The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-30


Manager Ned yHalon had been
transferred to- Brooklyn and. the
whole club was to go with him
vanderhorst, owner of the Baltimore
club, had become also part owner of
Brooklyn. His partner was man
named Abell
Baltimore was never city to sup
port loser. When 1t was seen that
VIC would lose the pennant in 1898
the attendance fell off considerably.
This prompted the shift to Brooklyn
You can we'll imagine the feelings Of
the fans of Baltimore.
The scheme was for the players of
the Brooklyn and Baltimore clubs to
be pooled. Hanlon was to take the
best for Brooklyn and the "culls,"
as we called the mediocre or slipping
players then, were to go to Baltimore.
Keller, Jennings. Kelley-all the
best players of the Orioles-were told
to report to Brooklyn. Robinson and
myself refused to go. We were in
business in Baltimore at the time and
thought it unfair to be yanked away
like that There was much argument,
much hemming and having, but we
stuck it out. We would not go.
McGraw Is Manager
Finally it was decided that we
could stay in Baltimore and that /
could be the manager, with Robinson
as main assistant. He had been cap
tain of the Orioles and would con-
tinue in that capacity.
That is how I|got my start as a
manager in 1899. That is when my
troubles began. I quickly noted the
difference in merely playing and in
running a ball club. But / was de-
termined to make good, even though
l was quite young. I was but 20
years old
/ had one great advantage that no.
body had figured on-my memory
That has been my greatest asset. !
knew and remembered the weakness
and strength of nearly every player
in the big league. This good memory
by the way is sort of gift to me.
! l never doped out any system of re-
Numbering things. l guess 1t is due
| to my intense concentration on any
| thing In which 1 am interested. TIC
give you an idea of how much 1 de-
pend upon tt am using all the
names and dates in these memoirs
| from memory. / never keep records
| or notes.
| This memory was to come handy
| for me more in directing the game or
the field than in construction.
| aiiuggsy's" Batting Order
| I set about to organize a club as
| best l could. After few months
| this was my batting order: McGraw
| 3b; Holmes If; Keister, 2b; Lechance
4, lib; Brodie, CT; Sheckard, rf; Magoon
! IS; Robinson, C; Hill. p.
| I happen to recall that line-up for
a particular game against the Cincin-
natl Reds because we were beaten out
] in the ninth inning, the game wind
/ ing up in scrap in which Tommy
i Corcoran, Keister, McGinnity and
| figured.
| AS soon as possible that year
| made a trade by which ] got Gene
| Demontreville from Chicago. Later
| got Jennings back.
In this transfer of Demontrevill,
! there was an amusing incident. TIL,
| scorers and players had shortened
! Demontreville'S name to Demont WI
| all called him that.
! telegraphed him 500 to pay FOL
his ticket from Chicago to Baltimore
There was much excitement over thi,
deal and we tried to keep the details
quiet until it was all over. Demontre
| willie was told to get his ticket with.
out saying anything.
Gene went down to the telegraph
| office and inquired: Have you got {
| 500 money order here for Eugen.
Dcmontreville?
1--WE have not" replied the cashier
We've got 500 here for Gene De
| mont--but no Demontrevlle."
That's me- declared Gene. Il an
the same fellow"
Nothing Doing
But the cashier wouldn't stand fol
it. Though Gene argued and per
| suaded, explaining how baseball PEG
pie had changed his name. there wa
nothing doing.