Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-18

NUM- the numerous inquiries
" 1 have received relative to
~ these articles have been re-
A 4 quests to tell something about
managers, and how / like
managing.
Here is the answer to the second
half of that question: like 1t.
During all my base ball life / have
worked for but four managers, there.
fore, what I say about others is mere
ly my opinion formed from observa-
ton and experience.
I took orders from Connie Mack for
nine seasons, from Clarence Rowland
four, Bill Gleason five and John
Evers one. Since 1924 I have been
my own boss.
Knowing Connie Mack as do, I
freely admit that ! think he Is great.
Mack has initiative, courage, Arm
ness, self-control and knows the game
with all its ins and outs. backward.
Connie laid aside the mask and catch
ers glove a great many years ago,
but I have heard that while there
were. better mechanics than Mack,
there was none wiser in what a catch
er had to know.
Instituted "SkuI Prcatice."
It's long time since left the AS.
but while was there | liked the way
Connie handled the young fellows. To
the best of my knowledge, Mack first
instituted the now universal custom
of morning meetings, skull practice, ?"
as George Stallings called it.
In 1909 the AS went South with a
big squad. When the training camp
closed the regulars were sent North
under Harry Davis and Connie took
charge Of the Yannigans, of which l
was one. Others were Barry, Nc
Jnnis, Strunk, Harry Krause, Joe
Jackson and Frank Baker.
We played long string of games
on the way home and every day Mr.
Mack would call us together, tell us
something of the strength and weak
nesses of our opponents, and 1t seemed
to US kids that he had the low down
on all the. ball players in the world
If we had played well the day before
he would commend us moderately
and If we made mistakes, which we
did often enough, he would suggest
how we could avoid repeating them
I think we won all our games; if
am mistaken, we at least won most
of them, and Connie was so pleased
that on opening day six of us were in
the lineup. and we won.
The daily meetings continued
throughout the season and as the
news spread abroad we were kidded
for awhile by players on other teams
who alluded to Connie as teacher, ,
and to us as school children. We die
pretty well, however, and before the
end of the season the kidding stopped
All Clubs Adopt Plan.
The sound logic of the plan began
TO dawn on others and eventually al
clubs adopted it. I think very few
holding a meeting on the first day OF
each series and discussing certain
points now is well established.
There is a widespread impression
among fans that Mr.. Mack directs al
the plays of his team, somewhat after
the method that Mr.. McGraw is sale
TO use, though, of course, / don't know
II McGraw does that, though he has
long had the credit for signaling al
the important moves of the Giants
Connie may have changed his meth
DDS since I left the AS. but / can as
sure readers that up to the time O
my departure that was far from true
He does move his outfielders about
sometimes, by waving his score card
Probably, he orders batters passet
occasionally-that is what manager
are for-but if he tries to do all th
thinking he has changed since
worked for him.
On the other hand Mack likes play
ers to do things for themselves an,
recall an instance in point. In 1871
Bush and Schang were our kid batter,
and Mack assigned them to work TIL
third game, which was played in New
York. On Barry's first TIME at bat h
singled with nonA ont Schaug wa
next up and as he started to leave tn
bench he stopped, leaned over and sal
to Connie: What shall / do? Blunt
put him over, or WHAT"
"Wallie," was the reply, do what
ever you think best
6chang went up TO the plate an
tried to bunt and failed. Then on tn
next pitch or the third one he CAV
Jack the hit Ind run sign and a
Doyle ran over to cover second h