Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1920-07-01
INTRODUCTION.

Way back in the schedule. before the
ship. letter was brought to my office,
written by an old player. introducing
Henry Beach Needham. In it was
asked to permit Mr.. Needham to accom-
pany our club in order to give him a
chance to write some magazine articles
on baseball.
He sat on the bench with me. In this
way he began to learn baseball. OF
course by that mean what is sometimes
called. for want of a better name. INSIDE
baseball" Like all American boys. he
had played the game as kid and he was
an ardent fan, the kind that pulls for you
winning or losing.
His magazine articles, published after
the trip. were the first Of the kind printed
In America. Then, as now. baseball filled
much space in the papers, but Mr.. Need
ham was the first writer to introduce the
subject into magazines of general interest.
He was on the bench with us in that
memorable seventeen-innineS game when
the Athletics lost the pennant to Detroit
In 1909. He visited me year later when
we collaborated on a series of baseball
articles. Coming to live near Philadel-
phia he became a frequent visitor at my
home as we'll as a regular attendant at
Shibe park. Outside Of my family and
acquainted with the game as played by
the Athletics. or who SO intimately UNDER
stood my methods. as Henry Beach Need
ham.
In the fall of 1913 he came to my house
one day with a manuscript in his hand.
Until we had lunch and I was feeling
fairly at ease, even though we were
scrapping for a pennant, he did not tell
me what the typewrting was about.
Then he said to me:
Connie. want you to read this story
baseball story. It's what I've learned
under you. used as a basis for fiction.
Some CT the characters you've met. One
iris Ford-youll never admit you recog-
nize. I've tried to write baseball story
that will not make the fans sore because
the technicalities of the game are wrong.
and that will interest the general reader
whether he or she ever saw q game or
not. Read it, please. and tell me-with
brutal franknessIf I've delivered the
lit'ry goods.''
Before l say what thought Of it right
off the bat. I want to make you under
stand, if l can. In what attitude of mind
I read that story. l knew l couldn t
make Mr.. Needham believe 1 liked the
story if l didn't. and knew was going
to be hard to please. A manager has to
see some one hundred and fifty games
season, and while we always try to win,
because we're out to win every time, it
isn't every game, nc matter how close the
score. that gets us worked up and excited.
Was l likely to be SO over a game on
paper?
Well. the ball game described in '"The
Jinx' kept me guessing. To man like
myself. who had read nothing but straight
baseball articles and who had in mind
the players before the public, it was
catching me mapping to spring on me a
fiction story with unfamiliar names, yet
with live big-league players-a story that
held my excited interest from beginning
to end. It's new position for me to
play-literary critic. But have strong
backing in what I think, by the enthu-
siastic approval which 1.-THE Jinx" and
other Needham stories received from
players and officials of the game.
If there Is one class of gentry T an
dead set against it is the gamblers an6
camp followers who batten on the ma
tional game and who would destroy it II
they could, to serve their own greedy
ends.
Before closing and retiring to the
bench. I want to say that, despite VIVA,
is said of the grand players of the past
baseball is growing each season into q
faster. more fascinating game. Natu-
rally, therefore. the player is improving
The stars of today may be eclipsed by
the stars of tomorrow. So with baseball
stories. new writer may give both far
and general reader more captivating
story. But that will be day after tomor.
row. in my opinion.
For the present the lineup in this book
suits me, and it ought to suit you-player
fan or mother of a baseball crank. Thai
you may forget, as did this manager. how
uncomfortable you are while reading or
the edge Of your easy chair is the wish Of
CONNIE MACK.