The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-02-04
5 new PILOTS
AT HELMS IN
AL. THIS YEAR
Ban J0hns0n's Retirement
ClimaNes Unprecedented
Downfall of Managers

Chicago, Feb. 4.-[4)--The Great
est upheaval in the p years exist
enee Of the American League swept
through the organization this win
ter. Ban Johnson, the patriarch of
the league. was placed ION leave" to
recover his health, and the executive
authority turned over to Frank Navin.
league vice president and owner of
the Detroit club.
Johnson's retirement was the eli
max to the downfall OF a procession
of club managers unprecedented in
major league history. Five new pilots
will be at the helms this year, the
only holdovers being the perennial
Connie Mack Of the Athletics, Bucky
Harris with Washington and Miller
Higgins with the Yankees.
Torn by stories Of scandals all win
ter, the club owners finally managed
to end the discord and then turned tc
bid against each other for the ser.
vices Of ~ Cobb and iris Speaker
the storm centers Of one Of the chief
disputes of the stove league season
Speaker finally chose to sign with
Washington, after considering ant
re ccting offers from New York ant
, Philadelphia. Cobb is still dickcring
with the st. Louis Browns apparently
having the inside track.
Managerial Changes
The places they vacated as manag
ers at Detroit and Cleveland were
filled by George Moriarty and Jacl
McCallister Dan HowIey succeeded
George Sisler as manager of the st
Louis Browns. Bill Carrigan, VIII,
led the Boston Red Sox to their ser
les Of successes 10 years ago, wa:
persuaded to come back and get then
out Of the cellar. Eddie Collins CAV,
up the management Of the White SO.
to return to his first leader, Comm,
Mack. and Ray Schalk. premier back
stop of the American League, wa
named manager.
With such series of managerial
appointments, the club owners seem
cd 10 have little time left to swa
and purchase players, but the Whit
SoX and Yankees completed one deal
and the Detroit and st. Louis Club
made another important trade
In their first American Leagu
trade in many years the White So
obtained Aaron Ward to fill the sec
ond base vacancy. and Detroit &c
Marty MeManus, the Browns shor,
| stop.
Outside these few outstandin
deals, the winter player market wa
, largely a matter of changing tradin
material or untried players. The per
/, nant Yankees got some pitching la
ent for their excess infielder, War,
| and st. Louis got a southpaw an
| two likely infielders for it's sta
| shortstop.
Eddie Collins return to sccon
base with the Athletics was the on
standing change Mack made for h
pennant chase, aside from his pro-
osition to Speaker.
Favors Youngsters
Bill Carrigan was the only manag,
not seeking either Of the two veters
outfield stars. He announced he W;
building up club of youngsters.
Phil Ball, owner of the st. Lou
Browns, is the leading bidder f
Cobb. The Georgia Peach told h
friends he wanted to play but OF
more year in the majors to vindica
both his honesty and ability, and tn,
looked forward to long rest and
tour of Europe.
If there is any truth in the 0
adage that new broom swee
clean, the five new brom wielders
the American LEAGUE this year shou
create lot Of dust from the time t
| signal is given April IL.