Evening star., 1923-02-02

were mighty few better than Dahlen.
also got Jack Warner from Boston.
Remember. ! already had McGann,
Mertes and Billy Gilbert. On the
New York club had inherited Math-
cwson and Bowerman.
To prevent confusion, let me ex-
plain that Bresnahan was pitcher
then. Our conversion of him into an
outfielder. an infielder and then
catcher is one of my most interesting
memories of base ball. ! will take 1T
up in another chapter.
With Elberfeld, Jones. Dclehanty
and George Davis ready to go in | had
the makingS of a formidable team
These men, as matter OF fact,
though. never played with the Giants
under my management th"ugh l got
them signed to contracts. Under
subsequent agreement between the
two leagues ] was not allowed 10 play
them. They were sent baci; TO other
teams in the redistribution OF players.
Paid Davis S6.5OO YeBr.
Just the same | kept two or three
of them on the bench for some time
and paid their salaries.
I'll never forget the expression on
Andrew Freedman's face when ] came
back from a raiding trip VITA George
Davis contract in my pocket. tossed
it on the table. It called for salary
of $500. And this was the man
Freedman said he wouldn't give
$500.
He threw up his hands. Later, after
he had left the club. Mr.. Freedman
told me that ! was right, that he had
been wrong from the start in thinking
! that an owner could successful de
eide on players for his management.
So. when VIC got ready IT, start the
1908 season ! had the following nu-
cleus for a real team to represcn,
New York:
McGann. first base: Gilbert. second
base: Dahlen. shortstop third base
was in doubt. as PLAYED there myself
| sometimcS). Ny outflclders were
Mertes. poIin and Browne. The
| catchers were Bowcrman and Warner
The pitchers were Matthe Fspn. Me-
Giunity and Bresnahan as the leaders
WiIfs- md Amc. Came Later.
| did not get Wiltse and Ames until
| some time later. when I also bought
! Arthur uevlin. younester, from
Newark.
| Before We got we'll under way sew
| cral minor changes were made. Al
! any rate we started out with IA rusf
! and ended the season in second place
! The attendance had begun 20 Increase
I in leaps and bounds. If | do say 1
! myself New York was again on th'
base ball map.
! In the meantime Freedman had sole
| out his interests to John T. Brush
owner of the Cincinnati club.
There has been much talk ahou
| Why Freedman got out az base ball
Personally. believe my signing q
George Davis for that salary and put
ting on other players rs I please
| started him. He thought base bal
was out of his hands; that lie wa
helpless in the hands IF - manage
who had such authority in a four
| wear contract OFTEN ! have talk q
| II l, hitrn al
years and he has lauGhingly agree
that had the dope about right
Brush a Progressive Man.
John r. Brush, though. observin
my start, thought tha; | WAS eNactl
right. Immediately he began nego
tiations for the club. | acted as tn
emissary between him and Freed
mans home out in the country.
must have kept that road hot goin
back and forth.
Finally the deal was consummate
and John 7. Brush became the owne
of tho New York Giants. He wa
heart and soul with me in my pla
to build up a club. He didn't car
what players I bought or what | pal
for them AS long As my JudSmen
dictated their purchase. Right her
II would like TO say that not ono
from then until his death did NJ
Brush ever interfere with me in tn
slightest way. He gave me the rein
end told me to go just as far as
liked.
have related these incidents of tn
,earlv days in New York in ratho
scattering way. ! have made no al
tempt to pick up the various move
J in CHRONOLOGICAL order. Their place
! in the construction of the club wa
of more Importance than the date
IL have. therefore. dealt with thcI
that way.
Rivalry in Gotham Beneficial.
, During these interesting days til
, Baltimore club. as was eXpecte'
dropped out OF the American Leasu
and New York took its place. The
began the rivalry-the competition
, ! in New York that eventually turnc
: out a great thing for the game.
, The biggest move we made in I'll
latter part of 1902 and in 1903 We
rehabilitating Mathewson as pitche
The way he developed through CT
ouragement was little short
: amazing. With a club of spirit b'
: hind him he burst in bloom overnigf
J / il seemed.
) Another chapter is required to poll
out the early defects and quic
growth Of Mathewson.
Copyright 1928 United States and Canad
ny the Christy Walsh Syndicate)