The Cordova daily times., 1916-10-03
WHY MACK LIKES
 COLLEGE PLAYERS
Athletics Leador Says Real Talent Is Not In Minors.
TOO MANY OLD TIMERS THERE

Former Big Leasuers Fill Ranks of
 Smaller Circuits-PiIot of PhiIadeI-
 phia Americans Says He Is Oisap-
 pointed Over Showing of Team.
 "I must admit that am greatly dis appointed, said Connie Mack. man. ager of the Athletics. when asked how he was progressing with his building up process. "I thought last spring that l would have a pretty fair ball team by this time, but l counted by chick ems before they were hatChed The numerous Colegiuns who reported to me in June fell down hard They were not in good physical condition. and they had been so busy with ex- amnations that they hadn't played for several weeks. had received such glowing accounts of the doings of these young men on the ball field that nat urally l expected excellent results But ] was really shocked when l saw how poorly they performed. Lawry, the University of Maine player, didn't have much of q chance to show any thing because he sprained his ankle soon after reporting He may turn ont well as soon as he is In proper shape
 "Why did 1 go after college players? Because the best players in the minor leagues today are those who have been dropped out of the major leagues. 1t is hard to find young players of nat ural skill who can be developed into stars. l know what l am talking about. That is why you have just as much chance to pick up a first class colt In college as in the bushes
 Why have we lost so many games this year? Because we have been play ing against several teams in the Amer tcan league each of which still has a chahee to win the pennant. When the season opened told reporter that my team would finish last, but that the other seven teams were evenly matched. Seems to me had the right dope
 As part owner of the Athletics 1 have everything own tied up in this ball club said Connie. and am per fectly satisfied with conditions. So are seven other Amrri aH lrag.lr club own. CTS, and they have ruuHdcncc in my ability to cnE+tru HHoJacl. ball club.
 "I believe know the baseball husi- ness, and am stalking my reputation OH my ability to come back. and am coming back with a grcater team than l ever had before By next year ex- pert to have "lub that will be big factor in th" p"nnant rage, and within two years l expect to have pennant winning combination
 "I have never built up teams. as oth- CT managers do, by recruiting almost exclusively from the minor leagues, and therefore care nothing about the changes made by the critics have been managing baseball clubs for twenty years and have tried out every method. l managed in minor leagues and learned my lesson there
 That was where 1 learned that HllHoI league payers. hIlef they had been sent up to the majors. had to be started all over again The big leagues use a different style have there fore made up my mind to build from the ground up. and that k why have had so many raw recruits this year. They look very anpromising at first sight, but from them will build club that will play my kind of base ball and will not have to alter the style of my players.
 Tt was three years before Collins, Baker, Barry, Strunk and McInnls of my old team found their stride This new bunch should come along faster. because they are getting more oppor- tunities to play In regular games When built my old team foolishly tried to stay in the pennart race. soon found that l could get nowhere until cleaned house and developed the players without regard to the race. am doing that now with my new man