The Washington times., 1931-01-09
STARTED HIS
CAREER|N
1908
By GEORGE A. SIMPSON

One mustn't necessarily spend
o term in the big leagues to grow
wise in baseball.
Perhaps the greatest example is
Joe Mccarthy, who piloted the
Cubs for several years and will
manage the Yankees this season.
He never played in the main Cir
cult.
The case of Spencer Abbott, re-
Gently appointed manager Of the
Portland Club, of the Pacific
Coast League, can be presented as
direct evidence, also. For all OF
the past % years, Abbott has
served as player and manager OF
different minor league clubs. he
now makes his home in this city.
True, Abbott has not received
a call as commander of major
league team, but he was sum-
moned to Brooklyn as an as
sistant to Wilbert Robinson in
mid-seaSOn Of 1925.
Men who have pursued the
fortunes of baseball during the
past quarter of century have
come to appreciate Abbott's quail
ties. He has the virtue Of leader.
ship, so vital to the success OF
any manager, and his long asso-
citation with the game gives him
wide baseball knowledge.
Started Out in 1903
Born in Chicago, he embarked
on his diamond journey as a
first-baseman with the Fargo
IN, d. Club, of the Northern
League in 1908. Since then he
has been like a gypsy, journeylng
up and down basebalPS many
paths.
Drafted in the winter by Kan
sas City. of the American Assocla-
ton, he remained there until
June, Of 1904, when sold TO
Topeka, of the Western League.
He became manager Of Topeka
in 1906 and led his team to the
pennant. He again won the flag
in 1908, but, in 1910, shifted to
Wellington, of the Kansas State
League.
The year 1911 found Abbott
with Lyons, also Of the Kansas
State League, where he won the
championship. He became man.
ager of Salt Lake City, Of the
Union Association in 1912,
finishing second, and headed
San Diego to the championship
of the California State League
in 1913.
He gave up playing and man.
aging in 1914 and secuted for De.
troit. The next year, he entered
politics and was assistant chief
of police at Topeka, Kan, for
three years. Seized again by the
baseball fever, he purchased the
Denver Club, of the Western
League, in 1918, shifting the
franchise to Hutchinson, Kan.
He quit playing at this time, and
became a bench manager, his
team finishing second.
Sells Out To Browns
In 1919, Abbott moved his club
to Tulsa and won the pennant in
q series play-off with st. Joseph
and repeated in 1920. Thence he
sold his Tulsa interests to Phil
Ball, of the st. Louis Browns,
taking over the reins Of Memphis
of the Southern Association in
1921 and driving his team across
the wire first. He finished Sec
ond with Memphis in 1922 and
went to Reading Of the Interna-
tional League in 1928, placing
third.
He finished sixth with Read
ing in 1924, marking the first
time he had landed outside the
ton division in his managerial
career. He handled Reading
until June 1, 1928, when he
Joined Brooklyn.
Abbott came back to Kansas
City as manager in 1926 and led
his charges to fourth position.
He finished seventh with Jersey
City of the International League
in 1927 and bought the Lincoln
Club Of the Western League in
1928, transferring it to Pueblo,
Colo, finishing second in the
first half and fourth in the Sec
und half. In 1929 he was last
with Pueblo, the first club under
him falling to the cellar, He
sold out his Pueblo stock and
bought into the Omaha club last
season and became manager as
well. His 1880 Omaha outfit was
S1,Yooar1In in the OenOant chase