Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-10-02

"The Little Guy and the Midget"
Those are the pet names applied to
Miller Higgins, manager of the New
York Yankees, and DOME Bush, pilot
Of the Pittsburgh Pirates, respective
ly-and sometimes not so respectful
~.
But the Little Guy and the Midget
have the lGagh.
For they are now the W. most
feared in baseball.
Higgins is no stranger TO his
league or to championship series.
II was Higgins who gave the New
York Yankees their first pennant. IN
1921. 1t was Higgins, the Little
Guy, who steered the team through
two more successful years. 1t was
Higgins who shook that same team
out Of its slump-bided his time
while Babe Ruth went to the hos
pital, fought his way back to health
and then led the Yankees back 70
their fourth-and, yes their fifth
pennant in six years.
Higgins success did not come
overnight, however.
II took him some three years TO
whip his team into shape. In those
three years he took the jeers Of a
scoffing public. He wrestled with
iealousies and managerial aspirations
on the team.
He took" a lot from Babe Ruth,
then a wild, irresponsible Ruth.
There had to be a showdown finally
and a $4,000 fine slapped on the
Babe by Higgins brought matters 70
a head. Ruth capitulated, be 1t said
to his credit.
Wallie Pipp, first base veteran,
was turned loose and Lou Gehrig
tossed into his shoes. Earl Combs
was bought from Louisville at a
handsome figure and took his place
in the outfield.
Wallie Schang served his last days
nc catcher and Benny Bengough and
then Pat Collins were injected
Tony Lazzeri and Mark koenig
we're purchased from the Coast and
American Association respectively
and thrust into the infield almost
overnight-to shine Immediately in Q
pennant winning combination.
Through these years Higgins Jug
gled an always uncertain pitching
staff. Hoyt, Shawkey and Pennock
carried the burden and are still on
the firing line. But he won.
Bush's rise & fame in the Nation
al League was startling TO everyone
except his closest friends and admir-
ers.
This Is his first year as a Nation
i League pilot. Virtually, his first
real chance as a big league manager.
Clark Griffith let him run the Wash
ington Senators las Griff thought a
ought to run IT'D some six
years ago. Bush lasted one season.
Griffith released him without an ex-
PLANTATION. Bush finally became man
ager Of the Indianapolis Association
team and it was his great success
there that caused Barney Dreyfuss
to sign him last winter to boss the
much-managed Pirates. Bush took
a club cracked with dissention grow
ing out Of the s~quabble yer the dual
agem of Bill McKechnie and
Fred Clarke. He not only ironed out
the morale Of the club but plugged u
gap in the outfield by q master
~stroke-that Of shoviny the youth
Iul LlONU MAEIcI III ~ pay oANAA
side Lloyd's brother, Paul. His pitch
ing staff he handled with eonsumate
judgment.
And Pittsburgh became pacemaker
Of the league.
In their playing days, however,
both men had one thing in common.
The handicap Of size. Higgins had
10 fight his way into a big league
iob-as infielder with the st. Louis
Cardinals.
THAT little guy can't stand .he
strain" most critics averred. De-
spite his size Higgins played SEA.
son after season alongside stalwa-t
fellows 70 whom the pounding on the
hard ground Of the infield meant
little, physically.
Bush, while he played shortstop
for the Detroit Tigers, was the
smallest man in the big show, at
least until Memo Liebold and joey
Sewell Of the Indians bodied up.
Higgins was the better hitter Of
the two. Bush was a timely hitter,
however, and a daring and clever
base runner. Best Of all he was a
wizard at waiting out" a pitcher,
partly due 70 the advantage his size
gave him.