Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-21


Mack proved one thing to the
satisfaction of all. and that was that
n consistent winner can be as bad as
= consistent loser in certain cities. He
had team that won with machine
like precision. but in 1914 when his
team WAS at the height of its form.
he could not get the crowds to come
out to his bali park. Philadelphia
had tired of seeing the Athletics win.
The thing. was becoming monotonous
To them evidently. II it had not been
for the crowds that the Athletics drew
on the road and the clubs share in
the world series of 1914. the owners
would have lost money that year.
AS A matter of fact. they barely broke
even. The result WAS that after the
world series Connie decided to dis.
band his team and begin building
new combination. In this | think he
was justified He had a great ball
team that was a losinCprOpoSition at
home. His players having won
remnant wanted more money on the
1915 contracts than Mack could
legitimately afford 10 pay.
Tire Of Winning Teams.
The condition that existed in Phil
adelphia also existed in Boston. They
got tired of winning teams in Boston
New York it is different. II the team
does not happen 10 he up in New
York, il fails To draw They have 10
have winning team in New York.
The more the team wins. the more
fans will come ont 10 see the tea m
play.
When Mack decided To rebuild. he
did not know what was ahead of him.
He faced 10 long and lean seasons in
!, III h q h.4fI
seventh. Rot until 1924 did the
Athletics begin To show Z tendency TO
climb Building pennant winners is
a long and difficult undertaking, as
Connie can tell the world, and II any
one doubts him he has 1t record to
prove every word ne SAYS.
Bill Carrigan was one of the best
managers the American Lea que pro-
duced Carrigan took charge Of the
Boston Red SoA after Jake Stahl
resigned as manager. His appoint
mont aroused little enthusiasm. Fans
seemed to figure that grave mis-
take was made in handing Carrigan
the joh. They did not think him
"a ma BILE. hut he fooled them all. He
showed remarkable ma cerial ahil-
ity. and this. coupled with his
-hrewdness in picking pitchers and
handling them properly. his NnowI-
edge of human nature and an ahil-
ity 10 drive men and get the last
ounce out Of them. made him ster-
ling leader He had wonderful
outfield in Duffy Lewis, iris Speak
er and Harry Hooper. ] do not be
lieVe the game ever saw A trio that
surpassed them for fielding excel
IenCe.
Miller Higgins has been much
criticized and few regard him as an
that do not believe him good man
ager The fact remains that Hug
gins has made an excellent record,
and no man could make the record
he has established without being
gifted with some talent. 1uggins,
as manager of the st. Louis Ma
ttonals. did Well with poor material.
In New York he was able to gather
much better material and he carried
his team to the top. You cannot
10 better than that. He brought the
first flag to the American League
grounds on Manhattan Island, and
he followed this feat with two more
in succession. The next year he fin
ished second In a close race. He won
two world titles. He is of a retir-
ing disposition. p sort of recluse, who
shuns the crowds.
Has Tough Task.
The fact that he is not what is
generally called a good mixer has
caused many to decide against him.
but Higgins was hired to manage
ball club and he has done that eX
ceptionally Well Do not forget.
either. that Huggins' job in New York
was an exceptionally difficult one, for
| know of no manager at any time
in the history of the game who found
more temperamental ball players on
his team than Higgins had and
when thesy peculiar temperaments
clash. as thsy always will, the man
aver is the boy that carries the bur
den. Higgins did that.
Some still name Cap. Arson among
the great managers of the game, but
Arson was never a great manager
He was A PLAYER manager and most
of his reputa ton was earned as a
pIayer Even then IL was not be-
cause of fielding or base running
skill. but due to his powers as a
slugger. He canont be included in
any group OF leading managers.
Charles Comiskey made fine
reputation as manager Of the st.
Louis Browns under the ownership
n, Chris Won der Abe. Comiskey led
fae Browns to four pennants for Won