The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-03-02
MaCkmen Are Trying
To Stage Comeback
Connie Mack Has Large Squad and Outlook Is Better Than
for Many seasons-Tan Tutor Expects To Be in the
Race Throughout the Year

NEW YORK, March 2.-Cornelius
Melilllcuddy Is trying to come back.
The famous, erstwhiie successful man
ager OF the Philadelphia Athletics mas
big squad OF bail players in training
~ Lake Charles, La. and hopes TO euil
Z winning combination from their mum
Connie Is through selling star players.
me wartime need for retrenchment
having passed, he has settled down to
me difficult task of building up another
pennant winner for PHILADELPHIA, and
ne has one OF the largest squads Of
plaAe ever taken to the sunny South
land for spring training
Inc Athletics were the first ball toss
trs to get under way for Dixie, the bat
teFymen leaving Feb. 80 whether or
not they viii be first In the coming
pennant race Is something else again
On paper they do not look like a club
with the playing strength to carry them
70 pennant. But they may prove to
De thorn in the sides OF some oppos-
ing teams during the coming summer
Tor under Mack's tutelage young play
ors are apt TO show a remarkable knowl-
edge Of baseball most any old time-and
MACK VIII nave comparatively young
Many baseball critics who have fol-
lowed Mack's career are of the opinion
that the lanky Philadelphia pilot win
have TO wait long, long while before
ne ever has another aggregation Of
young players to work with such as
he had in the good old days when he
developed his once great worlds cham
plons. The Barrys, Bakers, Collinses,
Mclnneses, to say nothing of the ,Planks,
Coombses and Benders, or the OldringB,
come few and far between. Perhaps
Mack has realized 1t long ago Perhaps
he has been forced to admit himself
that thn ahflitty ~
stars had more to do with leading them
to stardom than his tutoring But for
all of II Mack is wise and capable
manager, Given the talent he win get
as much out of 1t as any other man
ager in the big leagues
Mack Careful.
Mack is looking his players over
mighty carefully this year, He is going
to split up his squad into two teams and
spend part Of his time with each of
them.
In selecting his 1920 regulars Mack
Will have no trouble in filling a number
OF positions. There is no doubt that
Cy Perkins, battery mate Of Scotty
Perry, will he his first string back
stopper. One other catcher is to be
selected. Mack has Walker, secured
from Des Mones, in the Western league;
styles, big, rangy fellow from Ala
bama university and the Atlanta club.
and Wyatt, from Houston, Texas, who
was purchased along with Pitcher Har-
ris. This battery, by the way. was
considered the best turned out in the
Texas league for number OF years
Mack took young army OF pitchers
South this vear, Scott Perry is his big
star, and Scott is said to be in excel
lent condition. What's more he and
Mack have patched up their row and
are good friends again
Kinney, Maek's promising young left
handler who showed good form last sea-
son. will probably get a regular meal
ticket. Naylor Is another whose past
experience should make him ripe for
a good season, while Martin. secured
from the Binghamton club of the Inter-
national league, was one of the best In
the big Eastern minors and is expected