Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 130, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 June 1917 — ATHLETICS STILL STUCK, IN TRENCHES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ATHLETICS STILL STUCK, IN TRENCHES

The Athletics are still in the trenches. Several seasons ago Connie Mack disrupted a marvelous machine, retaining only Strunk, Mclnnis, Bush and Schang, and began to build anew. The cagy one hinted at another pennant winner about 1917. But the boys are still in the trenches. Wally Schang, the snappy little catcher of the club, is Mac’s chief assistant in dragging the boys from their Last Place dugout. Schang is one of the most valuable players in baseball. He not only stars as one of the very best —if not the best —catcher in the American league, but he can perform most creditably at any other position on the diamond. Wally has filled in everywhere—particularly specializing for Mack at third base and the outfield, while canny Connie was combing the bushes in search of capable cogs to fit in those positions. Mack would have fallen out of the league last year without him. And now we find him, in addition to directing the play on the field, batting fourth in “clean-up” position —a most unusual place to find a catcher.

FOUR IMPORTANT COGS IN MACK’S MACHINE.