New-York tribune., 1918-06-23
-. Facts and Fancies =.
BY LOUIS LEE ARMS.
An Old, Old Argument

VIE diamond has given birth to several argu-
ments upon which the last word is never
reached. One Of the most prominent of these
is whether the manager makes the ball club or the
ball club the manager. There have been columns writ
ten about it pro and con-
The other day at the Polo Grounds we met an un-
usually we'll informed baseball man. who has followed
the game ever score of years, and who most emphat
cay takes the stand that the manager does not make
the ball club.
"Of the three managers that first to tie aver
age fans mind, Ned Hanlon, Frank Chance and John
McGraw probably would get the majority vote," said
he "Now it is my contention that all three of these
managers have been maze by their teams than
they have made their teams and have evidence that
bears out.
ITO begin with, always had the impression that
Ned Hanlon, when he managed the Orioles, was near
the top of the heap for all-time managers Later,
working in poolroom Broadway frequented by
several members of the iustrious Orioles and by
Hanon, himself, surprised to find that the ball
payers aGcriued but small Of their success
Hanlon and declared that upon the field they both
planned and executed the strategy which them so
many games and caused them to be known smart,
aggressive ball club.
"'Hanlon,' they told me, lis a great manager in
handling the executive end Of clubs business signing
contracts, leases, etc.; but his Importance to clubs
success dimnshes in proportion to his proximity to
the business Office but only fair the field
About Ned Hanlon
sGrT~H1S surprised me much that took it upon
myself to make closer investigation of the
matter, questioning several of the Baltimore
players, and every of them less substan-
tated that which the first players had told Even
at that time did not believe entirely what had been
said, credting the ball players normal desire to re-
ceive praise for their lack Of appreciation Of Ham
lon But things l later md other managerial
personalities have studied read me to believe that
the ball players only sincere but correct in
their belief that Hanon had little to do other than
to manage his club perfunctorily; that McGraw. Jen
nngs and the other of the scrappy Orioles played their
own game the field.
"The of Chance has been gone over thoroughly
to prove that the managerial equation Is very much
exaggerated but some Of the old Cubs told me lust
how much exaggeration it For instance I un-
dersand upon the best of authority that Chance had
nothing to do with the pitching changes-one operation
by which managers class generally is told-but that
Johnny King assumed entire responsibility for this
He had one signal that told Chance to warm up an
other pitcher. and another signal which meant to re-
place the pitcher then on the mound.
Zone Of the few times when Chance did use his
managerial authority as applied to pitching was when
he insisted that Jack Pfester should start the pay-o
game against the Giants against the advice of every
man on his team Chance had an idea that left
handler could stop the Giants and beat Mathewson and
he was insistent- The result Of following his own in
clnation was that Pfester lasted inning and Nor
decai Brown, who had been the almost unanimous
choice ct the Cubs. was rushed to the relief.