Evening star., 1933-12-14
Connie Mack Forced to Part
With Stars in b-Wrecking
Barter by Insistent Bankers

the first time in his career beckoned
rosy future. It Is business not to give
him that added time to pay up for past
indebtedness before he can cash in en-
investment.
Not a man in the American League,
so far as is known, lifted hand to
stay the "sheriff's SALE" Nobody in
Philadelphia apparently tried to help
solve the problem, either, least of all
those fans who remained away in
droves last season, some Of them with
certain satisfaction because Mack had
been forced to sell AL Simmons, George
Haas and Jimmy Dykes for $150,000.
well teach him to sell our ball
club" they muttered. Most Of the re-
placements made good, but there were
no requirements in the stands.
Today the Athletics rooters reap the
pay-off
Today the Philadelphia fans ere
sold out"
Only wh.n Thomas Yawkey, million
aire sportsman president of the Red
SoX, nCnchaIantly wrote out the check,
had Connie acceeded to the sale o.
the stars who go to Boston. Even then.
as late as half an hour before he told
us, the old man wasn't sure.
"I can't tell you yet" he protested
I'm not yet sure myself. Even then,
said Eddie Collins later, the old man
clung to his pride and his joy-Lefty
Grove, the lethal lightning Of the
mound.
without Grove We wouldn't deal"
Collins related.
So Connie had left us that first time
and I noticed as he re-entered the
room where sat the dealers, that sweat
stood out on his forehead. Half an
hour later he came out, beaten, strip
ped of everything for 1884, but with
his debts cleared at last.
No Hope Of Rebuilding.
DERHAPS in that anal half hour
/ which must have been something
Of Gethsemane, he remembered
with terrifying effect, the clamcr oi
the bankers, those relentless bankers
who, according to report, have become
loudly insistent Of late. At any rate
he gave in.
Nineteen years ago he went through
similar trial, only that one was when
| he was younger, with hope, confidence
But now McGillicuddy is II. He
knows that no stretch OF years fol
building, rebuilding and experiment re-
mains to him in base bali.
| Life and the game Cont play tina:
way.
High up in a room Of his hotel
Mack sought sanctuary efter the sale
had been announced. A door stood
ajar, and, shadow-like, he slipped
within. AS passed glanced IN al
Connie. He was sitting on the edge
Of lounge in that peculiar pose ne
hos IN the bencf, hit now the light
of battle was gone. He looked little
startled, a little afraid, as If he him.
self were not sure of what he hac
done.
None Of that 100000 can be used
to repair the wreckage wrought. AND
that's probably why Connie look.
bad. That's why Yawkey called
quickly for a st,mu,ant, why for tlie
first time il memory a drink wa
passed to Macl.. H neeSed it. Yes
he needed a trace- t.sel.
The door closed. and Collins fac:
was wreathed in a smile. Here wa
contrast, indeed. The pround young
vice president of the once lowly Boston
team visioned the dawn, as twilight
and despair closed about that otnel
room.
Collins and Bucky Harris good luck
But somehow, 1t didn't seem rignt-or
the other side Of the wall.
A door creaked open softly, somebody
stepped out. Footsteps receded down
the han. He hid away, did Connie
No sign Of the tall tactician.
We didn't try to find him. You donN
prod man who Is down.
(Copyr.eht. 1898, hy North American News
paper Alliance, Iac.)