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Show t f ""iWf" e fort f Charles Albert Comiskey, I J' XiL -LjL JL for Nineteen Years President and n- zT i rw i rs Owner of the Chicago White Sox. KThe Grand Old Roman . : By G w. AXElson or . I lSt0B"nc7of Johnson is "dis-;.;Jyron "dis-;.;Jyron B'tern league Is organ- --S&f''" and t: J"', in the lineup. c vrIvKTI had been a member ot iV Natter a! league two years U wlien comiskey moved to the ', Queen City. ad ,ncd Utt, reown through the connection and tv , still referred with reverence to a inS days of !S69 and 1882 the !' "r vaar having been made glorious ! ."mnaralleled triumphs of the un-V un-V Red Stockings while the latter , he Vniod of the only pennant ?' fhad nown in Kedland during two M le!;,,eoess of the new manager was Ined ocre Although he did no better "lis predecessors, his record was no Mn those who followed him. Un-s-i Vnminc of Pat Morani In this year 7' "is. Cincinnati has been the ? of despond for every manager ex-:riv' ex-:riv' naries i Snvder. who led the team thi:i captured the American association Gs'v tavc'soeculated on the reason for C;ai.pionless belt on the American all map, which embraces four cities h n"ton Cincinnati, Louisville and t nils Connio Mack of the presenilis-, fthietics and Clark Griffith of the l-"' in'ton team collaborated to solve It it 1- , ie solution was the weather, but ft'-lr could offer any explanation for fcrr ',.r.time winners in St. Louis nor .ct that Louisville has been the cock "is e walk in the new American asso- ii ' "team in St. Louis and Washington n- be 25 per cent better than any Cri' n order to win a pennant," was 's deduction, to which Griffith ac- "'" iehoat In those cities has a weak-'!: weak-'!: Influence on the players and their m ; rth is sapped before the middle of h':- ason Is reached," Mack is credited l is"; bavins said. , p Weather No Alibi. eptfng this argument at its face lr';: the old Browns must have been a e'l,"irful aggregation. Taking it for that they were 25 per cent fer than any other team in the as-t as-t j0n and tacking on the victories r Anson's wonderful legion and they Indeed have been a race of giants. 'r: -Jier Mack nor Griffith mentioned t'Mnatl or Louisville, but those who t had an opportunity to spend part nt heated season in either city know "iktenruigh that they compare favor- , ith "Washington and St. Louis. lfJe. key himself does not attach undue tance to the hot weather theory ''edoes not believe that the weather rf ' irythinff to do with his inability "'i' l a flag for Cincinnati. That the 1 atmosphere was not congenial ie taken for granted and that he of i d for a man who knew little about ?n ie points of the game is matter of' for : i t. Brush, who succeeded to the dtf-Bhip of the club in the winter of was best known as a successful ig merchant, although he had been to !:; ntrolling factor in the Indianapolis cwr if the National league and had .,.1. cu inc LiaoiiiiaLiuu auiai ; iliic thr was the immediate cause of the e revolt. Being an expert on f IB did not prevent Brush from ris-rni'! ris-rni'! the eminence of the premier base-n base-n d" illticlan in the National league and er r a supreme in that field until his f'o:: ich ' Brush tendency to pare down the te'rr. 8 of the players, which had been s re d to a ruinous degree towards the tbr.: if the Eighties, was not parsimony, oet:;fls a measure for the good of the avc: as a whole. Brush himself was irtF ;ral in his dealings with his players nrE--r majority of the magnates of his an.s : ut his name was anathema to the f,. ind file, principally because of his ,.e:l sympathy for the individual. k Not Popular. OYFvas pictured as Imperious and wily, '"""i was all of the latter, but he lacked live tributes of a czar. Incidentally, .Wig writers dubbed him as the orig- gumshoe" magnate in the game. ,,, i-ley thought differently of his new .,;; md, although the majority of his mt- ?' Wends were more or less at lerG: ltn the Cincinnati owner, who later Vov- e. the controlling factor in the New ;nor 'lau's. the "Old Roman" always in-rar; in-rar; that the merchant-magnate was . Ml aboveboard In his dealings with e.t '- oiy- ion, Bfush was one of the best men I Jtt,,. rorked for," said Comiskey, "and, by 1 could not be considered an ltjn. aJ far as the playing end was ncu, he knew more about the game enl A majority of the owners of his nil" lvl,at lle dld not know ho was ,irta" i,.? loarn ,rom those who did. In illtics of the game he was in , a iy himself, being one of the braln-,en braln-,en ever connected with the sport. "'". was lothlng stingv o, mean him, but there were few players put anything over on him. He Lj ue" me wllh every considern- ' 1(,ft hlm he assured me ,D.,a', would be open for me as 77r' " Pone b''okc. He tried his ACt whwf1'?''6. me from SOing to St. ."irh he insisted was the grave-nFii0n,': grave-nFii0n,': the minors, but having got-Li- M to cejueteries, It was all the mi if' W!len he faI'ed to change : ma he ended up our conversation p: nla remark: c'; ' li JmU are broke com back here me k5ow.-an"me' you I'eed any for New League. lmi?nthat lle tame 'he most un-. un-. omsmg opponent of the American , V ti,m i,? 1oe? not detract from the rV" 31m, ln,v"l,cl1 I hold his memory. P in len. the enemies he made !S "as. solid against him, in-b in-b ill rl sti" ,nlnk of h as one men that the game has 'f : 'asTranhV" "wntence" to Cincln-;':s Cincln-;':s for fht wltn tremendous consc-T consc-T th.t ' );p?rL 11 was during this '-- ", ll Plans, for the American llo'ilze ba;nntl0nWhleh wa3 to al n-''e :l" an(5 ma!e it truly --r to hl acfer-were developed. d hpC0.mlnK,t0 hi0' Comiskey ,rSs,r acciualr,tance of a young rtS.itorofv"1'"30!?',31 ,hat me sport - ' J 13 a player and admlr?d Comiskey In turn L J1 man- while the (mprin o Vi were soon to make V"'. "n 'he t HsPt,Cl'e'!,,up' the feud -;i0 ;. rush. lsteU unt'l the death of JfJ y Recommends Johnson. S-nrus ot h "ewest guest, despite allegiance t'tT' neVer wared iship th"ce "' manager. The "'V K'd sn I formed has never been l8fon?,,hhe?oi1lr,Ual fr,en""P wa" e.X rt todav -rll erous condition of tVhave h1' 'o the surface al-V-,resardlCKSn "orf aPParent than real have Sevelon J 'T?'"11 differences Jl'ave stood B --?ohnaon aml Com-stood Com-stood anou.der to shoulder for the betterment of the game for almost a quarter of a century. The antipathy which Erush felt toward "Ban eventually resulted in the formation forma-tion of the rival league and Brush himself him-self unconsciously became the biggest booster for the emerging Goliath. The trenchant pen which Johnson wielded gave the Indianapolis-Cincinnati magnate many uneasy hours and he was not adverse ad-verse to giving him other emplovment should the change take him out of Cincinnati. Cin-cinnati. When Comlskev suggested to his employed em-ployed that "Ban" would be a good man for the presidency of the Western league, Brush was torn by conflicting emotions. the betterment of the game for almost a yr.. on which he lost seventeen straight q Thl . .? entuIr. , , . games, he returned home to find that an The antipathy which Erush felt toward , . . iX Injunction had been issued against him Ban eventually resulted in the forma- S : K preventing Sunday games on the grounds tirm or the rival league and Brush him- ,:f : :':';;n, on which he was then nlaving. A reporter self unconsciously became the biggest s : ,' on a local Daper broke tf,e uewa to him booster for the emerging Goliath. The , : : J ':. on his return to the city, trenchant pen which Johnson wielded "Oh, is that i.'IV" commented Comis- gave the Indianapolis-Cincinnati magnate ..srsp-... . key "They "l,avG onlv stopped me from many uneasy hours and he was not ad- - iiri't:;-iN7.A. playing one day a week. I didn't know verse to givingr him other employment . ff'-if but that thev would restrain me from should the change take him out of Cln- , plavlng on the other six." 0 w5 , . '' f'-.-f Then, after building a new "Sunday i j " i y sugested to his em- k ' !M v -V -;. ;::.'.": park." he whipped his team Into winning ployed that Ban" would be a good man : . t3-!!.!;-i:j;vJ':;:;vJs.:;;.:.:;ii';:'i.;i condition and finished second at the end for the presidency of the Western league, : .fe;-.:. :, . . !;., of the season. Brush was torn by conflicting emotions. ,:Ji K'-rn.:'-: fi'-i -S-;,. While in St. Paul, Comiskey picked up 'M---- .H::.-'5''r:.:':4. , J;mmmm w mfiYmfS ..Mmmmmim itl i iliillilfl "PplIiOilliiliS He would like to separate Johnson from his newspaper job if this could be accomplished ac-complished without showing any favors. If the Western league position would keep him out of Cincinnati, well and good. If it should prove too big for him, so much the better, as in that case he would be discredited. When the day arrived on which a choice would have to be made, Brush, who owned the Indianapolis club, missed his train. The other delegates considered Comiskey as representing the wishes of the Cincinnati magnate and cast their votes for Johnson, and thus launched the career of one of the most remarkable executives ex-ecutives that the- baseball game has known. Taking the moves which led up to the formation of the American league in their logical sequence, beginning with the organization or-ganization of the Western league, the conviction is forced upon the historian that Comiskey waa the real founder of the only rival that the old National league ever had. As early as 1893 the "Old Homan" had mentally drafted an enlarged Western league. It had its beginning on a trip In the south. After listening to tales of poverty poured into his ears by Southern league managers, Comiskey suggested to a number, all personal friends, that up north good baseball territory was going begging. They took him at his word and in the following year several" moved their chattels across the Mason and Dixon line and the Western league cama into be- inTho circuit over which Johnson first presided in 1804 Was modest In its scope and territory, consisting of Sioux City. Minneapolis. Milwaukee, Kansas City, Toledo, Indianapolis, Detroit and Columbus. on which he lost seventeen straight games, he returned home to find that an Injunction had been issued against him preventing Sunday games on the grounds on which he was then playing. A reporter on a local paper broke the news to hnn on his return to the city. "Oh, is that a'IV" commented Comiskey. Comis-key. "They "have only stopped me from playing one day a week. 1 didn't know but that they would restrain me from playing on the other six." Then, after building a new "Sunday park," he whipped his team Into winning condition and finished second at the end of the season. ; While in St. Paul, Comiskey picked up I I COMISKETS CHICAGO BROTHERHOOD TEAM OF 1890. Becomes His Own Boss. The real organizer being under contract con-tract to the Cincinnati club, was unable to realize his ambition of becoming an owner until his agreement with Brush expired. ex-pired. Immediately after the 1S94 sea-ion sea-ion he bought the Sioux City franchise and moved the team, or what was left of it to St. Paul. The good wishes of Brush went with his manager, although he did his best to persuade Commy not ' make the leap. An even more attrac-t?vr attrac-t?vr contract than he had enjoyed was put before him. but the manager turned down a sure thing for the dubious privilege priv-ilege of becoming his own boss. The St Paul venture made Commy rich in experience, but poor In purse. The size of Ms bank roll necessitated rigid economy and the strength of the team was In direct ratio to the resources back of It He did not make a splurge, but endeavored to break even. it has always been the contention of Comlskcv that the only useful owner In baseball has been the one who has been through the mill as a player and manager man-ager and the sentiment has not been in dfsparagement of that host of sportsmen-capitalists who have had a hand In uphuiid ng the game. It is simply a con-vTctlon con-vTctlon with Commy." born from experl- Cn"There has been many a good loser In baseball who never slid into a base.' commented Comiskey, once, "but the mar, "3 1 rather see blhlnd a club when it I wouiu a fln1sn ia one wh0 iTned the game on the field. That kind will stand to lose his last dollar without a whimper while one who regards re-gards the game as an investment .is gen-11,, gen-11,, .mrini the first to pull out. Sen-fit Sen-fit S'hiv. eoual weight with busi- "T choI?o""orv supporting this theory was circulated in the early days of the ,iJ.n league, when Ban Johnson would wm up?wlth a new bunch of capitalist-backers at every meeting. Objects to Millionaires. There had been a change of owners In netroit and the enthusiastic "Ban" wni congratulating the rest of the mas-nates mas-nates o"Rer the acquisition of Samuel F i. who was a power in the financial "ld Comiskey listened intently and then probably having in mind his ex-L'nces ex-L'nces in the Brotherhood days when some o" the wealthiest backers of the payers were the first to run for cover, dryly remarked: "One more millionaire will break the American league." "Commv" never has changed his viewpoint view-point and that is why he has always been willing to back practical baseball men to the limit of his ability, wliiie avoiding entangling alliances w:th men of money. It is doubtful if there is any other owner in baseball who has backe-i more minor league clubs than has Comiskey. Com-iskey. It has been a habit with him when some of his veteran players have started to slip to offer them their choice of some minor league club. I know that this happened on at least three different occasions. "Go out and pick your club and I will back you," would be "Commy's" injunction. injunc-tion. "If you make any money it is yours: if there is a deficit at the end of the season, I will make it up." As the player-manager was assured a regular salary there could he no risk. Comiskev himself enioyed no such as- surancos when he went to St. Paul in S?5. With- him it waa sink or swim. K very tiling he had was invested in the cinb, and the 'equipment of his ball park compelled him to become chummy with the bankers. He organized the rest team that his resources permitted, with himself him-self as captain, manager and president. When necessary, he also played first base. His best years in St. Paul were his first and his last 1S95 and 1S99. In each of these seasons he finished second afler fla? races which still are talked about in the northwest. The cluh did poorly in' but moved up to third position in 1S97. The ' following year found the 1 Saints in fourth place. "Commy's" first season in St. Paul was np to trv his soul. After his first trip. two recruits who later ffgured prominently promi-nently in major league pennant races. These werp Frank Isbell and Hoy Patterson. Patter-son. "Izzy" in time justified "Commy's" judgment by becoming one of the great first basemten of the game, while Patterson Patter-son did more than his share in winning the first two flags for the "Old Roman" by his pitching. Taking few into his confidence, Comiskey Com-iskey applied his mind to expansion as soon as he assumed the title of president. Needing more time to plan, and finding that his executive duties interfered with his playing, first base saw him less and less. He put on his uniform for the last time in 1S0S, after eighteen years on the initial corner, winding up his career as the most finished first sacker of his time. |