Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-08
rARL SAWYER MAKES GOOD
IN THE BIG LEAGUE, AND HE
DOESN'T HAVE TO PLAY BALL
Ssw Coaching Sensation Does His Work When
0ther Team Is On Field and Gets Paid for
It-Made Wilson and Connie Laugh
By ROBERT W. MAXWELL

manner as to fool almost any one ex-
cepting another horse He wags his ears,
uses his cap as tail. shakes II vigorously
and prances up and down the base line
until the opposing pitcher doesn't know
whether he is at ball game OF circus.
Caldwell Falls for II
While Ray was trying to find his bear
ings he grooved one and the ball bounced
Off the centre-field wall
This Is the effect Of eccentric or clown"
coaching on the opposing players. They
want to see the show, and as a result for
get the game just to get a look at what
is going on. Clark Griffith was first to
discover 1t when he allowed Germany
Schaeffer to perform and since then has
had the market cornered.
Germany used to pull funny stun while
he was on the playing field with De-
trolt, but changed his tactics when shunted
to the Senators. One day in Cleveland
Shaeffer got tired of sitting on the bench
and went into the coacher's box. Feeling
in need OF some exercise, he walked the
tight rope" on the chalk marks The audi
ence liked II and he did IL again. Then
he improved his act, and before the sea-
son was over Germany's antics won many
ball games for his team
Then Griffith got busy. He realized
the value of Shaeffer, but trembled at the
coacher should get sick or disabled. The
team had won IL games in row and
was the unanimous selection to finish first
in the league. Something MUST be done
at once. He MUST find another man to
cut didoes on the coaching line.
Signs Altrock
Griffith had heard Of Nick Altrock, who
then was pitching good and bad-nostly
bad-ball with Minneapolis. He got<i in
touch with Joe Cantillion and made an
offer. Joe was ready to accept, when
Nick pitched wonderful game and the
stuff was off. Soon Altrock again hit
the toboggan and Griffith once moro wired
an offer Joe gave Nick one more chance
before sending him to the big league, and
the result was another beautifully pitched
game. This happened nearly a dozen
times and finally Griff grabbed a player
for major league duty who was too slow
for Minneapolis. NJ
When Altrock and Shaeffer began work.
ing together the attendance at all of the
ball parks increased considerably when
Washington came to town. The fans came
out in droves to see Shaeffer and Altrock,
and the ball game was only an incident.
But there is a difference between Saw
yers work and that of the two pioneers.
Sawyer's act is cean-cut and stand-out.
while Altrock and Shaeffer resort to the
ton is regular actor and puts on his
act the same as a comedian who draws
$1,000 week.
Is Good Infielder II
Sawyer is an infelder, and good one.
He was purchased from the Des Moines
team in the Western League last fall be-
cause he was a frst-class second baseman
and Washington was in need of such a
person. His coaching stunts were as much
of a surprise to himself and Griffith as
any one else.
Carl is beginning his fourth year in
baseball He started with the Fresno
team In the California State League and
the next year went to Los Angeles. Last
year he moved step higher in the West
ern League, and now see where he Is!
It's safe bet that Sawyer will remain
on the coaching line and draw his salary
If he never breaks into ball game, He
is good enough to draw the cash GUS
toners, and that always makes a hit with
the man who pays the salaries. Is
He is known in Washington almost as
we'll as Walter Johnson, and that's going
some. He broke in with a brass band
accompaniment when the home season
opened, and even the President of the
United States applauded his act
Makes Wilson Laugh
Here is how 1t happened:
The Marine Band was engaged for the
occasion, and when it formed for the
march across the field Sawyer grabbed
baseball bat. borrowed the leaders cap
and led the ferocious musicians to the
grand stand. waving the bat as a baton.
Wilson almost fell out of his seat, and
when the others saw the Executive enjoy
ing himself they decided to do the same
thing. and Carl received more of an ova-
ton than was rendered John Philip Sousa.
Now any performer who can get laugh
out of President Wilson and Connie Mack
on the same field-principally Connie-is
GOOD. and there is no doubt but that he
will be with us for some time to come
Remember, men, he's just a youngster.