Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-16

Warm Reception
Cheers Harris
BY MORRIS SIEGEL

BUCKY HARRIS, A VETERAN of almost so years of
soldering in Gen. Abner Doubleday's baseball armies
most of it in the front ranksSays he thought he'd
be getting so much publicity so late in the game.
He talking about the reception he got from the
the press broadcastes on his recent appointment as
combination Mr.. Fixt and rowing ambassador for the
Senator'S 1T knocked off my seat" dubbed Harris
who isn't knocked off his seat often.
In his long span in the game of FOUNDERS Bucky has
had any number Of top jobs Only Franklin D. Roosevelt
was elected to office in Washington than Harris
who served as Senators skipper three terms.
Bucky also made the managerial rounds with the
Red Sox, Phies Tigers and Yankees But can truth
fully don't think I've gotten the kind of coverage
anywhere compared to the stories dealing with my return
to the Senator'S" he enthused 1T makes an old gaer
like feel warm"
HARRIS RECONSTRUCTED and thought maybe New
York turned it for him pretty good, too when he
become manager Of the Yankees in l947 but thing
he knew for certain 1t nothing like that back in
1924 when he became the Boy Wonder" skipper of the
Senator's at age a. III say it nothing like it," he
smiled 1T was practically nothing"
Going back to 1924 of course covers huge hunk of
ground They had flacks publicity men then too but
not as deep in bench strength know EN- today An
other thing which made Harris coronation manager
the Senators SO years rpublcized event.
that Harris wasn't in town when happened fact he
was one of the last to know about it.
he was down IN Hot Springs Ark, taking the baths
on orders of Clark Griffith Il had been playing basket
ball all winter when Griff made me quit" Bucky said
He said athlete could work all year long and still
be good at his game"
Grff apparently distrustful of Harris he sent
Mike Martin the beloved old trainer along as baby
He made Bucky leave his golf clubs at Before
Griff dispatched his little second baseman to the Spa
for pertaining conditioning he asked favor of Bucky
I'm trying to get Eddie Collins come here and
be my playing manager" Griff told Bucky Would you
object to shifting to third base If got Coins?"
Naturally, Bucky had objections So off he to
Hot Springs accompanied by Martin.
Now Harris takes over the story:
"A special delivery letter arrived at the hotel one
evening. two-page letter. written in Grffs
handwriting In it he asked how I'd like to manage
his team in 1924 At first thought was fluke never
had received letter from Griff before and asked Mike
to identify the handwriting He did and it fluke
"GRIFF SAID IF would take the job to call him
him know. couldn't wait for o'clock to called
him and he gave me the job and the then prncely
of $4,000 to be playing manager That's how worked in
those days.
"Oh, almost forgot about the publicity about the
story When talked to Griff the phone he said for
me to be sure to be in my room the next night at
o'clock He would arrange for couple Of Washington
newspapermen to call for interview. Griff had
almost one-man operation in those days. He not only
ran the club but he also was his own publicity man.
Its a lot different today isn't it? And you know
something? like it better don't generally
paper clippings and pictures, but saved all the things
written about me the other day. It's warm feeling,
after all these years. to he coming back home and TO be
received nicely"