Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-09
Mack, Dead at 90, Leaves
IndeIibIe Mark on Game

Continued From Page CT
was whitfield down to Connie
Mack by an unsung newspaper
man in 1884-because his full
name could not fit into the
small space of a newspaper box
score.
Mack's first wife died Of tuber-
culosis in 1898. They had three
children, Roy. Earle and Mar
guerite. His second wife. the
former Katherine Hallahan, was
his one-time housekeeper. They
had five children. Mary. Connie
jr.: Ruth, Rita and Betty.
Mack and his wife separated
briefly in 1916 when he trans
ferred his So per cent of the
Athletics stock to his three sons.
Mrs. Mack felt that she and her
four daughters were being dis
eliminated against. They patched
up their differences. however
after he made a new settlement
providing for the wife and
daughters in his will.
AS Mack grew older. he turned
over much of the coaching duties
to his oldest son, Earle. and to
Simmons, whom he regarded as
one of the great all-time out
fielders. But, despite Mack's
declaration that he wanted to
manage one more pennant
winner before he died. there
were signs that he was LOSING
control of the AS after the 194s
season when Simmons and Earl
Brucker. another coach, were
fired.
1t was apparent that the Ave-
man board Of directors. which
included Earle. Roy and Connie,
jr., gradually was taking control
Mack resigned in 1851 and was
succeeded by Jimmy Dykes. an
other of his protegeS.
Mack continued as president
Of the heavily mortgaged club,
but General Manager Art Ehlers
actually handled all the business
affairs until he went to Balti-
more in 1854, and then Roy
Mack took over. In his declining
years Mack followed the club In
an aforementioned Cadillac, even
to the extent of making a West
ern swing in that conveyance.
50 Years Long Enough.
I'm not as active as l was,
and so years is long enough to
hold any job" Mack said in an
nouncing his retirement. He was
then nearing his 88th birthday
His team finished the 1850 sea-
son in last place. The AS had
not won a pennant since 1881
and in 10 years had finished in
the first division only three
times. For several years muir
muring among the fans. desiring
a change, had been heard. but
Mack's resignation came as a
surprise.
Mack received many tributes
during his long career, but the
greatest probably was rendered to
him in New York in 1919. There
was a parade on lower Broadway
with an estimated 800. 900 persons
watching the old strategist pass
by. At City Hall he received
the city's certificate for "distin-
guished and exceptional public
service" Later a near-capacity
crowd Of approximately $4,000
stood and cheered at Yankee
Stadium as Mack was introduced
and made a short speech.
After the 1929 World Series,
Mack was awarded the $4,000
Edward w. Box prize for dis
tinguished service to Philadel-
phia, an award which previously
had gone only to artists, scien-
lists. educators and philan-
thropists.
Honored by Philadelphia.
Another big Connie Mack cele-
bration was held in Philadelphia
in 1850 at the start of his 50th
season as manager of the Ath-
letics The Mayor proclaimed an
official Connie Mack Day" anc
the city was decked out in flags
Mack was escorted by a parade
to Shibe Park, where a scroll
signed by more than a million
persons extending good wishes
was presented to him.
That night the man who
thought 50-cent box lunches
were de luxe when he started
his diamond career, was guest
of honor at $50-a-plate dinner
attended by some 600 WE'LL
wishers. The money went tc
finance a Connie Mack Scholar
ship Fund for deserving boys al
a Philadelphia school. Presi.
dent Harry S. Truman sent 9
congratulatory message In
which he said, May youl
shadow never grow less"
Sixty-three years after Mr.
Mack began his professional.
baseball career at Meriden
Conn. he returned there to re-
ceive a welcome as the city's
most prominent adopted son. II
was the first time he had beer
back.
In 194l Mack was awarded
an honorary degree from Penn.
sylyania Military College be
cause OF his valuable contribu-
ton to the youth Of our Nation.
There had been some doubt oil
Mack's exact age until his seth
birthday, when he produced 9