The Washington times., 1922-12-27

yRegardlng the first cause, ] can
ny briefly that the thrill of com.
petition. the Joy Of the hard fight.
the chance to nose out in a tough
struggle get to be a part of life
that's particularly pleasant as the
years roll on.
It's easy for any old-time ball
player to call back the past, to re-
enact the setting Of his triumphs.
After the playing days are over
there's the same old kick to being
somewhere in the game. to having a
part OF 1t still to play out.
The youngster thinks that the
game itself Is the whole thing, that
the managing and the business are
mere incidentals to the skirmishing
on the diamond. Because he thinks
that he sort OF glorifies himself, and
that helps his end.
Tho veteran gets to know that
there's as much to the directing
part rs there Is to any Ohter, per-
haps more, SO the lure Is still there
for him. Life on q ranch, found
interesting and entertaining
enough, but it lacked the punch
that baseball packs. For several
years the yearning has been
growing stronger. Now that I've
given In to 1t, 1 feel like q young
1ellow once more.
About justifying myself to big
the Cubs they were q good ball club.
cred by Frank Selee. The team un-
der my management became a cham
plon outfit, admittedly one of the
greatest clubs the game has known.
Naturally, take a great pride in
having managed that ball team. Any
body would. I have never claimed
the credit Of making the club. But
did gather in the stars that really
made It unbeatable.
signed Pat Moran, while acting
~ manager when 6elee was sick.
got Jimmy Checkard. Orvie Overall.
and Harry Steinfeldt, three Of the
greatest players that ever lived, and
In 90 doing I feel that had at least
Q real share in molding that old
champion crew.
But this is really apart from the
justification I have referred to
previously. win reIi or my trades
and deals in later articles. I left
and until that cloud has been re-
moved I won't rest easy in my mind.
After 1910, when the Cub stars
began to fade. ! needed new ball
players and wanted to buy them.
Owner Murphy, Of the Cubs, hav-
Ing made q fortune. was unwilling
to spend much. He was ready to
retire. For q couple Of years we
Quarreled frequently about 1t. l
was playing then myself. strapped
up like . mummy. when every
move was physical torture. i was
through as q player. and knew 1t,
but the old gang wanted me to
stick in there.
I did, while trying to get new ma
terial, but I finally became discour-
aged. I resigned as Cub manager.
That's the whole story Of my trou-
BILE with Charlie Murphy, Of which
no much was said at the time. 1t
was an unsatisfactory finish, after
being on top Of the league for SO
long, but any manager will tell you
that under such circumstances, l
was helpless.
intended to return to the coast
then and get away from baseball.
But Frank Farrell, who owned the
New York Yankees, sent for me and
offered me a big contract. His team
was at the bottom Of the league and
he wanted to build it UP. He Of
fered me three years. and I signed.
and took over the team In 1913.
But conditions there were no bet
ter. That club was made up Of old
hot
days, or players Of just big league
caiiber. 1 Immediately started to
explore the markets and arrange
trades that would help. When I be-
gan putting these up to the boss,
he hesitated and finally lost several
fine chances by delaying.
Then I found that his money
was tied up in tho contracting
business. 1 just had to 60 along
with the team as IL was. We
finished seventh in '13, which
was quite q performance, as
look back at It. We went into
the following campaign with
scarcely bit Of additional
strength, and little prospect of
getting any. :
The players knew tney COuldn
figure much in the race, and had
no more spirit than a broomstick.
In those two years the club didn't
spend more than $4,000 for play
ers, and $4,000 of that went for
Fritz >Maisel, who was a fine ath-
lete then. I did also get Roger
Peckinpaugh, but those were the
only two at a time when there
were a lot Of fine youngsters on
the market.
had a deal all made for Dick
Hoblitzell. Had him for $500.
Completed details and went on a
short eastern trip. Farrell was
supposed to close the trade. while
] was away. When asked him
when Hobby was to report, he told
me that he had heard the player
was broken down, and that accord.
ingiy he had called everything off.
Yet every baseball fan knows that
Dick was mighty fine first base.
man with the Red Sox.
That sort of procedure naturally
sickened me. Before the IA cam.
nat.r xuoo andad oava NJ Eor