Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-29
Former Pilot Of Tribe
Given Job for Year
Al Detroit Helm
Vincent, Farm Club Aide,
Replaces Coach Shea;
Gehrineer to Leave
BY WATSON SPOELSTRA.
Associated Press Sports Writer

Associated Press Sports Writer.
DETROIT, Nov. 2S-The Detroit
Tigers announced today the dis
missal of Del Baker as manager
and the appointment OF Steve
ONeill, former Cleveland Indians
pilot, as his successor to head an
entirely new board of strategy.
General Manager Jack Zeller
said that ONeill would be assisted
as coach by AL Vincent. former
manager of Detroit Farm Clubs, who
replaces Mervyn Shea, dismissed
with Baker. Charley Gehringer,
other Detroit coach, is to enter the
Nations armed service this month
and his post will not be filled i'm
mediately.
Zeuer'S announcement said,
del Baker has been notified he
will be given his unconditional re-
lease at the Chicago meeting INA
jor-minor league sessions) and
that officials of the club will give
him any desired assistance in max
ing favorable connection else
where" Terms with O'Neill were
not disclosed.
O'Neill Led Tribe Two Years.
Baker, who guided the Tigers to
an AMERICAN League pennant in
1910, was associated with the De-
troit Club for IA years as minor
league catcher and manager, and
as coach and manager here. He
succeeded Mickey Cochrane as
Tiger pilot in August, 1898, and in
four full seasons his teams finished
fifth twice. tied for fourth once and
won the 1910 pennant in an as
founding upset.
ONeill, native Pennsylvania
who entered baseball from the coal
fields, has been associated with the
game continuously for 80 years. His
only previous major league man.
agership was at Cleveland, where
he succeeded Walter Johnson in
August, 1885. He was in turn fol-
lowed by Oscar Witt after the In
didns had finished fifth and fourth
In two years of stewardship.
ONeill. 81, and one year older than
Baker, was a Tiger coach in Io4l
and last year returned to the minors
to pilot Detroit's top feeder club,
Beaumont, to the Texas League sea-
sonal championship. Presumably
he found
front office by welding together at
Beaumont a prize collection of
youngsters, headed by Dick Wake
field, $4,000 beauty.
Vincent Managed Beaumont.
Vincent likewise was manager at
Beaumont, serving four years before
moving in l94l to Buffalo of the In
ternational League, where Detroit
had a working agreement. He re-
signed at Buffalo last September.
For Gehringer's post, the club
pointed out that Paul Richards,
manager for several years at At
lanta of the Southern Association,
and Albert Unser, a farm club man
ager at Winston-Salem of the Pied
mont League, would be available to
the parent club. Richards was
signed to player contract this fall.
Jack Tighe, Tiger bullpen catcher,
also has been released.
O'Neill probably will get a one
gear contract when he formally signs
as Tiger boss. He undoubtedly will
receive much less than Baker, who
was one of the games highest paid
administrators. Baker was reported
to have received $4,000 two years
ago following his pennant triumph,
and $4,000 last year.
O'Neill Ready to Tackle Job.
CLEVELAND, Nov. % (P).-Steve
O'Neill, new Detroit Tiger manager,
knows he is taking the job at a
critical period, but he's ready to
tackle all problems.
We'll be all right" said O'Neill at
his Cleveland Heights home. Il
know lot about the fellows who
have been with Detroit the past sew
eral years. and I know a lot about
the youngsters coming up.
Sure, We'll have some angles to
iron out. Well iron EN- in the only
way I know-take the boys to train
ing camp and let the men who look
best start the season."
O'Neill ventured one prediction
that Dick Wakefield former Uni
versity Of Michigan star, would do
all right in the American League.
There aren't six men in the league
who will outhit him." said ONeill.
I'm not saying that because he was
with me at Beaumont, but Wakefield
iseone of the best natural hitters I've
ever seen"
ONeill said he probably would
occupy the third base coaching box
next summer.
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