The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-11-10
New President Of Cincinnati Reds
One Of Games Most Colorful Men
Larry MacPhaiI Perfor m e d
Wonders With Columbus
Red Bird Team

Cincinnati. Nov. l0.--One OF base
balls colorful figures comes out Of the
bushes and into the big leagues with
The advent Of Leland Stanford Larry
MacPhail to the presidency Of the
Reds.
Dizzy Dean, Art Shires and other
headline boys Of the playing field be-
come mere zephyrs of personal ex-
ploitation compared to the storm of
modern ideas and innovations con-
tinually perpetrated by this genius. Of
the front office.
Considering his intimate knowledge
Of affairs on the playing field his
baseball background seems singularly
meager. He played ball at college.
and for three. summers in the Mint
League, q now defunct Class D loop.
Later he managed semi-pro outfit
at his home town. Ludington, Mich.
\ X X
Larry went to college at Beloit. Uni
verstty Of Michigan, Georgetown and
George Washington. taking his law
degree from the latter. He played first
base at Beloit for one year and two
at Michigan. He played quarterback
and halfback at Beloit and George
town.
After that he practiced Law and was
q sales manager for a tool manufac-
turing concern IN Chicago, moved to
Nashville to become president OF a dry
goods store and. after the war. came
to Columbus, O., where he was ali
automobile distributor and builder.
He came back into baseball when he
purchased the Columbus club from
the Cincinnati Reds in 1890. At thai
time Columbus had gone 26 years
without q pennant and had been .
second division outfit for Is consecu-
tive seasons. In the last Is years it.
various owners had lost 100000.
MacPhail sold his club to the st
Louis Cardinals because they had the
most players to offer him. He hele
the Columbus presidency. but trans.
ferred his stock to st. Louis.
During that first season they sale
MacPhail had three teams operating
one playing, one going and another
one on the way. Columbus finished
fourth and made money. More thar
IS players were OH the club payroll
at one time or another
The next season, 1882. Columbu.
finished second and moved into new
ball park In midSeason. the fines
minor league ball park in the coun.
try. In year Of depression the clut
set new record for attendance ane
again made money.
Then. after he got his club away L
a comfortable lead in 1888, MacPllai
was fired. No reason was advanced
It was one Of the mysteries Of tn,
minor league season.
4 X X
Although it never has been told
MacPhail lost his job because he wa!
such q great fan himself. He had ar
agreement with the Cardinals tina
they could not raid his club in mid.
season.
The Cardinals wanted young Co.
lumbus second baseman named Bur.
CESS Whitehead. MacPhail wantet
him, too. So he took advantage o.
the situation, forgetting that he wa.
working for the Cardinals. and de-
mandcd five players in exchange 70
him. Two Of them hit more thar
$50, another, a pitcher. won sever
and lost two while he was with til,
club, and q fourth was Art Shires
who helped pack them in. AS re.
suit Columbus again made money an.
finished the season Is games II
front, though MacPhail had been re-
lieved Is club prexy.
MacPhail himself Is q dynamic
restless and aggressive sort OF person
He has red hair, thousands OF freckles
dresses immediately In shades o
gray and brown. always wears his ha
brlm turned down and is only 4
years old. His hobby Is refereein
football games. Last season he work
Cd ~ games, including such teams a
Marquette. Illinois. Ohio State, In
diana, Xavier. Michigan State, Yves
Virginia. Detroit, and Ford11am.
He entered the war Is 4 private an,
came out captain. His outfit wa
the Hath Field Artillery. 10th Divi
sion. He was In the Army Of Occupa
ton and was ono Of the eight me-
who made the famed attempt to cap
ture the kaiser. He has three chil