The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-03-07
OFT CONFRONTED
WITH REAL TASK
AS new LEADER
Everybody pulling for
Giants Playing-BOss as
New Season NearS
JACK DEMPSEY
BY GEORGE KIRKsEY

| UNITED Press STAFF Correspondent
Miami, March z - (U.P) - The
most intriguing problem of the New
York Giants iS-"what kind Of q
manager will Mel OFT maker"
Taking over a ball club that fin
ished in second division three years
undermining, OFT, to put it mildly,
has his work cut out for him. His
spot is top-heavy with knotty prob
lens and headaches. He not only
has to build winning ball club out
he has to win back a large share Of
the Giants once tremendous follow
ing, alienated by the short sighted
policy of the Polo Grounds over
seers.
BY comparison, Bill Terry's job
back in 1888 was a soft touch. When
Terry succeeded John j. McGraw
in mid-season Of 1882 the Giants
had finished not lower than third
for Ave straight seasons and Mem
phis Bill" had the nucleus Of a
championship outfit.
PersOnabIe
There Is a great difference of
opinion about whether OFT will be
successful field leader but there
is unanimity about Master Mel's"
popularity. He is well-liked by sports
writer's, fans, players and Just plain
folks.
Just what the public thinks about
OFT may be illustrated by the num-
Der Of total strangers who have
walked up to him since the Giants
started training here February 16
and, shaking his hand, said:
Mr.. OFT, hope you win the PEN
nant."
But being popular won't solve the
Giants. problems. Terry's record as
was not so bad. He won three pen
was nto so bad. He won three PEN
nants and finished In the first di-
vision three other times. Terry
couldn't be rated total success be-
cause he helped deplete the Giant
club without obtaining adequate re-
placements. In addition, he did
much to drive away Giant fans who
did not like either his take-it-or-
leave personality or the colorless
clubs he turned out.
Although Terry had McGraw's
capacity for strategy and method,
! he was ultra conservative and un-
willing to gamble. He lacked Nc
Graw's daring and always tried =
win the safe way.
No one knows what tactics OFT
will use. He's been with the Giants
II years and very few persons close
to the club know exactly what kind
of fellow he is beyond the fact that
he Is sincere, minds his own bus
mess and is very friendly, although
a trifle on the conservative side.
On His Own
Some think that he may not be
forceful enough to rouse his players
to fighting pitch, but few re-
marks dropped here and there by
OFT since he was elevated to the
managership, indicate that the boy
wonder Of the Polo, Grounds may
have some pronounced ideas about
how q ball club should be run. At
least OFT Is going to paddle his own
canoe. Those who thought Terry
might guide the Giants by remote
control, can sing another tune. OFT
has told scribes since his appoint
ment: "I'm not going to stooge for
anybody"
That OFT isn't afraid Of his ability
to handle q temperafnental ball
player is borne out by the fact that
he helped engineer ten deals which
brought Hank Leiber back from the
Cubs and Bill Werber from the
Reds. Furthermore, Otis promotion
saved Hank banning for the Giants
because he would have been q USE
less bail player IL Terry had re-
maif1ed manager.