The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-29
team RECORD
OF SIX WEEKS
WOEFUL TALE
Mismanagcment and Injuries Con-
spire to Drag Islanders Down
the Ladder.

sion and an honest-to-goodness
pennant contender to the lowest
rung of the percentage ladder a
mile long. Looking back over the
last six weeks brings nothing but
painful recollections TO the major
ity of fans but the story will bear
re-telling in part
When the team left home on June
15 on the second road trip OF the
season, it presented the aspects of
q finely nodded aggregation. Hopes
OF the fans were held high by
achievements of the first six weeks
which had proved the club capable
of matching the best the circuit
had to offer. 1t was resting Sc
curely in third position and there
was every reason to expect it would
continue to keep up among the
leaders, and perhaps become tae
pace setter.
But a combination CT miSmanage-
ment, unwise releases and injurl IS
TO proven members Of the team, %
gether with bad judgment of sign
ing player after player of unknown
worth, only to have them fall ny
the wayslde, wrought the havoc.
A check reveals 80 players VINO at
one time or another since the mid
die of Juno disporteG themselves
in an Islander uniform at the ex-
pense of the fans association.
George McQuillan took away
from Rock Island June is this ag
gregation: Murphy, McInerney.
Schweitzer, Burke, Cole, Benson,
Elliott, Connolly, Tate, Pratt,
Smith, Ross, Ambrose and Miller.
He came back on July 2 Without
McInerney, Burke, Elliott and
Pratt, and in their places had
leach, Cummings, Wire and Bill
Schirmer. Wire is the only one
of the quartet still with the club
less than a month later. Leach,
Cummings and Scnirmer were dis
appointments. 1t is a foregone
conclusion McInerncy Burke and
Elliott could still be delivering Ter
Rock Island.
Pratts loss could not be helped.
The thirdsacker was ruled out by
Judge Lands for alleged Irregular
ity in his dealing with the Chtca-
go White Sox. McInerney was turn
ed over to Evansville in exchange
for Earl Wire and Elliott was CIV
en- back to Terre Haute. McIner-
ney didn't savvy the switch and has
yet to report to the Evas. Bop
Coleman at Terre Haute had no
place for Elliott and the promis-
ing first baseman mas drifted back
into semi-pro ball.
Concerning Joey Burke, it was
said Columbus took him away from
Rock Island and gave him to Terre
Haute. McQuillan Gisclaimed any
responsibility in the matter but ti.c
truth about Burke's loss has never
been explained. At any rate, Burke
has since become one OF the princi-
pal cogs in the Tots pennant-aspi--
Ing machine.
In spite OF the numerous changes
in the personnel of the team, il
managed to get along fairly well
through the forepart of the road
trip. There was no hint of what
was to happen until the Islanders
hooked up with Bloomington. Three
reverses sent them back home with
a meager five victories out of IA
starts.
When the Islanders got back %
the home lot July 2, they were
faced by a long stay-at- home. The
friendly atmosphere of Douglas
park was expected to cure their
slumping fever. Did it? Well, out
OF y games all they have to show
is tVe victories. If We include four
games with Moline at Browning
fteld, the record is seven won out of
20 at home, and combining these
with the contests of that second
road trip, the figures are IL won
out of %.
The upheavals created on the
road were destined to be surpassed
at home, the most important of
which was the change of leaders
he continued rever5es were The
~ signal for McQuillan to step out
ana this act brough. in Elmer Ben
son as manager. 1t was a discour-
aging outlook for Benson, to say
the least He possessed a super
abundance of dead timber in young
and inexperienced players. The
pitching staff, which previously had
been the big factor in the islanders
favor, was on the rocks. The loss
of Pitcher Frank Smith because of
illness was hard blow in view OF
the failure of Berg, Mackey AMI
Manouk to do any more than lose
several games. Ross, too, was a
disappointment, and all Benson
really had for hurting duty was
Miller and Ambrose. The failure of
Bill Schirmer and Hank Jando
made the third base problem a sore
spot OF the team. ana on top of this
came injuries to Bill Cole that put
him out for a long time.
To top il all on, Benson himself
was injured in an automobile acct
dent, thus depriv1ng the team not
only of his worth as, manager but
also his much needed offensive and
defensive strength The team play
ed a remarkable exhfhftion against
Moline the first day Of Benson's abb
sence but took the worst beatings
ever given Rock Island team on
the following two days. They won
the last with Moline at Moline py
reason of excellent pitching. but
in the three games with the Plows
at Douglas park displayed listless,
haphazard work
The fans association believes t
is not too late yet to fortify the
weak places with new players and
get the team back into a winning
stride. Charlie Connolly Is the
fighting type and If given these
kind of players will make a credit
able showing during his regime
as temporary boss. There are sew
eral of his men now who possess
the qualities needed and who make
use of them. Those fans who have
seen the recent games can name