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Show BILL M'KECHNIE IS LEADER OF PIRATES PJew Manager !s Great Asset to Any Big League Team. Was Considered Smari Third-Sacker a Few Years Back On Defense He Ranked With Byrne, Groh, and Other Stars. Should anyone be asked to choose one of the most valuable men to a ball club he would doubtless name Bill McKechnie. new leader of the I'l- J Bill McKechnie. rates. "Wilkinsburg Bill," as he is. known among his many admirers, is a great asset to a major league team. He is a good mixer and inspires the winning spirit which helps to keep up the morale of the team. Few really know the value of McKechnie Mc-Kechnie to the Pirates. He Is well liked by the athletes and everyone speaks highly of him. The Wilkinsburg Wilkins-burg citizen has a thorough knowledge of the national game. Though never a star, McKechnie was considered one of the smartest third basemen in the National league a few years back. He was never a .300 clouter, but was always dangerous dan-gerous at a critical stage. It was Bill's fielding that won much praise Tor htm. As he is a defensive man, he ranked with Byrne, Groh and a few others of note. In handling bunts he was everlastingly ever-lastingly on the job. Only last season McKechnie played third base for the Buccaneers. He did not stay throughout the year, for he was released to the Minneapolis club of the American association. He proved he was far from a "hasbeen" with the Millers. He was a big factor in their success in 1921. He batted well over .300. It was former Manager Gibson's intention in-tention to inject McKechnie into the lineup early In the spring should Tray-nor Tray-nor or Earnhardt fail to come up to expectations. Both of the young in-fielders in-fielders have more than made good. |