The Washington times., 1925-03-23

was decidedly surprised when
he told me that Frank Chance at
the age of twenty-four, won the
National League pennant for the
White Sox. He also told me that
in the same year fielder Jones at
the age of twenty-six, won the
National League championship.
Likewise in Chicago.
It's the old debate between the
relative merits OF youth and age.
It's a hard question to settle. II
you're discussing ball players. then
youth is always to be desired. But
manager must be an executive
a. well as baseball man and
there's where aoid heads are wiser
and often more successful. Or
course many great managers have
failed to win pennants because Uf
circumstances such as inferior ma
terial or sometimes, series OF &C
cidents. And again, other skiufui
managers have won pennants late
IN their careers for reasons similar
to those just mentioned.
Take the examples Of WiIbert
Robinson and Pat Moran. Both
natural baseball leaders and es-
.neciaIIy noted for their ability
II develop pitchers. In spite
az fa,ese talents Pat Moran was
forty years Of age when he won
HIS first pennant az Philadelphia
r. 1915 and WiIbert Robinson, re-
garfled as the best handler OF
pitchers I'm the game today, had
passed fOrty-seven, when BrOOklyn
won 3 pennailt under his leader.
ship In 1916.
Some years ago took part in a
benefit game for the family OF
Addie Joss. Many major league
stars played that afternoon and
pbotograph taken on that occasion
gives an interesting study on base
ban managers. gOf fourteen players
in the picture, only three besides
myself are still In baseball and all
OF them are now major league
managers-Tris Speaker, Ty CobD
and Eddie Collins. This shows, 5nat
TO survive in baseball, executive
ability and intellfgence are as neces-1
sary as high batting averages
There have been many hlgenL
ban players who never desired TO.
become managers there have
never been any ptay'ers VINO De-
came managers and retained their
jobs. unless they possessed a. great
deal Of intelligence:
At the same Time this interest
ing photograph shows that pnysis
cal ability is eqfzlly q factor IN
the lives of great players. Note
that Cobb. Speaker and Collins, all
managers. are stin fielding ana
batting with the leaders.
/ feel that playing managers
have considerable advantage over
rranaeers - sitting on the bench.
m is far more effective to 30 out
and show . bah player bow to
make . play than to tell him
how Won used to do it. IL q
n1anager IN hustIing, like Bucky
Harris. the spirit is bound TO in
sDire every player on the team.
Hustle as much rs batting, pitch
ing and strategy won the PEN
nant for Washington.
Even in spite of his afflicted eye.
sight. George Sisler showed the
ability to keep st. Louis fighting
through 1924 and at one time the
Browns were strong contender
for the pennant. Iris Speaker.
stiIl one OF the best players in the
American League, not only won a
pennant for Cleveland in 1920 but
at the same time, enjoyed one OF
his best seasons as q player. Ty
Cobb has kept Detroit hustlng
since taking the place of Jennings.
His chief weakness being that he
sometimes expects his players to
do the things he used to do. Tv
forgets that ne is one Of the great
est ball players Of all time. And
just think of it, in 1924. after
twenty seasons in che American
League, he not only managed the
team but played every one Of the
ia scheduled games. No player
on his payroll stood the strain
like the veteran playing manager.
Cobb IL showing great improve
ment and If he and Heilmann have