The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1943-02-03
IT'S TEXAS US GUESS NOW
But ARMY MAY GET HIM
COULD Be WORSE
SAYS CONNIE MACK

? Features

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. g.
Mack, 8Q-year-old manager of the
Hil4delphia Athletics, remains ar
Oh inTist = despite the effects o
war on ms player talent, travel
ing facilities and spring training
routine.
The venerable pilot of the A.
ADMITS frankly that he doesn't fig.
Cre lis 1913 squad anything like
the r ~nnant-Winning aggregation:
of 19293J-31, but ne thinks hi:
CLUB MY be better than last yeal
-WkeI il finished in the celia
wit c-lIv 80 victories and % &c
feats.
AS for the travel angel - es.
peciaHy as it affects the click Of
the turnstiles - Connie predict:
an increase in attendance at home
games. The gas ban, he says, will
keep many Philadelphians al
home. Shibe Park, where the ma
jor league all-star game will be
staged July Ii, is served adequate
ly by subway and trolley lines.
Although the Athletics VII ii
re'Urn to Anahcim, Calf, for
their spring training chores. they
viii 50 south for the first TIM il
years - to Wilmington, Del, just
q miles south of city hall
Connie siohs wistfullv as he calls
to mind the galaxy of talen. which
has left the AS to join the armed
forces in the past two seasons. No
less than 20 players have answer
ed the call to colors. The list in
cludes pitchers Bob Harris, Jack
Knott, Phil Marchildon, Rankin
johnson. Porter Vaughn, Joe Cole
man, Dick Fowler and Cal McIr-
win Other players in service are
Buddy Blair, Al Brancato, Sam
Chapman, Eddie Collins. Jr., Orge
Cooper. Larry Davis, Benny Nc
Coy, Raw Poole, Don Richmond,
Jace Wallaesa, Joe Gantenbein and
Jim Castiglia.
Other familiar faces missing
from the roster are infielders Bill
Knickerbocker and Eric McNair
and outfielder Mike Kreevich, who
were released in December, and
outfielder Dee Miles. sent to Seat
tie in a trade for Joyner (JOJo)
White. former Detroit outer gard
ener. Coach Al Simmons may keer
his plant job instead of return
ing this season.
Connie is rather definite at this
time on his 1913 infield. The only
holdovcrs are first baseman Dick
Seibert, who hit .260 last year
and shortstop Pete Suder, who
had a .256 mark. Irving Hall
rookie from Williamsport in the
Eastern league, is slated to take
care of second base, while the hot
corner assiqnment will fall to Ed
die Mavo. drafted from Los An
geles. The onlv infiald replacement
on hand just now is Ed Knopka
a first sacker coming up from Viii
.mington, the AS interstate loop
farm.
The outlook behind the plate is
better than elsewhere. with Hal
Wagner and Bob Swift returning
for another season.
Bob Johnson, a fixture in the
outfield since 1888, is a question
mark on Comics prospect list be-
cause of a bonus argument on his
contract. In the event he is not
around, all the flychasers will be
newcomers except Elmer Valo,
who bit Isl in 1S3 games last sea-
son. In addition to JoJo White
Mack is counting on Johtnny We
la;. back from an interlude al
Buffalo: Jim Tyack, purchased
from Little Rock; and Relix Mac
kiewicz. Wilmington product.
The pitching staff suffered Z
blow when Phil Marchildon, who
was the clubs leading hurler last
yeer, joined the Canadian army
The current roster lists Roger
Folff. L. H. Harris. Herman Besse,
Russ Christopher and Fred Cali
guiri. veterans witha combined
record of 90 wins last season; jess
Flores. purchased from Los An
geles: and two arrivals from Viii
minpton. Talmadge Alternately
and Bill Lawry.
Wolff wen a dozen games last
yea. me pore than Harris. Besse
and Alternately are the only south
paws IN tow.
Looki~q over the list of PLAYERS
who will report at Wilmingtoa.
the octogenerian manager, presi-
dent and. patriarch of the Ath-
letics, said:
eft noi1ht bes lot befter-hut
il ccald he much worse. Aud we
know that were not the only
team &c he hard hit by the war.
Wen 90 alcna with what we
have and hone for the best"
Land saws submarine losses are
falling as Shipbuilding scars.