The Daily Missoulian., 1917-03-16
fsx R. I. Roeene.l

terror of all American league pitchers,
and frequent flag winners, were the
Joke of the league last year, when
they finished in the cellar, winning
only SO games out Of 154 played. The
Athletics set a new record for losing
games, In 1916. and also set a record
for losing consecutive games when
they lost 20 and some odd games in
row during the summer. In a desper-
ate effort to make some kind of n
showing Connie Mack imported semi
professional and college ball players
or imitation ball players by the dozens
but none of them made good. and some
of them made ludicrous attempts at
playing major league ball.
When the season of 1914 ended the
Athletics had all the members of the
famous 100000 infeld. Mclnnis,
Barry. Collins and Baker. a slugging
outfield. with Strunk, Oldring and
Eddie Murphy. and good pitching
staff in Bender, Coombs, Plank and
Bush. That winter Connie Mack sold
Collins and Murphy, while Plank and
Bender joined the Federal league,
When Mack refused to pay Baker the
salary the big home run slugger de-
manded. Frank retired to the fast
nesses of his Maryland farm. emerg-
ing every Sunday to draw 500 for
playing with little Independent team
in PENNSYLVANIA. In 1915 Baker was
sold to the Yankees. The Athletics
finished last in 1915, and the follow
ing spring more of the veterans We're
swept out. Oldring, Coombs and Barry
going to other teams. The 1916 season
was a disappointment from start to
finish with only two bright spots, the
playing of Amos Strunk in the out
field and the sensational pitching of
Joseph Leslie Bush, once upon time
a Missoula Highlander hurler.
But Mack has realized the fans will
not come out to see his bush leaguers
and collegians lose to real teams, and
so has obtained a number of fast men,
such as Ping Bodie, Trasher. Bates,
Noyes, Hill and Schauer. in order that
the 1917 White Elephants may be in
the race for the flag. The only vet
eran to leave the team this winter is
Napoleon Laioie. the second baseman
who goes to Toronto in the Inter-
national league.
Mack, or Cornelius McGillicuddy, has
been manager of the Philadelphia
American league team ever since the
circuit was organized. He has won
five pennants. in 1905, 1919, 1911. 1913
and 1914, and four worlds champion
ships. Mack has amassed good
sized fortune during his so years or
or more on the diamond. and is the
main stockholder in the club, there
fore does about as he pleases with the
team.
The Athletics catchers are Wallace
Iii Hung Schang. Patrick Haley,
Walter Meyer and young Pichinich.
All are holdovers from the 1916 sea
son. though Schang played in the out
field and at third base last year. Iii
Hung is considered the equal of Ray
Schalk of the White Sox, and when
played in his regular position prob
ANY tilC l'tSt Catcher III iie ltdSut dS
he has steel whip. can hit and run
bases and think, as well. Schang is q
young man. coming up from Buffalo in
1911 after one years minor league eX-
perience. Haley is the most promis-
ing of the other catchers. Pat caught
Tor Buffalo last summer and JOINED
the Athletics in the fall. Walter
Meyer and Pichinich are both young.
sters with bright futures, who came
up from the North Carolina league
The veterans of the pitching stat
are Joe Bush. Elmer Myers. Jins
johnson and Nabors. Bush was on,
of the star pitchers of the American
league last year pitching seven shut
outs and no-hit game despite tn
work of the joke team which support
ed him. Bush won Il games and los
"a last year. Elmer Myers is slende
right handler, WHO came up fron
Charlotte in the North Carolina leagu
last spring. Elmer is almost as goo
pitcher as Bush. though his effort
don't stand out with as much bril-
lance, and won Is and lost 90 game
in 1916. Jing Johnson. who made hi
rep at Crsinus college, won two an
lost eight last year. Majors, a lank
southerner. achieved the remarkabl
record of winning one game out of .
pitched. But, as Fielder Jones says,
man must be some pitcher to lose
games i'll the American league II
recruits ar" 'Rube" Schauer. who wo
six and lost three with Louisville Ia.
year Schaucr sat on the Giant
bench for three four years. but W.
finally turned loose as being incul
ably wild. Win Nuycs, the portlar
iron man, Won y and lost ~ on Il
coast last year. NVyss had a tryo,
with the Boston Braves four wears az
Hill crack left handler from Wac
who won % and lost Il in the I.o,
Star circuit, ard Anderson. Il hurl
from the Central league will get
chance to break into the Nmpric;
league. Si,bold who Won II and lc
six with Wheeling. and Naylur a.
"Rattlesnake" Smith from the Yves