New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-26
Cards Manager
ToHaveChance
With Yankees
Hickey Fails to Meet Hug
gins Terms and Rupert
Lands Him
By w. ]. Macbeth

for this post WIN Coiofiei 'a@"o
Rupert, president Of the local
American League club, before an
Office full Of newspaper men.
Aside from the fact that the in
strument was binding for two years
the terms Of the contract were not
made public. Higgins will spend
much of the winter in New York
familiarizing himself with American
League conditions. His home is in
Cincinnati.
Both the new manager of the Yankees
and-h mis- new employer. Colonel Rup-
pert, denied most emphatically that any
definite negotiations toward .heir pres
ent relations had been contaminated
until yesterday A story broke out
some weeks ago that Higgins would
succeed Wild Bill Donovan, who had
led a forlorn local cause for three
years.
al am leaving st. Louis" said Hug
gins, with the very best Of good feel
ing. | submitted a proposition to
Branch Hickey some time ago. He
failed to meet my terms. | was given
to understand that | had the privilege
of disposing Of my services elsewhere.
| have done so, and anticipate no
trouble from any National League
quarter.
Ready to Work Hard
az will try to give Colonel Rupert
and Captain Huston a winner. and that
as speedily as possible" ne continued.
81 am not well acquainted with Amer
lean League conditions. Neither am L
familiar with the personnel OF the
Yankees. | have never seen any or my
rev players in action, save Slarsans
and Gilhooley. They say | have
nucleus of a good club; | hope SO,
expect 10 have to work hard, but that
is nothing new. Colone, Rupert I'M
presses me as a man sincere IN ms
desires for a winner, and | think be
tween the two of US we will be able
to attain such an end before a great
while"
Colonel Rupert seemed much dis
tressed that he had found II necessary
to appoint successor to pon9van an .,o
"If live fifty years more" SAID the
colonel, 81 hope / never have to face
such a painful task as confronted me
when | was forced to tell Bill had
decided upon a change Of managers.
He came to me day or two ago: III
was not until then that had definitely
made up my mind. .
Donovan and I parted the best Of
friends. He is not only one OF the
finest fellows with whom | ever have
been associated, but no one can deny
that he was particularly unfortunate
in New York. Much of his failure to
construct championship team was
due primarily to bad luck. No mana
ger suffered greater reverses from &C
cident and illness 20 players. Donovan
has severed his connection with the
Yankees, but wherever he goes he VIII
have the best wishes Of myself for his
success"
Career of Higgins
Higgins. the newly appointed mana
ger of the Iankees, Is thlrty-seven
wears of age. He is a native OF GIN
cinnati, Ohio. He was born March II,
1880. and began his professional career
in 1898 with q semi-pro team OF Wapa-
koneta, Ohio. The next season he
Joined the Mansfield, Ohio, team OF the
Interstate League. In 1900 Hugglns
was with Fleschmann's Catskill Noun
tain semi-pro aggregation. Through
these years Higgins played the short
field position.
In 1901 Higgins signed with the st.
Paul club OF the Western League,
where, through 1901, 1902 and 1908 he
did woman service at second base.
Cincinnati secured him in 1904. He
was second baseman Of the Reds from
that time until the close of the 1909
campaign In 1910 he went to st. Louis
in a trade for Fred Beebe and Stork.
Higgins served in the ranks with the
Cardinals through 1910, 1911 and 1912.
When Roger Bresnahan went 20 Chi
cago to manage the Cubs in 1913 Hug
gins was appointed manager OF the
Cardinals. That position be held con-
tinuously until yesterday.
Considering the almost insurmount-
able obstacles with which he had TO
contend, Hugginss record in ST. Louis
as a manager has been truly remark
able. He was last in the race in 1918,
but the following season finished
good third. He dropped to sixth in
1915 and tied Cincinnati for the cellar
championship last year but this season
he was right back fighting all the way
and COPIED the show position.
Higgins is the ninth manager Of the
Yankees. Clark Griffith led the team
for Frank Farrell from the time of the
American League invasion of New York
until 1908. He loot remnants both in
1904 and in 1906 by hukey breaks of the
game.
Grifiith's team finally went to seed on
his hands in 1908, and he was relieved
of the management while the team was
a. 49,.
field filled out the rest of the year.
George Stallings came in 1909, but after
he had placed the Yankees second in
1910 he got the gun from the powers
behind the throne.
Chase Has His Fling
Hal Chase succeeded Stallings, bat
he lasted only until the end Of 1911.
Harry Wolverton then came for a year.
He was succeeded by Frank Leroy
Chance. Chance ran out on the job in
September Of 1914. Roger Peckinpaugh
took charge for the remainder of the
season That winter Messrs. Rupert
and Huston purchased the club from
Frank Farrell and his business associ-
ates. Bill Donovan was secured from
Providence 10 take command Of TIE ill
fated club. He was in charge until yes
terday.
II Miller Higgins can impart some of
his own fire and fighting spirit to tho
Yankees he should greatly benefit tho
American League cause in this city.
For the crying need Of the Yankees
through the last fifteen years has been
a real fighting spirit. The team lacked
class oftentimes principally because it
lacked color.
Higgins intends TO make no radical
mOXes He will rafain loo KnIIn.. ~.