New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-10
Detroit Manager Says He
Needs Flag to Vindicate
His Reputation.
ANXIOUS TO SHOW
CONSTRUCTIVE GENIUS
Tigers. Outhit All Rivals
and Success Depends
on Pitchers.
BY w. J. MACBETH.

able career as a major league Dase-
ball manager has the heart of Hughie
Jennings been so set upon a pennant
as it is to-day.
One might think leader of Hugh's
accomplishments would be pleased to
stand on his most commendsble record.
after such a plucky fight as he has
made against odds this season. But
not the Titan-locked pilot Of the
ferocious Jungaleers.
IL need this pennant," confided
Jennings while in the city recently,
need ii far more than any manager ]
can think of. l need II to vindlcste
my reputation"
Reputation at Stake.
Now what do you think of state
ment of that kind. Here was man
of world renown, with face as open
and bright as an unclouded sky, speak
ing seriously Of having a reputation at
stake-a man who as player and man
ager both had already won more fame
than usually falls TO the lot of half
a dozen professional baseball players;
a man who stepped into the Ameri-
can League from a bush organization
and Immediately placed his name IN the
Hall of Fame in Sportdom, alongside
those of Hanlon and McGraw and
Chance and Clarke and Connie Mack,
by winning three consecutive cham
pionships, the first in his very first
year. The coincidence was recalled TO
Sir Hugh. IL was difficult to fathom
his remarks save as light pleasantly.
"Now, see here" said Hughie, "let
me explain" His face, voice and man
ner were all serious. There could be
no doubt of that.
81 want this pennsnt because it will
be Ny pennant," he said. when We
old Orioles played ball"-Hugh's face
lit up at the merest Renaissance of
the name-"we were never jealous of
each others triumphs. They pleased us
and spurred us on to greater endeavors.
But still we always wished whatever
credit was our due. We would fight for
one another But, too, we would fight
for ourselves.
IL guess maybe | have had my share
of pennants since took command of
the Tigers" unused Hughie. 81 have
never had joke club, and l have been
in Detroit-let's see, this is my tenth
year. We have not always won. Byt
always we have been most dangerous
right up 10 the very end of the cam
paign.
Beginning to Grumble.
Critics were willing at first to con-
cede me niche with Mack and Nc
Graw while my club was the pennsnt
trust of the American league. | have
not won pennant since 1909 and some
of my former photographers are be-
ginning TO grumble.
"Oh, can read between the lines,
never fear" snapped Hughie. 81 get
the drift all right.
Jennings Is all right as a field cap !
tain they might just as we'll say openly |
but a field captain is all that he is. I
Where is his constructive ability? Has
he rebuilt powerful pennant winning
machines like HanloD and Mack and /.
McGraw? Oh, no. He fell heir to a |
great club when he went to Detroit. He /
won pennants while that machine lived |
its allotted span of championship /
capability. And then he stopped win /
ming pennants.'
you understand what | mean, then, !
when | say l am most anxious to win q
championship this year. You know /.
what l mean by MY pennant."
Hughie lapsed into reverie a few
moments.
"a nv oSStuiPN W OAti any ltUub-
tall" he said finally. Baseball man !
ayers, | am sure, will get my point. |
I'll not even intimate that it requires
fnesse TO get ell the good out of q
club. III speak Of the ability for re-
construction that one must possess to
keep even a champion team intact
through a single campaign. The pub
lie would not understand.
Mack Had Nucleus.
"But the public will understand"
said Hughie most emphatically, "if De-
troit is fortunate enough to lead the
race home this time that | have recon
structed a pennant winner in seven
years. That's not q record for speed.
Mack did the trick in five; McGraw in
six. But Mack had q great nucleus
left in those wonderful pitchers, Ben
der and Plank, from his 1905 cham
pions. McGraw had his Mathewson TO
build around.
"There is only one man remaining
who was q fixture on the club TO which
fell heir in Detroit" said Jennings.
THAT same is the veteran Sam Craw-
ford. True, my predecessors had found
Ty Cobb. And he is a most fitting cor
nerstone for any architect. Cobb was
a mere boy then, untried and unknown.
A jewel in the rough, this Georgia
Peach, though in his development l
think | have good cause for personal
pride. II
Turn back 70 my roster Of 1907 and
compare 10 to my reserve list Of 1916.
The ordinary baseball life is far
shorter than those extremes. Craw-
ford was a veteran in 1907. lie is still
a vital force in my Tigers. But he is
the only one besides Cobb now fighting
for the glory Of Detroit who does not
reflect my reconstructive ability Of
such have.
That is The reason why | am fight
ing so hard. | want 20 see what my
boys-my own boys-can do in a
worlds series. ! wish 70 see how
much the seasoned Cobb excels the
nervous boy Ty who figured in three
classics. ! want 70 prove conclusiyely
that ] had IL in me 70 rebuild a worn
pennant machine"
That is wonderful club that
Hughie Jennings leads 20 the charge
Of the ramparts held by the worlds
champion Red Sox. His flank may be
turned By the defenders. Or he may
be caught between the whitening en-
fading fires Of the Red and the White
Sox. But certain j, If that Hughie
and his boys will 70 down with their
guns. They will never surrender.
Strong Picket Line.
For many years Jennings boosted in
Crawford. Cobb and Mcintyre then,
later Dayey Lonesome Of the very
greatest outfelds Of all time. Mcintyre
and Jones have passed. The aged Craw- /