The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-10-09

club. That man is Ira Thomas, who
joined the Athletics in 1907 as a catch
er. Thomas has stayed on the Mack
payroll for 20 years. His various jobs
of the .Yanigans in the spring train
ing periods. Other former players have
held equally high rank in the Athletics
counsel board, but none have stayed as
long.
Harry Davis, after his playing days,
was Mack'S right-hand man for years.
Later Eddie Collins served in that
form. Chief" Bender was n Of
Mack's coaching aides. When Collins
moved into Boston with Tom YaWkey,
as general manager OF the Red SoX, Ira
Thomas stepped into the job as first
assistant to Mack. waiting many years
always setting his cap for it.
You might wonder what Montana
connection there is to this tale, as any
thing appearing in this column must
have Treasure state flavor. I'm pour
ing the flavor over the mex para
graphs.
Thomas Played in Montana
In 1909, after the regular major
leagues season had closed shop, the
transformed to the coast, stopping at
| several Montana cities. I knew Thorn
as when he was catching for the Hart
ford team of the Connecticut state
league in 1904. I knew John Hummel,
captain of the Brooklyn team, when he
played with Holyoke in the same lea
que. Hummel was or the all-National
team, which was managed by the late
Frank Bancroft, then business manager
of the Cincinnati Reds.
After the teams put on an exhibition
game at Billings, Thomas, Hummel
and myself had dinner and famed
until the players left town at mid
I recall that Thomas glorified Con-
ME Mack to the skies. Ira also said he
was planning, during his playing days,
to insure his baseball future in some
executive capacity when he DOTTED his
mask and glove for good.
I'm going to be in the big leagues
20 years from now said Ira, and If
I'm absorbing all the inside stuff Mack
dishes out: I'm constantly getting my
self ready to sell Mack on the idea
that he needs me when I'm through
as a player; I have collected data on
every player in the league, listing their
weaknesses and what kind of balls they
like to see come up to the plate; I
nave studied manneriSms of the op-
posing pitchers and can tell them
things about themselves that they or
their managers don't know about; I
take great pains in aiding young pitch
ers, and I know how to nurse the old
timers whose pitching days are num-
bered; I'm going to be valuable to some
manager as an assistant OF coach; base
ball is my vocation, not for a lO-year
playing period, but permanently; I'll
be in the big leagues for a long, long
tire"
It will be q years ago this fall that
Thomas grated to John Hummel and
myself at Billings. Thomas wasn't
Dragging. He had planned a career for
himself. but it is doubtful if he an
tlclpated plling up a record of 80 years
with n club. Next year will mark the
3oth anniversary of Thomas connec-
ton with the Athletics. It was in 1907
that Ira, with his fog voice, started
catching the offerings Of Bender, Wad-
dell, Plank, CoombS and Coakley, If
and when Connie Mack vacates the
job as manager of the AS, no doubt it
Will fall to his constant and faithful
disciple, Ira Thomas.
HALCYON HANDBALL DAYS HERE
When the B'nai R'rith convention