The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-03-29


 = Perhaps the descriptions are 'misleading. For Connie Mack IS .at heart fighter (with a good eye to business, tool. And if you Thfnk he misses anything that goes Hn aronnd his ball club, put In an- 1ther nckel and guess again. MT 1fack is nobody's Humpty Dumpty.
 1t is history that he wrecked a great ball club IS years ago, a team that had won four pennants in five years. That team had lost four straight games in the world series of 1914 to the Boston Braves. But 1t was not because the boys dropped that series to Boston that Mack peddled them fo other clubs, and began patient ' Remember Federal League?
 Mack wrecked his 1914 team because he found that he couldn't tf business wit ha house divided. The threat of the Federal League, Backed by a whole lot of money. 1onmed large. Raids were being made on both of the majors. Part of Mack's team was all for ac- cepting fat offers from the outlaw organization. Others, who were all for sticking to Mack, did not speak to their mates who favored Jumping.
 Also, attendance was poor in i914. The fire and fight of the marvellous team that ruled base Dali in 1910, 1911 and 1913, had Burned out. It was team that went through the motions from memory. The fans soured.
 A Tough Spot
 Manager Mack faced the pros beet of a. depressing situation this year. The players. who won pen- nants in 1929, 1890 and 1881 play ed last year, too, with the except ion of Joe Boley. But there was Something missing. It was not the spirited club that came from be- hind to overcome an 8-run lead and snatch the third game of the 1929 world series from the Cubs.
 Fans rode the teams indiffer- ence last year, and stayed away from the park in large mum bers. Left field customers booed Al Sim mons who a year before had been the mightiest of them all. Al ibooed them right back. Mack did not miss AIS rebuttal::
 The club was losing money. Simmons still had the year or Ig33 to serve, under a contract calling for $33,333.33 per season.
 New Faces Now
 Mack went right back to 1915. He would tighten the overhead, provide new faces and make what cyer changes he deemed necessary for harmony in 1888. He sold Sim mons. Haas and Dykes to the white Sox, and in their places he will put rockies, just as he used rockies IS years ago after selling his brilliant stars. Lou Finney, from the coast league, a great young competlto,r, and something of hitter, VIII roam where Simmons waddled on those woozy ankles. Roger Cra- 1ner, who would have replaced Haas iii center last year but for injuries, will now take the job. Big Ed Coleman, who gave great promise last year before shatter- ing his leg, is to play in right with the veteran Bing Miller in reserve. ht s-'
 ss The left S1de or the lHHeIu aiSo IS changed, with Frank Higgins, another young man from the coast league, at third. Jimmy Dykes says Higgins is 8 real ball player. Erie McNair, who replaced Boley at short last year, will continue there. Bishop and Foxx remain.
 Thus the whole left side of the championship team of '29, 80 and '31 is gone.
 when a champion team begins losing games. money and fighting spirit, Mack is not long in realiZ- ing that he has to make important changes.
 He is gambling with enthusias- tie young men, but the stakes are smaller. And he hopes the fans will like his 1883 experiment. After all, 1t is his business to try to satisfy the customers.