New Britain herald., 1930-09-27
No, 12-A Daring Experiment

After suddenly producing pen and comparatively green team, which failed to fulfill it's promise the fol- lowing year, Connie Mack attempted one of the most daring and interest ing experiments of modern years in 1927-2S.
 He gathered together three of the most famous stars of all time-Ed- die Collins, Ty Cobb and Iris Speak er-in addition to signing the vet eran National league slugger, Zach Wheat of Brooklyn.
 Cobb and Speaker had been re- leased by the clubs which they had been managing Detroit and Cleve- land. following investigation of gambling charges made by the old Boston pitcher, Hub Leonard, and involving the two super-stars.
 Subsequently Cobb and Speaker were cleared of charges of wrong doing by an investigation conducted by Commissioner Landis.
 Collins had been released as man. ager of the White Sox and seized the chance to join his old manager and return to his home near Phila- delphia. Cobb signed a contract with the Athletics understood to call for a yearly salary of S60,000. Speak CT joined Mack a year later, in 1928, at a s25,0O0 salary.
 Ten or fifteen years earlier the presence under one banner of Cobb, Collins and Speaker, the three out standing all-around stars of their time, would have been a managers fondest dream. As it turned out, however, it was just magnificent gesture or the part of Mack. Per haps he never regretted it, for at least it again brought the Athletics into the spotlight and made them rivals of the worlds champion Yankees as a drawing card.
 Largely on the strength of senti- ment and interest, the Athletics were outset of 1927. Except for an early spurt, however. they failed to meet expectations and were unable to check the slugging Yankees, headed by Babe Ruth and then at the very peak of their great accomplishments under the leadership of the late Mil Ter Huggins.
 It was the failure of the Athletics pitching, rather than and short comings of the veterans. that kept the club from making a better race. Cobb made a magnificent comeback, played in 1S4 games and batted 357, besides stealing 22 bases to show that he had not entirely lost his old speed
 A strong mutual admiration grew up from this latter-day association of the American leagues star of stars and the veteran manager, Cobb always referred to Connie as MT Mack" The latter spoke of the Georgian always as ''Tyrus,"
 Cobb told of an incident when he first joined the club. He was play ing right field and Mack, from the | dug-out, kept waving his famous score card to indicate the position h. desired the old star to play for the particular man at the plate. ''I moved over as I was directed but apparently not far enough" re- lated Cobb. "I thought to myself
 Is this old man going to try to tell me how to play the outfield after all these years?' I figured I was over far enough, but MT. Mack didn't. He kept me moving until reached the foul line. I smiled tc myself but figured I might as vel humor him. l was no sooner sci than a line drive came down the alley. l didn't have to move ster to catch it. I did not hesitate tc obey orders after that Mir. Mack proved to mo he is one of the great. est strategists the game has evel known"
 Before the end of the 1927 seasor Max Bishop and Joe Boley, the for, mer Baltimore pair. replaced Eddie Collins and Chick Galloway as the keystone combination. Fast develop. ing was Jimmy FoXX, who came tc the As on the recommendation ot Home Run" Baker
 FOXY" as Mack affectionatelN called his young recruit, was { player after the old masters heart possessed of the rough natural abili, ty that Connie delighted in mould. ing successfully.
 Big, powerful, a terrific line hit. ter, FoNx came to Mack as a catch. CT, tried his hand at third base ant wound up at first Only 17 when he joined the Athletics in 1925, --resf from the Eastern Shore league ol