Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17

If the day ever comes when the
league should lose Ban Johnson it
would most likely be in a sorry way.
He has been the backbone. the brains
and the life of the league. He deserves
the credit for making tine organization
what it is today.
The signing of Fred Mitchell by
Owner Weeghman was brought about
by the influence which the other club
owners used against Joe Tinker.
Tinker was in bad with the National
the Brooklyn club after that organiZa-
ton had paid Cincinnati $4,000 for
him. Tinker became the manager Of
the Chicago Feds. and when peace was
declared he took Bresnahan's place. de-
spite the fact that Roger had three
year ironclad contract.
Tinker's regime with the Cubs was an
absolute failure. His principal fault
was in the fact that he disorganized
his team. He could not create harmony
among his players. and the result was
that he was at the head of one of the
worst disappointments that base bail
ever has furnished. Mitchell is diff
fereut sort of man He is of jOvial
disposition and makes a specially of
jol,ying his players along. incidentally
Mitchell is given credit for being one
of the SmarteSi base balI men IN the
game
Mitchell once was pitcher. AS late
as 1905 he was pitching for the
Brooklyn club He was not great
pitcher, but was one of those fellows
who used their heads and won their share
of games.
He took pleasure at that time in
warming up the other pitchers on the
team in practice, and displayed such
ability in handling these deliveries that
l. ll,- trhi ln
suggestion of other members of the
team.
George Stallings admitted that Mitch
ell was a most competent lieutenant
and that he did much to keep his team
in the race by his control over the
players.
Mitchels first official act was to
make an effort to engage Jimmy Sheck-
ard coach and scout. Sheckard in
his day was one of the greatest out
fielders. Being one of the famous Cubs
of winning days. he should be decided
ly popular with the fans of Chicago.
Frazee and Ward, the new owners of
the Boston Red SoX. have been in COM
munication with Bill Carrigan for sew
eral DAYS in an effort to sign him as
manager but as yet have not succeed
ed. Whether carriSan will stick to his
resolution to quit base ball for all time
remains to be seen.
The new owners do not appear to be
worrying because they are facing the
busy part of the winter minus leader
for their team. This may mean that
they have a man in mind or are just
waiting for the final word from Car
rigan. Frazee has said that he would
give the old manager of the Boston
team more for one years service for
managing his team than he could pos
sibly make as director of any trust
company. This sounds very much as II
a substantial offer had been made to
Carrigan.
Johnson never was taken seriously
here. 1t was considered theatrical ad-
vertising by Manager Griffith and he
only smiled when it was referred to.
Griffith knows Frazee well and no
doubt had chat with him at the Chi
cago meeting. but there is no price that
Griffith would accept for Johnson, be-
cause 1t would be a foolish thing to let
him go elsewhere when he still is one
of the best attractions in base ball
John Henry. the Washington clubs