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Show BIRMINGHAM IS SEVENTH PILOT (By Sid C. Keener.) St, "Louis. Sept. 18. IL takes more than money to produce a winner in baseball. For Instance, the resignation resigna-tion of Harry Davis as manager of tho Cleveland Naps Xo man in baseball has handled his pocket book with a more free and easy string than Charllo Somcrs, owner of the Cleveland club. He was the one who furnished the capital to buck the National league and start tho Anmrl-can Anmrl-can league more than a decade ago, still during his reign the NapB have been consistent locer?. The Harry Davis episode is me of the many, "many freaks of the 1912 seaeon. Glvon possession of a third place team Davis failed to tie the work of Georse Stovall In 1911, with the result that after being hounded by the home Tans Davis refused to stand the brunt of tho criticism any longer and quit his job. Hla Failure a Mystery. Davis failure is a mystery He was Connie Mack's lieutenant in developing develop-ing marvels and winning pennants, as well as two world's nerios. There wore manv who gave Davis much of tho credit for the work accomplished by the Athletics, and, naturally, when he was appointed manager of the Naps, be was picked to produce a winner for the Forest City. But Dais, like McAIeer. Armour, Lajoie and McGulre, his predecessors In Cleveland, collapsed. The finish came when telegraphic accounts reported re-ported that Davis resigned after tho Cleveland fans gave otovall such a Joyous reception when he went in to bat for a pitcher in the second in ning. The deal that made Davis manager of the Naps was completed In May. 1011, just after McGuire had resigned and Stovall" wa3 put In charge of Ihe club. When McGuire quit, Somors went scouting for a real manager. It was generally known that Harry Davis Da-vis was serving his last year under Mack, and was ready to take a job as boss. How Stovall Lost Out. Tho deal was arranged for Davis to be manager of the Clevqland Nape In 1912. In May, too, Stovall was appointed ap-pointed to serve as manager of the club. That started Stovall's brilliant career. Ho was given a free rein and showed JU6t what he could do without with-out interference. While Stovall was making a great run with the Napsbringiug them from sixth place up to third. It was all cut for him to be ousted at the end of the season and Davis put in charge the next spring. The 1912 seaeon arrired with Davis tho Cle eland boss und Stovall a mere volunteer In St. Louis. When Wallace failed. iMarse George was elected to the Job, and sinco then tho Browns havp'boen one of tho American league sensations, even It they arc last. Who will he Davia' successor In Cleveland is a mystery. Joe Birmingham Bir-mingham has been put in charge ot the team, and Henry P. Edwards, sporting editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, wired tho following information informa-tion Tuesday mornlpg concerning affairs af-fairs with the Naps. Looks Like Birmingham. "Birmingham stands as good a chance as any one of being appointed. Somers cannot figure that any class A manager could fill the bill. He has no one In mind, and if Birmingham gets the results he will be regularly appointed." Somors has had more than his share of trobulos In getting a competont leader Connlo Mack has been with the Athletics sinoo 1901: Frank Chance with the Cubs since 1905; Fred Clarke with the Pirate since 1900; McGraw with tho Giants since 1902, but managers hare changed in Clevoland almost no Togularly as tho moon, Jimmy McAleor was first on the job. McAieer was the pilot In 1900 and 1901, but when tho American loaguc camo to St. Louis in 1902 McAloer was glvon th Job here. Bill Armour succeeded McAleor. He lasted three voars. and In 1905 Lnjoie was tho now commander. , Lajolo had a great gathering of stars in Cleveland. Thero were the late Addle Joas, Bill Bernard, Elmer Fllok, Bill Bradley, Harry Bay, Earl Mooro and a bunch of others. But Larry couldn't do anything and resigned in August, 1909. McGuire stepped into Larry's shoea, only to quit in May. l'jll. to be followed by Stovall Then Davis was appointed and uow Birmingham. |
