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Show GAVE BLACKBURNE FOR RAY S CHALK Lena Has Now Taken His Job as Manager of Sox. Seventeen years ago Charles Comis-key, Comis-key, owner of the Chicago White Sox, precipitated a mild sensation by trading trad-ing a dependable infielder to Milwaukee Milwau-kee for a flashy young catcher, heralded her-alded as the "kid wonder." In the midst of a pennant race last season the "kid wonder," Bay Schalk, stepped down as manager of the Sox and the infielder, "Lena" Blackburne, took the helm. When Blackburne, whose full monicker mon-icker is Russell Aubrey Blackburne, became manager of the Sox the team was stumbling along far down in the second division. "Lena" called his gang together on the eve of an Eastern East-ern invasion, told them he intended to be "boss" and reminded them that to win bull games one big inning only is necessary. The team started that day and a montli later the Sox were in the first division, and "cocky" enough to divide di-vide a series with the chesty Yankees. But a line on "Lena." He Is forty, but as full of pep and enthusiasm as a collegian. He hustles and inspires his hands to hustle. And he's known as a fighter. "There's been lots of gossip about nobody being able to boss the Sox," he told the players the day he assumed control. "But here's one manager who'll be boss." One day last year Chicago was playing Cleveland and an early lead that the Indians had piled up had been reduced to one run by the time the ninth inning rolled around. Two Sox were on bases and two were out. "Lena" elected to bat. Shaute, hurl- i Ing for the Indians, grew careless, probably thinking "this old guy can't hit it." Blackburne smacked a single to left and a run was in. A few seconds sec-onds later another Six singled and "Lena" came home from second. He ached for weeks after, he said, but he had won the game. "Lena" started in baseball with his father's semi-pro team at Palmyra at the unusual late semi-pro age of twenty-four. He has played with the Athletics Ath-letics in addition to the Sox. He gets i th "Lena" from his leanness. It first was "Lean," and eventually "Lena." |