Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-08-09
CONNIE MACK
IS CONFIDENT
One More Pitcher and an Out
fielder viii Give Athletics
Pennant in 1924
By BILLY EVANS

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. s.-De-
spite the fact that the Athletics
are again trailing in the second divi-
sion, Connie Mack must be regard
ed as the master mind in baseball.
Even though his club after a bril-
liant start now is 1oundering about,
fighting to escape last place, Mack
is still the optimfst.
"Give me another first class pitch
er. a twirler OF the Bender, Coombs
or Plank type. and another fence
busting outfielder, and my club will
come close to winning the pennant
next year.
1T have the nucleus of a great
team. 1t has been sorely riddled by
injuries and illness, but it is still
out there fighting for every game. 1t
is a team that doesn't quit. That is
the greatest asset of a ball club,
gameness."
About the middle of June I vas
umpiring a series in Philadelphia. At
that time the Athletics were being
heralded as the sensations of the
league. Mack's proteges were only
about three games behind the
Yankees who were leading the
league.
Yanks Feared Athletics
Prior to working at Philadelphia l
had been with the New York club
for some time. All of the Yankee
PLAYERS had the greatest respect for
Mack's team. They felt the Mack
men was n club they had to beat
out if it continued to get good
pitching.
Coming out to start the Saturday
game on June 16 with Cleveland, |
chatted a few minutes on the bench
with Manager Mack.
your club is certainly surprising
the fans all over the country" l
remarked. 'If it continues to get
good pitching it ought to be just
as troublesome and as big a surprise
as the rest of the race"
At that time Naylor, Heimach,
.Hasty. Rommel and Harris were all
doing fine work.
MAYORS Injury Costly
"Had my first-bad luck of the sea-
son a few minutes ago." replied
Mack. "Naylor turned his leg while
fielding fly balls in the outfeld and
his knee appears badly injured.
"If Naylor is out for my length
of, time it may play havoc with my
team. Chicago I'M for a series
next. Naylor always beats Chicago.
1 had planned to s him twice
against the White Sox. With him
out for any length of time my en-
tire staff will suffer. There is no
telling how serious it may prove.
Naylor at that time had won eight
games out of nine and was the most
effective twirler inA the American
League. His injury started the Ath-
letics on the road to ruin. He was
out over six weeks.
Long Hospital List
Here is Mack's list of casualties
since the injury to Naylor:
Shortstop Galloway, out with a
broken finger for a month.
First Baseman Joe Hauser, clean
up hitter. sprained his ankle and
was out for three weeks.
Outfelder Miller, injured twice.
Once he was out for three weeks,
another time ten days.
Jimmy Dykes, star second sacker,
hit on the knee by a pitched ball,
out for two weeks.
Southpaw Fred Heimach, wrench
ed back that put him on the shelf
for a month and greatly reduced his
effectiveness.
Sammy Hale, out for perhaps a
month altogether, due to a sprained
ankle.
Minor injuries too numerous to
mention to many other players.
Truly Connie Mack is an optimlst,
After all this hard luck he a still
see a pennant in 1924, if he is fortu-
nate enough to land a star pitcher
and a fence-busting outfielder.