Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-09-11
PITCHING RECORD
Mack Philosophical
In Face Of Almost
Certain Defeat

Philadelphia, Sept. 10-(AP)--
Fate and the breaks" in Connie
Mack's opinion, have shattered his
dream of plotting the Athletics TINS
wear back to the high places of base
ball and pennant glory that has been
beyond his reach for more than
decade.
These two factors, he thinks, step
ned in without warning when the
team was winging along at the top
battling neck and neck with me
WASHINGTON Senators, to deal the
Athletics a series of stunning SET
backs and drop them from tne
heights 20 an almost hopeless posi-
ton In the rear in the short space
of three weeks.
Automatically the race Is not
vet over and as long as there Is tile
faintest trace of "a chance. MACK VII
have his team fighting onward. bu'
even the. fact that the team nnaoe =.
two straight over Washington yes
terday, gaining an even preak on
the series. leaves a margin OF seven
anoes between the two clubs. ana
SacL himself admits this is virtual
ly insurmountable.
In the face of his startling adver-
sitv-one that has few major league
narallels-Mack does not repeat tne
Familiar refrain Of the loser-"Walt
until next year" =.
"This was our best chance" ne
saws 'I figured this as our year
ali along. We had only one team 10
heat but we couldn't do 1t. NeAl
wear we will have four or five TO
contend with. Chicago, New YORK
and Detroit will all be in the thlcK
of the fight in 1925. My club WIN
he strong again, I hope, but II mas
lost its biggest opportunity.
IT thought we were on the mig I,
tide until things suddenly turned
iaeainst us in the West. Our de-
tense. particularly around the IN
acid faltered a bit and our pitching
sJumped. These may seem the real
causes of our disastrous losing
streak but you know, the breaks
went against us day after day. =,
where we had been hitting in the
ninch. we knocked into double plays
once into even triple play. We
lost three straight games to ST.
Louis by one run at the start OF our
losing stretch and dropped the last
two to Washington on Labor Day
bv the same margin. 1t just SEEM
ed that fate was against us.
I've had our full strength on the
field all this time, too, so there are
no alibis on this score. We hao our
handicaps, injuries and disappolnt-
ments earlier in the season, out we
surmounted them and kept around
the top. Perhaps with our fun
strength earlier we would have done
even better, but that Is only
guess"
Mack. generous in defeat, does not
noint the finger of blame at any
particular individuals in reviewing
his setbacks. His philosophy offsets
his disappointments to a large extent
hut he cannot conceal the fact that
II has been a bitter blow to one OF
the strongest ambitions of his long
career. <.o
In the final analysis. the rate
which Mack sees as a stumphns
block really has taken the gulse OF
Bucky Harris and his Senators.
Harris, plotting his great club to lts
second straight pennant at the age
IF %. has thwarted the ambltlons
of a man more than twice his age
Mack, the tall, fatherly tactlclan'
who was winning remnants When
Harris was in knee pants ana VINO
captured his last worlds champion
shin when the young Washington
leader was an apprentice in the nara
coal mines near his home at PITTS
ton. Pa. Thirteen victories ior
Washington in 20 games with the
Athletics tell the real story OF the
margin now separating them.
1t is the second time that a team
of destiny such as Washington mas
been called, has blocked the asplra :
tions of Mack with startling swirl
ness.
Eleven years ago, in 1914, Mack
won his last American League pen
nant, only to have one of the great
est machines of all time crumple III
four straight world series games pe-
fore the dazzling march of the Bos-
ton Braves, led by the Miracle
Man. George Stallings.
Put Mack is not through. Where
a dozen years OF disappointment
might have discouraged the stoutest
heart. it has only imbued him with
the determination to carry on until
triumph finally perches again on his
barner.
THrTEpN EACIrE