Another Team.

PHILADELPHIA. PA. July 4-Thou-
sands OF fans were astounded to- day
at the wall put forth by Connie Mack,
erstwhile idol of fandom, in which he
sets forth. through the medium of an
afternoon newspaper. the reason why
he scattered throughout the country
mis- famous pitching staff and shot to
pieces his famous 100000 inHeld. Civ
ing full credit to the Federal Leagues
42-centmeter guns
why. said one of the $4,000 fans
seated In the Rrand-stan at Broad
street and Huntingdon Avenue. while
the Phlllics were walloping the world
cham pion Braves on Saturday. there's
nothing to IT; more than that. Mack
is getting back to the old days when
We faithful ones supported him for
FEARS while he built up a team from a
bunch of kids. These same kid. made
il possible to build the magnificent
baseball testimonial known as Shibe
Park. Yet when salaries began to soar,
Connie commenced to wabble. Fed
eral League nothing"
Another dyed the WOO! fan, one OF
the most prominent sporting goods men
. in the city commented as follows:
| Now. who ever could possibly accuse
/ Connie Mack Of being caught Mapping
! when the team began to slip in 1914?
There were no signs Of slipping till the
! Braves mauled the confidence out OF
them.
Can't Imagine DlsioyaIty.
Whoever could imagine man OF
Eddie Plank's caliber proving disloyal
TO Mack? Why. when the announce
Tent was made that he had turned
Plank. Bender and Coombs loose 1t was
solar pleNus, but what has happened
since has simply driven thousands Of
n ltI d. a..
shown by the attendance. and IT will he
years before they Will he won back.
Every fan loves a winner, but true
sportsman becomes disguised when n
| simon pure derby winner Is deliber-
ately put out of commission"
The story astounded every baseball
fan in observation-disclosures Mack a
quitter-the man who has been the
very pcrsonification OF nerve and rug
Scd stick-to- -iveness. The idol has
fallen. or rather has let himself drop.
Sporting writers support the opinion
generally held BY the public of the
dis!ntegration Of the Athletic machine
that it was deliberate on the part of
CANINE Mack to allow it TO crumble.
and mention facts of happenings at
Shibe Park to bear out tho Indoor
talk"
The start of the breakup came last
August when Eddie Collins and Baker
'rfItI!ttl iIIp!t money ana MaCk N3tly
refused. with results already chroni-
I cied of the Athletic stars going broad
cast over the circuit After Collins
went 10 Chicago the heart was taken
out OF the old guard and they were
fighting losing battle and became
dishcartened and were not able 10
play their usual game. II is related
or Herb Pennock, the young pitcher
whom Mack released to Boston a
, short time ago, that Mack called him
TO account for seeming lack of steam.
and that he replied: Whats the use.
/ with team like that behind me?"
/ The next day he was sold TO Roston
The same is said of other former stars,
who were unable to carry the game
| through with the weak talent Mack
| had filled into the vacant places in his
! machine.
! AS said before. Connie Mack seems
! TO be fallen idol. VIII he come
! back.