The Washington herald., 1920-12-26

We then come to the mystery OF
Connie Mack. Connie proved first
that no man could handle good ma.
terial in any way. Connie took
OH youngsters and eratic actors
and made them play ball. Then.
after his pennant machine of 1905
had collapsed and gone to dust he
stepped out upon the highways and
built up another within three years.
By 1910 he had one Of the greatest
machines in the game at work. In
1914 Mack decided to break up this
combination. but for six years he
not only has been unable to erect
another flag winner. but has not
been able to emerge from last. place.
McGraw began to prove back
around 1903 that he could handle
men. Having a big bankroll to
work with and a keen eye for talent
he was also able to keep a strong
machine on the firing line. McGraw,
just as Mack had done, won six
pennants, but he hasn't been able
to win another since 1917.
Your Uncle wilbert Robinson. of
Brooklyn. is one of the greatest
combination managers in the trade.
Robby began to prove years ago
that he could handle men through
an agreeable personality that al
ways got results. In addition to this
the old Oriole star also proved that
he could spot a coming star several
leagues away, and once having this
youngster at hand he could iron out
the kinks Robby and Pat Moran,
bcing old catchers, have both been
wonders at developing and handling
pitchers, whether they were young
sters or veterans. This ability has
been big aid all along the trail.
Both Robby and Pat have been
exceptional leaders at handling
| cast-ofs. This is one of the final
tip-offs as to managerial greatness
They took men who had been cas-,
overheard as useless by other man
| ayers and soon had them working
with renewed pep in a winning
tribe.
Moran won a pennant with tht
Thillies in 1915, came within a game
OF two of winning another in 1915
and then in 1919. as leader of the
Feds. gave Cincinnati her first pen
nant in fifty years. Pat. just a.
| fobbS had done, proved that hi
could not only lead men, but coult
| build up raw material and lift has.
beens out of the rut.
Speaker never had a chance 81
far to show what he can do in the
way of rebuilding a broken dowr
club. There is no question as t.
his ability with fair or good mate
rial at hand. Not until this team
begins to crumble will he be testet
along the other line. By that tes
his final ranking as a manager will
be shown in full.
| Cobb still has both cases to prove
Ty will start out with a bad bal
club. so he will have an earl!
chance to prove himself both way
las a leader of men and as a de
veloper or discoverer of raw ma
terial. He may prove the first case
but he will have more trouble a
the latter job.
With the White Sox dismantIe,
there are only two hard clubs t
stop next year. the same beinl
Cleveland and New York. II Ty ca
step on the gas and inject an ele
ment of dash into his platoon h
has a fair chance of finishing il
third place without any remarkabl
effort. He will not hurt his caus
to any extent If he can. swing int
his old stride. and lead the leagu
again. Speaker won many a gam
for the Indians by his sensations
fielding and heavy hitting. Cobt
batting around 400. will be a NOR
inspiring quality than Cobb battin
around $50. 1t is easier to folio,
the leader who is heading the en-
tire pack.
After a ball club has skidded
trihe there Is a great tendenc
through the grind of a six months
campaign to take life easy and pla
for the payroll only. The manage
who can keep his men on top Q
their toes is always a factor in tn
race. The Cobb experiment will b
one of the most interesting of man
seasons-just to see what tn
games greatest ballpiayer can
on the other side of the games bi
job.
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