Evening star., 1928-10-13
WALTER POPULAR
WITH FANS THERE.
Handicaps Cited as Reason
Strong Team Finished
Low in the Race.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

VI pline, sums up Walter John
sons year as manager of the
Newark Bears, who finished
seventh in the International League,
l0ia games behind the winning
team.
The big Train" is going back to
Washington with a minor league prep
school degree. With him probably will
go George Mcbride, former manager
and Shortstop of the Nationals who
served as coach of the Bears and bore
the brunt of whipping the Newark club
into shape at st. Augustine, Fla where
"Old Barney" almost LOST his life in
battle with the dreaded influenza. In
teStinal trouble followed the influenza
attack, and it was quite some time be-
fore the great pitcher could assume
charge of the Bears.
Paul Block, owner of the Newark club,
gave johnson team OF former big
league stars, who were looked upon as
Sure-shot winners of the pennant, even
greater favorites than were the Cardi-
nails over the YankS before the recent
world series started. Beginning the sea-
Son the Newark Bears had among
others: Jacques Fournier player with
plenty of temperament. who had been
With thre National League clubs; Walter
Lutzke, a third baseman, handed down
from the Indians; Hugh McQuillan, a
pitcher laboring under court orders for
domestic troubles and man whom even
John McGraw refused to attempt to
harness, and William Lamar who had
kicked over the traces the year before
when shifted from the Athletics to the
Nationals.
Troubles Started Early.
AS early as March it was apparent
old Barney was in for plenty of trouble.
McQuillan was late in reporting Lamar
saw more of the scenery around the
historic Florida city than he did of the
ball field Lutzke reported just few
pounds under the combined tonnage of
Babe Ruth and Wilbert Robertson.
Fournier worked hard to get into shape,
but he was slow to respond.
In midSeaSon, FournierS legs went
back on him. Lamar failed miSerably
Twice he was suspended for failure to
keep in condition during the season. Nc
Quillan also drew suspension for vari-
ous reasons, the main one being that he
never was in his right health to be OF
any help in the pitching line.
1t was not until the latter part of
May that johnson was strong enough
to give his full time to the affairs of
the club. Counted on to win at least
40 kdIIlCo III b1lC A1lbCI1tdblOndA 4Cd6OC
with his fire ball, the famous pitcher
could not fling even one game because
of doctors orders. AL Mamaux, former
ly OF Pittsburgh, Brooklynand the YAM
kees leading pitcher of the Interna-
tiorlal League for three years, then was
looked upon to pull the Bears through.
Mamaux was hit by a batted ball. In
fection developed in his leg and he
was in the hospital for nine weeks. He
finished the season with Is wins and 8
losses Lutzke injured his shoulder and
was away from the ball field for three
weeks. Lamar and McQuillan did not
draw an indefinite suspension until the
last three weeks of the season.
Too Lenient With Players.
The above will give some idea of what
Johnson had to contend with in his
first year as manager. To begin with,
he labored under the one big handicap
of being looked upon as having easy
sailing to pennant. Johnson kept the
team in the running away into mid
season without much help from Nc
Quillan and Lamar. Lutzke was the
star of the team, not only in fielding,
but hitting as well, although he was
late in getting rid of his excess
poundage.
Where Walter failed was in allowing
McQuillan and Lamar to carry on" as
long as they did. They were high
priced men, but they we're of no use
on the club Walter knew they were
not giving him the support he deserved.
He was too lenient. He believed the
men would come around to their senses,
but they only took advantage of his
generosity. johnson saw his mistakes
too late.
With what he had to contend with
here it might be said that Johnson was
far from being bad manager Handling
recalcitrant players was his weakness.
he knew base ball. deployed his men to
advantage in emergencies and handled
what pitchers he had at hand with
considerable skill
Johnson's participation in games was
. confined to pinch-hitting. In seven
trips to the plate he made cne single.
He pitched TO c:9iy cne batter ard
walked him to sta,z game which was
held in his honor
Hc'i ,7>1s' - -
Dnrin" " ) snort reign here he
cor ...an4c~ The greatest respect of the
fans. They were with him to the very
last. Newark finished the season play
ing the tail-end Jersey City club at
home. More than seven thousand fans
witnessed the game.
johnson alternated at coaching at
first and third base during the season.
The majority of his players sWore by
him and at the same time were loud
in denouncing those who threw John
son down fat.
Fans in Newark regret his leaving
here, for they had every reason to be-
lieve that he would have demonstrated
next year his qualifications as leader
of men. While they deplore his leav-
ing, they, like Paul Block. owner of
the club, do not wish to stand in the
way of his return to the big show, back
to his beloved Washington once more.