Evening star., 1937-07-20
TAKES BRU|N RE|NS
AT CRITICAL STAGE
Grimm's Illness Gives Him
Long.Sought Chance to
Become Manager.
BY FRANCIS ]. POWERS,


~ lided perhaps for the re-
w mainder Of the season, the
Chicago Cubs pennant
chances become rather cloudy, for Al
though Manager Pro Tenn "Gabby''
Hartnett is great player and popular
with his teammates, he Is utterly un-
tried as a leader and strategist.
In my opinion, Grimm has shown
more real managerial ability this sea-
son than any time since he succeeded
Rogers Hornsby in 1892. His handling
OF the Cubs during the early weeks OF
the season when three-ffths of the
regular pitching staff was incapaci-
tated at one time. would have done
credit to John McGraw or Connie
Mack. Charlie has developed into a
good percentage manager and some of
his moves were uncannily successful.
Further, his own high spirits always
were buoyant to players when the
club was in \ slump.
Terry Formidable Stratexist.
HAR1NETT takes over at 4 time
when the Giants have caught
the Cubs and faces the hardest part
OF the campaign. Terry's team is. in
some ways, stronger than last year,
when 1t won the pennant, and the
Giants always are hard finishers. The
National race has become a duel be-
tween the Cubs and Giants and in
that duel Hartnett will nnd Terry one
OF the shrewdest minds in base ball
AS captain Of the Cubs, Hartnett
has been quite active in handling the
team on the field and Grimm always
relied heavily upon the catcher's tudg-
ment OF pitchers. There is no doubt
that the Chicago players will give
Hartnett their best efforts for he is a
fellow whom every one likes. Still it
Is a dif1cult task for q player to as
sumo overnight the necessary mana
gerlal viewpoint of men and problems.
Hartnett long has had ambitions to
manage major league ball club and
this Is his great change in the event
that Grimm's illness should be more
lengthy than expected, or that P. K.
Wrlgley should elect to make a change
IN the future. Wrieley always has
been a strong proponent Of Grimm
whenever any undercover opposition
developed against the manager.
Ailment Steadily IncreaseS.
THE younger Wrigley always had in
mind the mistake his father made
in letting Joe Mccarthy get away
from the Cubs and insisted that
Grimm be given a full chance to de-
velop as manager. This season
Grimm gave indications Of satisfying
his owners faith There is I'd evil
dence that Hartnetts tenure will be
permanent, but should he do q good
job it is a possibility
Complete rest may return Grimm
rapidly to the Cubs, for his ailment
has been aggravated by the incon-
veniences of travelling. No definite
diagnosis has been made of the ILL.,
ness. although sciatica rheumatism is
suspected and attributed to colli-
sion with Jack Scott, who pitched
for the Giants years ago. The illness
has been growing for several seasons
first driving Grimm OF nrst base, then
of the coaching lines and finally into
at least temporary retirement. Char
lies early return is the hope Of thou
sands, for there never was 4 finer gen.
tleman connected with the game.
Hartnett takes over q club that is
strong in every position but center
field. where neither Marty, Cavaretta
nor StAinback have been satisfa tory.
Cub scouts are combing the minors
in search Of hard hitting outfielder,
but two OF the best prospects, Rizzo
and Slaughter OF the Columb bus, Amer
ican Association, team are Cardinal
chattels. That is the dificulty every
major club without extensive farm
connections encounters. Most OF the
promising youngsters are the property
Of the Cardinals, Yankees Red sox on
Reds and consequently of the open
market.