Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-16
PIRATES LOOK
FOR HOT CLUB
NEXT SEASON
Mckechnie Has Confidence of
Whole Smoky
City.

to wrest the National league pennant
from the 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
|came down the homestretch with a com
manding lead-and then blew up with
a report that was heard throughout
organized baseball. Pennant hopes fad
ed way with the Giants rush, and
local supporters gave vigorous vent to
their disappointment.
Gibson got away poorly this year. A
change of managers resulted. From
the week that Bill Mckechnie became
skipper. distinct Improvement was not
ed. From the middle of July Pitts
burgh played like a championship team
and records show that the Corsairs
made the greatest record in the league
from that turning point.
The Giants lead was too much, how
ever, and local fans must wait another
year. And they are, seemingly, con-
fident that 1923 will be the scene of
triumps such as were recorded at
Forbes field when Fred Clarke's men
became champions of the world.
For the past six weeks. the Pirates
have been leading the league in team
hitting. The pitching has been superb,
with shutout victories anything but
rare. The fielding has been equally as
spectacular.
McKechnie intends to start next sea
son with his present lineup and pitch
ing staff.
Same Men to Play
why break up a championship
team" he asked. Would you trade
our outfield for any in the business,
or our pitching staff for any corps in
either league? Is there a better catch
er than Schmidt or q mightier infield
on offense or defense-than Grimm,
Tierney. Maranville and Trayner-"
Local writers and grandstand ex-
perts have advanced many theories for
the remarkable change that came over
the Pirates after McKechnie 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 Pr
rates have been willing to admit that
the individuals referred to have all
contributed their share, but they point
out that If was McKechnie who
patched up the Schmidt trouble and
Mckechnie who added Russelfs II
centimeter bat to the available artil-
lery. Players themselves have aired
their views.
How 1t Happened
This psychology stuff may be called
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 loose. Russell blows in and gets
bit by the home run bug. Tierney
goes on a rampage and boosts his bat
ting average to $40. Bigbee blows
himself to a similar average. MAJ
Carey and Rabbit Maranville, the two
real Cogs of the outfit, have their
greatest season. Grimm and Traynor
prove they are really wonderful field
ers despite their hard luck with the
bat.
Then the pitchers go crazy. Coop
ct. NIOEElSOI. NdIISOn. audDS ana
Glazner all turn in shutouts OF hold
the enemy to one or two runs. They
get out there and sock 'em through.
well knowing that they have a team
that can go back and get EN-. Look
over the records and see how stingy
they all have been with bases on balls.
There is your psychology again. They
took chances, but broke the old pill
over the plate"
Clarke Likes Them
Fred Clarke, former manager. has
been travelling with the team for a
couple of weeks.
Best vacation | could blow myself
to- said the Kansan. lie seldom talks
before a crucial game or q worlds Sc
ries battle, but he did open up a bit
here the other day.
through in 1928" he said. "A team
needs five essentials to win a cham
pionship. These are: Management,
pitching. hitting, fielding and nerve.
II think our pitching staff easily
has it on the Giants. The Pirates are
the hitting fools of the league. And
| can endorse McKenchie's declarations
regarding the fielding. Yes, they
should cop
One familiar figure may be missing
next year. That's Babe" Adams.
The big right handler wants to retire,
but he may change his mind.
1t is an open secret that Adams
over-exerted himself this season. Past
40. he pitched shut out ball when he
had to, but like the mighty Matty of
the olden days, he took things easy
when he could. His friends on the
team have told of the nights, after
hard battles, when Adams arm was
so sore he could hardly lift it. His
perfect control and his uncanny
knowledge of batters were his aces.
The Pirates will try out the usual
flock of promising youngsters" in the
spring, but it will take a real phenom
to GUST a regular from his present
berth.