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Show M TO WAGE . ULbJLAYERS BY WILLIAM J. CLYMER, Manager Wilkesbarre Club. A RECORD HARD TO BEAT. 1900 Wilkesbarre (Atlantic league) first. 1002 Louisvillo (A A.), second. Pennant lost on laBt day. 1903 Louisville (A. A,), second. 1904 Columbus (A. A.), second. 1905 Columbus (A. A.), first. 1906 Columbus (A. A.), first. 1907 Columbus (A. A.), first, 1908 Columbus (A. A.), third. 1909 Columbus (A. A.), resigned in mid-season. 1910 Wilkesbarro (New York State league), first. 1911 Wilkesbarre (New York State league), first. Managing a pennant winning ball team requires that a manager must be diplomatic, strengthen weak spots and get an even break in the luek. Ho must have players of good disposition dis-position and absolute harmony. He must have at least two good pitchers. He must have heady base runners. I Ho muBt have players who catch signals readily. He must not delay in filling tho weak spots. He must not let a few dollars stand In the way of a good player. He must hnvo catchers who throw well, even if they are not good hit-tors. hit-tors. Without harmony no team can suc- cecd in a major league. To obtain it the manager must study his men and uso diplomacy. A successful manager must be boss. No team can succeed without a leader. lead-er. A pennant team must have catchers who can hold the opposing team on the bases. The backstops need not ' be great hitters, but they must throw well and uso their heads. In every campaign I have had two or three first class pitchers who were good nearly every day they worked. Two first class pitchers are absolutely absolute-ly necessary. The winning manager must not hesitate hes-itate to strengthen weak spots. Allowing Al-lowing a weakness to exist means games will bo lost, and when you're dropping games regularly you're not winning pennants. , AAfow dollars difference should not prevent a manager from getting players play-ers he believes will strengthen his team. 1 never kick about paying a good salary to a player who delivers in quantities. I "Unless a team has exceptionally strong hitters, a few good base runners run-ners are necessary. Strong batting clubs can drive runners mound, but most of my teams have been made jip j of some who were fair hitters, good fielders and base runners. A decent break in the luck is necessary. nec-essary. Many teams of good players fail when the luck of the game is against them Players who try to beat old John Barleycorn cannot draw a salary from me. I don't object to a glass of beer after a herd game, but I won't havo a man who wrestles continually with beer or whiskey. Knowing when to yr-nk a pitcher is a factor. Many games are lost by poor handling of the boxmon. Knowing Know-ing just when to take a pitcher out la one of the best tests of managerial ! ability I know of. |