New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-24
SERIES IN BROOKLYN
MAY SETTLE ISSUE
Alexander, Demaree and
Rixey Have Borne Brunt
of Strife for Pennant.
By w. J. MACBETH.

career NOu4u AfaN
than fact.
A grand, good-natured soul, this
leader Of the champions Of the National
League. 4 bit rcticcnt-almost DIM
dept-to strangers; afable to slight &C
ouaintanees and guinea gold to friends
To-day Pat Moran is one Of the most
honored generals in the great game oil
baseball. Two short years ago ne was
practically unknown save 20 those few
major league fans who make deeper
study of their score cards than su-
perfciaI glance at club rosters.
Two years age Pat Moran was fast
approaching the cast-oir class. There IS
nothing more pathetic ,han this stage
OF major league players careec. 100
old actively ~ engage m the spor, anu
700 little known 20 figure IN any pu'
minor capacity such as scout or co"cH'
Pat had been content Tor many years
TO permit his light 10 shine under
bushel. .,,.
A capable lieutenant with the CUBS
under Frank Chance, the feerleSs
Leader. Pat drifted beyond the Ken oil
c. Webb Murphy's mercenary soul lie
caught on in Philadelphia. Charlie
Red Doom was the manager OF the
Phillies who had tried in vain Tor more
than thirty years 70 win recognition
with a pennant.
The tempestuous career Of Charles
the Red is history now. summed 9p
in one word, that word spelled FAIL
IRE. Doom, too, may have been the
victim Of circumstances. once when
he seemed well away 10 successful
drive fate tricked him with such q sue
cession of accidents and injuries as 10
break the heart Of any championship
aspirant. All this while Pat Moran
most faithfully performed his unsung
Offices.
There came time at last when
Charlie DOOM reached the parting OF
the ways with the new ownership 10
which the Quakers had passed. The in
vasion of the Federal League fastened
the end. Many players who had been
regarded as bulwarks OF the team
among their number Nike Doolan, Otto
Knabe and Tom SeatOn-went over 10
the outlaws, loudly declaimlng their
manager meanwhile.
II became known in the clubhouse
that William f. Baker, the new presi-
dent of the Phillies, was looking Tor
new manager. Baker, no more than me
general public, suspected ne had VIZ
ard al hand. The mild and unassuming
Pat Moran never aspired 10 the once.
But the players. who appreciated the
worth that lay beneath his humble sur
face. forced the hand Of fate. They at
tended William f. Baker in body.
GIVE US Pat Moran for manager
said they. one and all, "and We Will
plav our heads of for him Baker was
not al once assured. The players kept
al him until they had gained their point.
Personality Counts.
Doubtless one reason for Moran's
great success in Philadelphia Is the
fact that his personality Is such as 10
command that respect that would
prompt usually disinterested players 70
90 10 the front so strongly for him
This is not said IN a spirit TO behttIe
Pats managerial ability. One muss
have something more than strong
personality TO win the championship IN
a league that has such crafty leaders
as NcGraw. Robinson and Stallings.
Everybody laughed az Moran's CLUB
when il shot out TO the front year
ago last spring. ~,
1T is the spring fever Of the Phil
lies" ieered John McGraw. July =
will find those birds back in the rucS'
"If Pat can get anywhere with that
collection" scoFed Stallrgs, why,
then. I'm a matchmaker by trade
But the Phillies stuck out IN front.
Time after time they thrust back cnal-
lenCes that threatened 20 shake them
from the lead. Remarkable, quite, and
sensational almost a. the triumph OF
the Braves the year before, the team
fought for its appointed manager sue
cossfully 90 q championship. Wlthln
one short wear this sunny dispoSiuoned
coach has displaced George Stallings as
baseballs Miracle Man.
He IS out there fighting again, fight
ing for a pennant as couraGeously from
behind as he fought in front d year
ago. Pat and his Phiihes may not win.
Thcy will not be beaten so long as a
mathematical chance remains. Half a
dozen times they have been counted
out. Sill they are within striking dis
lance OF the leading Dodgers.
Even a. late as last spring there
were loud OUTLAWS from rival managers
for Pat and his plucky champions.
When TWO major leagues went mad IN a
scramble Cor the talent available IN the
N collapse OF the Fcderals Philadelphia
y stood pat on its pcnnant winners.
Y Joke Champion"
a jok. champion" opined Stsllings.
1T won on Auke IN 1915. i cannot
possibly get by against the strength
cred feld"
"If have nothing 20 beat but the
philhes." McGraw confdcd 20 his
crcnics. then the Giants have won the
pennaut The second division for poor
Pa this fimc."
Stsilings and NcGraw arc fighting
Cor the slim consolation Of third posi-
ton. Moran iz still the grisly ghost
Of Wilbert Robinson's nightmare.
Very much IN the pcEnSat hgh. this
lttle appreciated champion.
ln some ways Moran campo ~ Of
.h.s year overshadows his succcssful
oTive o. year ago. ThIsIgn the
drift % this tight the oppos ton has
Keen more spirited than yeas back.
Furthermore, Moran has been handi-
caTDcc by the failure % q certain de
partmcnt which wise managers calcu-
late a. 60 per cent OF a teams ability
n, has had only three pitchers on
whom he could depend.
Alexander. Kixey and Dcmaree have
borne the brunt o. the tight all the
way. Among them they have turned
in sizty-cight o. Phiiadelphias eighty
FIVE victories. r. De- true that Moran
has In Alexander one Of the creates;
pitcher Of al time A box man VIVA
can turn IN thirty-One victories lif-
teen Of them shutoutsJ against eleven
defeats will 20 n long nay toward
cOunteracting other deficiencies Of the
boz Riley snd Dcmaree have con
tributed their share on The side. Eppa