New-York tribune., 1922-12-31


can do anything even moderately well
hand the American League cause is
which is by nature a dyed-in-the-w
eyes of the baseball world will be on
as he was familiarly known in his
one Of the most picturesque figures Of
the games history. His name and
fame was associated with the Cubs Of
/ l906-'12 inclusive. when he served as
playing manager. As playing manager
the game has produced none better.
I Chance, like Fred Clarke, Of the Pi
rates, was a born leader, who exhorted
by example Some critics are prone 70
I take from Chance the credit % the old
| Cubs.
These credit 20 Frank Selee The
/ task Of building up the machine that
made Frank Chance famous. But II
/ this is true, the fact remains that
while he was able 20 play Chance also
/ was able TO get the very most possible
/ out Of his men. And in his behalf 70
must be said that Selee had nothing
/ 20 do with securing Steinfeldt and
/ Hofman, no inconsideTablc assets OF
| the invincible Cubs. These critics who
speak disparagingly Of Chance are the
! ones that belittle the reconstructiye
/ genius Of Bill Carrigan, attributing 90
/ Jimmy McAleer and Jake Stahl the
honor Of building up Bits pennant
/ winning combination.
Whether or not Frank Chance 50 pos
sessed of that reconstructive ability
requisite for his severe task In Boston
remains 90 be seen. Those who judge
him lacking perhaps are inclined TO
| snap Judgment. They condemn him for
apparent failure with the Yankees Of
/ 1918 and 1914. Il is true his two years
sojourn with the New York Americans
was anything but testimonial Of
genius: but could any one have done
any better under the circumstances
Under the ownership OF Frank Far
rell and William L. Devery the mana
gerial Sob was n thankless one. Club
policy was undermined by Office poll
ties, cliques and intrigues and par
simony to such an extent that Chance
threw up his hands in disguest before
the second term Of a three-years con
tract had expired and the following
winter the former owners we're forced
70 dispose Of their interests 70 Colon
ems Rupert and Huston.
Need Cooperation
What Chance might have done with
the aid. cooperation and generosity OF
the new ownership is p question which
he possibly may be able 20 answer IN
part in his new berth. Certain II IS
he seems TO have kept in fairly close
touch with the game from his tempo
rarv retirement In far-of California.
While passing through New York on
his way West a few days ago Ch9nee
aired himself Of a few opinions which
showed clearly that he has kept close
10 the trend Of things vital to major
league baseball.
when rsked how he proposed TO go
about he reconstruction OF o pennent
factor in Boston, that it will be up 90
me 70 develop the players necessary.
. The day Of purchasing eNperionced
stars Is gone forever. The death kneil
was sounded at the joint meeting when
rule WAS passed prohibiting the pass
ing Of major league players from one
club 20 another after June 10 each
year save by the waiver route. d.
"Rivals. Of course" continued
Chance, fear the two New York cham
pions. who have been accused Of buy
ing pennants. Well, their aceusers
would have done the same thing, !
I suppose, had they been in the same
position. A condition-you might say
a New York conditon-has arisen
which makes II necessary FOR managers
Of the future 20 develop their own
players. They can be no longer pur-
chased from rivals or even from the
minor leagues.
"Conditions In New York are such
that the rival owners can never let
. I ~ nfnmn between
them and desirable playing material.
The success Of each, financially, de-
pends upon providing that high class
/ Of entertainment 10 which New York
has been educated for two successive
years in double rennant winners and
two exclusive worlds championship
series. This friendly rivalry is bound
/ 10 increase with the opening next
spring Of the new Yankee stadium.
THE two New York clubs cannot ex-
peet TO 20 on year after year winning
pennants. though, indeed. both will
strive their utmost toward that end
Baseball could not stand Il. Major
league baseball could not live of New
York alone. Why even the Gotham
fans In time would sieken Of continued
success so easily attained as Phila-
delphia fandom lost interest IN Connie
Mack's pennant trust.
Harder TO Buy Pennants
Even II true as charged that the
Giants and Yankees bought their pen
nants the last couple Of years they VIII
both find il harder and harder so TO do
in future. The rule against sales and
purchases after June 10 clearly shows
the trend OF rival sentiment It is
certainty that in future clubs with
which these try 20 do business Will
drive harder and harder bargains, and
bargains in which playing values and
not cash will figure exclusively.
"Of course" Chance went on. "the
New York clubs will always hold one
distinct advantage over their rivals.
They will be able 10 outbid the others
for the pick Of those minor league
players not subject 20 draft. Other
clubs cannot possibly compete for this
market for they have neither the es-
tablished reputation nor the provision
for extra patronage that would Justify
the investment az the present inflated
values in Glass A. A. commodities.
"Still the yearly run Of the draft
players is limited and is bound 20 be-
come more and more 50 now that IL will
be impossible for major players 10 20
back to those classes without options
for recall IN a few years-when the
presens playing strength Of the ey-
emit leagues has outlived its useful
ness-rival teams will stand on even
| footing With their financially invincible
! New York rivals Then. indeed. IL will
/ be real fight. as in the old days,
among managers as 10 ability In de-
veloping rockies.
"Of the National League managers