Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 272, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 November 1910 — GREATEST BASEBALL LEADER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GREATEST BASEBALL LEADER

National league world’s champions have passed for the day, and American league champions now are possessed of the highest honor in professional baseball. Connie Mack's hands are worthy hands in which to repose the custody of this glory, for he is one of the safe men now connected with the game. He is strictly honest, wise beyond his generation, and a pure sportsman, writes James A. Hart, former president of the Chicago National League club, in the Chicago Tribune.' Certainly the goddess of fortune selected wisely when she chose this long bodied, long headed gentleman to become the recipient of the world’s baseball championship emblem. Mack’s plan of developing young players into a championship team is in my opinion the proper one, for it makes the player realize more fully that he Is really and truly a part of the team rather than if his release had been purchased from some other club whose manager had given him the proper schooling and to whom he should feel obligated. Do hot for one moment permit yourself to believe that this unassuming down east Yankee does not know and use the tricks of the game, for he is wise and will turn any honest advan-

tage that an umpire will allow when his team is to be benefited. It was this same Connie Mack, nee Cornelius McGillicuddy, who as a catcher back of the bat in the old days when a caught foul tip made an out, invented and perfected the fake foul tip, or, in other words, could make a noise by snapping his finger against his mitt in a certain manner, or by using his well trained lips could emit a sound so like the noise of a foul tip that the umpire, who as a general rule had faith in Mack’s innocence, would, upon Connie’s supplication, call out the batsman, firmly believing that the ball had been a foul tip. Mack has by example and advice been much, to the players under him, for he is a man of perfect personal habits, is of a most kindly disposition, and more than tolerant with the playing errors of his men. He is of Scotch-Irish extraction, born and reared in New England. He made his first appearance in fast company in the Washington team when that club whs a member of the National league. He and his favorite pitcher—they used to go in pairs in those days—Gilmore by name, came to Washington as a battery in the ’Bos.

Cornelius McGillicuddy.