Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-16

From the day he put the new Ath-
ietics on the field in the junior major
league Mack never again donned uni
form nor has he ever directed his team
from anywhere but one end OF the
bench.
Back in East Brookheld, his home
town, Mack. became the catcher OF the
local AMATEUR team because he was
game and willing. Moreover, the back
Stop. then as now, was the pivotal point
for strategy and defense. Mack, then
as now. was quick to size up situations,
ouick to act. The quality of quiet lead
ership seemed born in him.
East BRoOKFIELD'S nine was the
e first championship team Mack had
anything to do with. II won the
"pennant" in the amateur league Oh
niilltoUns in Central Massachusetts.
Fifty years later it was source OF
bride to the old master to recount tnat
the silver bat, emblematic OF the VIC
tory. still rested in the town nre mouse.
THE fame of East BrookfeldS team
erew Likewise. its chestiness. The
hovs who hung around the fire house
of an evening were told so often they
were good that they began to oeileVe
It themselves.
Bv 1883. when Mack was 81 and able
n vote the next year for Grover Cleve-
land. the East Brookfield club was bold
enough to challenge Worcester, then
lust taken into the National League
fold. for an exhibition contest
The big leaguers won, OF course, put
the shoetown boys satisfied themselves
they could mix in this kind Of company.
Accordingly, the more ambitious spirits
sought to attract the famous Chicago
Colts. Pop Anson'S champions, to the
little Massachusetts town for another
exhibition The Chicagoans demanded
a substantial guarantee--something IKE
$3.50. IT looked q trifle dubious but
hometown pride rose to the emergency.
The money was raised, the Colts came
and dazzled.
ct RECALL that event wildly" said
Mack years later. 1T was holi-
day for us all. The big leaguers
staggered about, and we were all much
Impressed and very serious. For four or
I'VE innings Of the game we held our
own. SURPRISING ourselves. Then OF
course, we found the competition be-
coming little too good for us.
II always think that game had
good deal to do with my entering pro-
fessional base ball Some of the Chi
cago players were generous enough to
compliment me on my work behind
the bat They even suggested I take
up the game and leave the factory.
Several said they would put in word
for me, and they may have done so,
for IL was that same year, 1884, that
received an offer of $50 a month to
play with the Meriden club in Con-
necticut.
Never before had the idea entered
by head that such money could be had
for doing the thing I liked most.
would have accepted for much less
than that"
TT was an important decision for the
4 youthful McGilhcuddy.
His father had died earlier, and
Connie was needed to help support the
family. but the financial opportunities
IN base ball seemed so far superior TO
those of an ordinary shoemaker that 1t
did not take long for the family coun-
ell to decide what was most advan-
tageous. The trade lost good cob
bier. but base ball gained master
mind
After finishing the 1884 season with
Meriden, Mack went to the Hartford
team in 1885 and quickly attracted the
attention of major league scouts by his
clever backstopping.
A year later he was among five Hart
ford players purchased by the Washing
ton club. then in the National League,
for $500, a big amount for talent at
that time.
Copyright, 1890
Tomorrow-Big Time Stuff.