San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-23
Rival Managers Sympathize
With Sister and Hendricks
That Is, They Sympathize
Now-on the Field, Of
Course, They'll Be Willing
to Bite These Two Un-
fortunates Who Are Faced
With Such Difficult 7 asks.
By GEORGE CHADWICK

Copyright. 1924. by Consol. Press Assn
New York, March Elf you were
the manager of a major league cluf
"a man who is nobody's friend in
times of adversely and everybody's
friend in times of prosperity and cham
pionships-maybe you'd like to hear
what other managers really think Of
you. And then again maybe you
wouldn't.
A professional manager on the field
speaks to his rival like a bottle OF
acid addressing vat of vinegar. But
off the field-as the writer has es-
tablished by talking to a lot of them
they frequently speak of each other
with that sympathy which the blind
feel for the blind.
George Sisler, the boy manager of
the st. Louis Browns, for instance, has
the almost unanimous sympathy of his
brother managers. Ehey are agreed
that he probably faces the hardest
task of any manager this coming sea-
son. And they condole with him now
though they will be ready enough to
bite him later on.
Has Hardest Row to Hoe.
Sisler has the hardest of all rows
to hoe, say the other managers be-
cause he will be handling a team of
ball players that has been twice with
in shooting distance of a pennant and
that is good enough to make a strong
bid for another one. They know how
baseball should be played to win. If
Sisler insists on having his way-and
he must if he is to be success-and
if that way does not put his club
out in front, lie will begin to feel the
criticism. His veteran ball players
will think it over separately first,
then talk it over among themselves,
and then begin to group.
There has always been a lot of
curiosity as to who made Sisler man
ager. Of course, Phil Ball, owner of
the Browns, appointed him. But it
was Walter Fritch, the Colonel House
of the Browns, who put Sisler where
he is. They are great friends. If
Sisler fails, it may be that Colonel
House, the second, will resign.
Easy Time for Higgins?
Miller Higgins, according to the
majority of the managers, probably
will have the e9siest time in 1924
of any manager in the game. They
used to say that Higgins could not
carry his team with him. But Hug
has gained the respect of that bunch
of free thinking mental gymnasts who
make up tie Yanks. The winning of
the 1923 world series, in which Hug
gins proved his worth as a strategist
time and again, taught them that Hug
gins may know few things that they
don't. A few of them may break out
occasionally, but not many.
The veteran McGraw will handle
his team his own way.
whats the use talking about what
McGraw will do?' said one manager.
Its what they will do that will
count"
"They" refers to McGraw's play
ers. Everybody comedies that McIraw
has a good ball team and is as danger
Gus as any of them.
Bancroft of the Boston Nationals
and Foil of the Boston Americans
are classed together by other man.
ayers. While they have not as much
good material as some managers, their
task will not be so terribly difficult
because Boston has been fed on such
poor fare that the slightest manifesto
tons of success will make both man.
ayers esteemed of fans and players
alike.
Connie Is Too Fatheriy.
OF Connie Mack, they say that, IL
he will only let his players play and
not father them too much, he may get
along this year.
connie is so wrapped up in his
players he wants to feed them with
SPOON" said one tough-hided vet
eran who has been staggering under
the weight of a managership for many
seasons. What he ought to do is
let 'em run out once in a while and
feel that they are real devils"
Some of the managers think Frank
Chance has a bunker out of which to
lift himself in Chicago, because the
old Cub fans will be expecting him to
do wonders.
Harris of Washington has the world
before him, according to his conferees.
If he can lead Washington up ont
of the second division he will be the
high lord of the national capital. But
he'll have to develop some ball players
to do ii.
The conditions under which Jack
Hendricks will work at Cincinnati
have gained him the sympathy of all
managers.
Tough fer Hendricks.
Gee. what job said one. Great
team, and all that. but right at the
start of the season it loses the man in
whom the players had confidence be-
cause they thought he was lucky as
well as skillful. To step in and take
that place is inviting misery"
OF Robinson of Brooklyn, Fletcher
Of Philadelphia, Killefer Of the Chi
cago Nationals. Cobb of Detroit, Nc
Kechnie of Pittsburg, Speaker of
Cleveland and Hickey of the st. Loc->
Nationals, the other managers speak
with as much matter-of-factness as if
they were a sewing society.
Its neither easier nor harder for
them to get on. They've been through
it, Any of them who gets a better
break is lucky, but they'll handle
their teams the same way"
College Game Rained Out.
Fort NVnrfh Narcl. Po;r