San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-27
T%aE4l
Diamond VS.. Ring.
A Matter of Success.
Few Rich Ex-Fighters.
Baseball Has Long List.
Comiskey, and Others.
BY Damon Runyon
Copyright, 1925, by International
Feature Service)


Mr.. Walter Hoban, the cortoonist,
popped into my office the other day,
and emitted the following query:
"Who are the more intelligent,
professional baseball players, or pro-
fessional boxers?"
The answer to this, / think, is
easy. ! say the ball players.
The proof lies in their record, as
compared to the boxers, after they
have finished their careers on the
diamond and in the ring.
1t may be the cruel, hard nature
of the game they follow, but you do
not often find former professional
boxers continuing OIL to successful
effort in other fields after they have
hung up their gloves.
And even in their own games, the
boxers do not display the intelligence
of the ball players. Few great box
ers have made successful managers,
or promoters. Many great ball play
ers have become not only great man
ayers. but successful club owners.
Charley Comiskey,, owner Of the
Chicago White Sox, was great
player in his time. John i. Nc
Graw. manager and stakeholder of
the Giants, was great player. So
was Clark Griffith, president of the
Washington club. Connie Mack,
manager and one Of the Philadelphia
Athletics, was fair player.
These are only a few instances,
but l cannot think of as many for
mer professional boxers who have
achieved the same measure Of sue
cess as managers or promoters.
One Of the leading citizens of Bal
timorc, a man active in public af-
fairs, and wealthy, is Ned Hanlon,
once famous ball player. and later
chief of the Baltimore Orioles.
DR.. Arlic Pond, u noted physician
of the Philippines, was one Of Han
Ions players, 'contemporancous with
McGraw, of the Giants, and with
Wilbart Robinson, president of the
Brooklyn club.
These are among the shining ex-
amplcs of success achieved by former
bali players after they had closed out
their diamond careers. Of compar-
atiyely recent era, VIC have Fred
Snodgrass, Of the Giants, a succcSG-
full business man of Ventura, Cal.
or course / do not say that all for
mer ball players find success i'll other
fields. But prOportionately to the
boxers the successful diamond grad
yates are numerous.
For every Marty McCuc, there are
dozen Ad Wolgasts, or Young
Critics. Marty McCuc was once a
real good fighter. He is today a
well known figure in New York poll
tics. and one Of the best public
speakers / have ever heard.
Ad Wolgast was a greater fighter
than McCdc. He was champion OF
the lightweight division, but he is
today sort Of pensiOuer on JacB
Doyle, the Los Angeles promoter,
Young Critic, accounted by old tim
ers as the boxing marvel of the
Queensbury period, may be found
summing himself almost any pleasant
afternoon on the steps Of New York
theater. driftcr on the stream Of
circumstance.
Kid Mccoy, another great fight
or, is serving a term in prison, sad
victim of his own designations. Jack
Dillon, ono Of the greatest fighters
Of the past fifteen years, is around
indianapolis. the last ! heard of him,
a physical and financial disaster.
Jack Kcarns. the most successful
pugilistic manager Of the period, was
n boxer. but even Jack Kcarns him
self would not claim that he was
great boxer,
81 merely was a wonderful judge
of distance says Mr.. Kcarns. Il
always knew when ] stepped into the
ring just how far the bout was 60
ing to 60"
Eddie Collins, Davy Bancroft.
Rogers Hornsby, Ty Cobb and Iris
Speaker are among the greatest
players the game of baseball has ever
produced. and they are managers
while still in playing harness. l have
never heard of n great boxer, who,
while active in the ring, managed an
other fighter.
A. G.. Spalding, a pitcher Of the
very earliest days Of baseball in the
land, became manufacturer of the
paraphernalia necessary TO his game.
He made himself immensely wealthy.
Al Reach, another pioneer player,
followed the Spalding example.
We have no former boxers who
correspond to Spalding and Reach.
John X. Tcncr. an old time big
league pitcher. who served as preSi-
dent of the National League for Il
time, was governor of Pennsylvania.
, and a national political figure. Bill
Sunday, n former outficldcr with the
Chicago club. became the most
noted evangelist of his time.
The late John Montgomery Ward
put in many years on the base ball
field, then became lawyer Of prom
incnce and ability. The Wrights.
Harry and George, who were among
the first professional ball players OF
any note in the country. were pros
porous bushes smcn in Boston after
they quit the diamond.
Philadelphia 4 Jack O'Brien.
Packy Mcfarland and Tommy
Ryan, Of Syracuse. are notable OK
amples of professional boxers who
have continued as successful in other
fields Of cndcayor as they were in
the ring.
They were exceptionally intclli.
gent fighters. O'Bricn has made
good living as an exponent of phys
iral culturp for yplrs Mcfarland