Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-10-13
Backers Of Pirates
Expect Much in 'Z3

: PITTSBURGH, oct. 1c--Dcspitc the Iact
, that the Pittsburg Pirates failed to
! wrest tic National league pennant
! from tho New York Giants local fam
| dom is in a distinctly different mood
, than it was a year ago today.
! In 1921. Manager Gibson's warriors
! c2.nc down the home stretch with a
I commanding lcad-and then blew up
with report that was heard
throughout organized baseball. Pen
nGnt hopes faded away withfthc Gil
ants rush, and local supporters gave
! vigorous vent to their disappolnt-
mont
I Gibson got away poorly this year.
4 chance Of managers resulted.
! From the week that Bill Mckcchnlc
/ became skipper. distinct Improvement
was noted. From the middle of Jul
: ~, Pittsburgh played like a champ
! ionship team and records show that
) the Corsairs made the greatest rec
! ord in the league from that turning
| point.
! The Giants lead was too much,
| however. and local fans must wait an
| other year And they are, seemingly,
confident that 1923 will be the scene
Of triumphs such as were recorded
at Forbes Field when Fred Clarke's
men became champions of the world.
1.-THE Pirates led in team hitting
during the last six weeks of the sea-
son. The pitching was superb, with
! shutout victories anything but rare.
The fielding was equally spectacular"
McKechnie sintends to start next
season with his present lineup and
pitching staff
"Why break up a championship
team" he asked. would you trade
our outne!d for any in the business, or
our pitching staff for any corps in
either league? Is there = better
catcher than Schmidt or mightier
infield-on offense or, defense-tlan
| Grimm, Tierney, Meanwhile and
Trayner?"
Local writer's and grandstand ex-
perts have advanced many theories
for the remarkable change that came
over the Pirates after Mckechnle
took charge. Some give the manager
all the credit. Others insist that the
pitching staff did it-after Catcher
Schmidt was brought back to the fold
and given charge of the hurlers.
Another faction credits a lions share
to Reb Russell, mighty slugger. who
was brought from Minneapolis. by
Skipper Mac.
Conservative followers Of the Pi-
rates have been willing to admit that
the individuals referred to have all
| contributed their snare. but they
point out that it was McKechnie who
| patched up the Schmidt trouble and
, McKechnie who added Russell's AZ
centimeter bat to the available ar
| tillery. Players themselves have air.
ed their views.
This psychology stuff may be call
ed the bunk by some. but I'm for it.
said one Of the veterans. 1--WE looked
like buns when McKechnie took hold
Then we start out and break the sea
sons record for consecutive victories
How do you explain it? Easy
"Schmitty comes back to take the
kid catchers in hand and in a few
days he has the pitchers believing
they can't lose. Russell blows in and
gets bit by the home run bug. Tier
ney goes on a rampage and boosts his
batting average to $40. B:gbee
blows himself to a similar average
Max Carey and Rabbit Maranville
the two real cogs of the outfit, have
their greatest season. Grimm and
Traynor prove they are really won.
derful fielders despite their hard luci
! with the bat
"Then the pitchers go crazy
Cooper, Morrison. Carlson, Adams
and Glazner all turn in shutouts OIL
hold the enemy to one or two runs
They get out there and sock EN-
through, well knowing that they have
team that can so back and get 'em