New Britain herald., 1930-09-30
CONNIE MACK No. 14-A Bit of Philosophy


 ed the offhand locker room advice given to a golfer one day by Bobby Jones:
 Hit the ball"
 Connie Mack, asked one time to explain the Secrets of his ability as a manager, smiled and replied:
 Being fortunate enough to have some wonderful ball players"
 The practical-minded New Eng lander never regarded his various successes as the result of any mys- terious power. If he adopted any special formulae, they were these three:
 l. Practice of the old Golden Rule in treating players as he would like to be treated himself
 2. Development of team work, in spirit and action, to the highest point of efficiency.
 3. Possession of at least one Grade A southpaw pitcher.
 Mack's younger days in baseball were spent under stern leadership fo the old school. Managers did not spare words. If necessary. they used their fists. Strangely. this in f1uence developed Mack as a soft spoken, quiet and persuasive type of manager
 Some people have always main- tained that certain types of players require rough handling and harsh words. It is true that you cannot compromise with many, but I have never found that it paid to drive a player, no matter how unruly he might be. He will not do his best.
 Earlier in my career as a man. ager the athletes on my team were mostly seasoned men who had been developed by other teachers. Some were classed as tough customers and as very difficult to handle. But in all my years with the Athletes l have never encountered a player who would not respond to kindly treatment.
 Players require different types Of handling. That is why I never have had inflexible rules for either conduct or hours. I find that I can handle the men better individually. Some need persuasion, even coax ing. Others need to be patted on the back and encouraged. Or they need to be taken aside, as a father would his son, and given proper ad- vice.
 'I have always tried to study each man and suit my action or words to what I think he requires to produce his best'
 At one of the few times when there was an specific rule for the As being in the hotel at night Mack was standing near the door, checking and double checking. One Of the players came in brisllly. say ing. Good night, MT. Mack"
 Good night, John,' Connie re- piled, sauntering out casually and around the block to a side entrance The same player approached, on the way out, until he suddenly caught sight of the lean managers figure. Turning abruptly, he said: Good night, MT. Mack"
 Good night, John"
 That was all.
 Mack's success at developing young players, from the colleges and sandlots, always has been con- spicuous. He regretted the day when he was forced by competition to abandon much of his policy for the necessity of buying stars.
 His unfailing patience encour- aged youngsters. He never forgot that he once was obliged to strug- gle himself, against handicaps, to make good.
 Give every youngster the fullest chance possible" he once said. Then give him two or three more. During my playing career I saw many youngsters come up for trial who looked like future stars yet they failed because they were not given a proper chance. Every few of the youngsters who made up the Athletics in 191O-14 looked like stars in their earliest trials. Some of them blundered, but they eventually found them selves"
 Frequently it has been said that Mack played hunches," but Ty Cobb, after two seasons under the tall tutor" remarked:
 'If you call 'em lunches when they are based on the greatest back ground of detailed knowledge I fave ever had contact with, all right"
 I asked Eddie Collins one day the secret of Mack's ability to maintain so keen q grasp of baseball's swift moving affairs after so long a term as manager an at an age when most elderly gentlemen prefer ease or golf to directing an exciting ball