The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1943-08-05
BEHIND
HOME PLATE
By DOUG STEWART

d4S FuIIllpS udu FeSASneQ DIS HAL
ager of the Owls and that Bobbie
Maier had taken over the managers
job, the change taking place while
the team was on the road. AS soor
as the club came home, we tried tc
find out what was back of the sud-
den change in managers, but frank
ly, we didn't find out very much
Phillips told us that he had given
the full story to Frank Colley, sports
editor of the Herald. We read
Franks story, but somehow we just
weren't able to swallow it.
We then contacted owner Sterling
and he told us that all that hap
pened was, that Phillips told him
that he wanted to resign and that
his resignation was Immediately ac-
cepted and the team turned over to
Maier.
Whatever really led up to the
change in managers, one thing has
been apparent to us for weeks be-
fore the change took Phillips
was taking no interest in the club
he was hired to manage. We have
known Eddie Phillips for years and
time and again in this column we
have commented on his ability as a
manager. Imagine our surprise,
therefore, when not once, but sew
eral times, with runners on base
and where hit probably would
have meant not only run, but also
the ball game, Phillips, with weak
hitter coming up, let him take his
turn at bat, instead of putting in a
pinch hitter.
We don't want to appear to be a
'grandstand" manager, but situa-
tons like that are so obvious that
even a sandlot manager couldn't
miss them. One night, we asked
Eddie why he hadn't put in a pinch
hitter for Ray Chew, who in that
game hadn't been able to get ball
out Of the infeld. Eddie's reply
was, ''That would have meant my
catching the last two innings and /
wasn't taking chances on getting
hurt at my age"
1t is our understanding that Phil
lips was signed as a playing man
ager 1--WE know that he told us at the
beginning of the season that he ex-
pected to catch several games) and
we wouldn't be surprised if the real
reason behind the change in man.
ayers centered around the fact that
he never caught game all season.
However, whatever the reason for
the change, both the fans and the
team have benefited by it.
The team that took the field
against Wilmington week ago last
Wednesday, was a live ball club.
There was plenty of chatter in the
lnfield; the outfeld was hawking
the ball all night; the pitcher and
catcher were kicking on almost ev-
cry ball the Jump called Ga sure SIGN
that a battery is on its toes and try
ing to VIM and at the plate they
were in there swinging. Their atti-
tude was no flash in the pan either.
They looked just as good on Thurs
day and better still, in losing to Will
mington on Friday they still looked
good (and you can't get away from
the fact that most teams look bad
when they're losing).
That manager Maier still has the
boys on their toes, is evidenced by
their recent road trip. They took
Allentown ga Saturday night, split
a double header Sunday, winning
the first 83 and dropping the alb
brevlated nightcap 3-11. But they
took the final road game on Monday
81, bringing them back home with
three out of the four-game series.
We can't tell you what they did
here Tuesday and last night. as un-
fortunately we have to bat out this
column every Tuesday, but we can
tell you this: those lads are playing
ball for Bobby Maier and with the
end of the season still a little better
than month away, it's still a good
even money bet that they'll COP the
pennant.
Get on out to the ball park and
take a look at those Owls. Even if
the pleasure ban isn't lifted by the
time you read this (and a little bird
just whispered to us that it might be
lifted this week., it's just a pleasant
stroll out to the stadium, and you
will be rewarded by seeing a bunch
OF hustling young ball players, led
by a hustling young manager, fight
ing their heads off to win ball
game. And don't forget that tomor-
row friday night is Fairchild Rec
reation Association Booster night |
and you fans can look forward to a |
swell evening. so get on ont there