Читать книгу Bad Boys, Bad Times. The Cleveland Indians and Baseball in the Prewar Years, 1937–1941 онлайн

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Seven big runs had just crossed the plate against three miserable Indian relievers. The frustrated crowd let go with a steady chorus of jeers while the home team, heads bowed low, trotted off the field. The Senators won by a lopsided score of 12–5. Tomorrow’s newspapers were sure to be filled with some extra-colorful reporting.

Those fans who picked up a copy of the Cleveland News were aghast to read Ed McAuley’s headline feature. It was an open letter addressed to Manager Steve O’Neill, titled “Get Mad Steve and Stay Mad!” McAuley had gone over the edge in a massive critique of the Indians manager. The sports editor accused O’Neill of being easy on his players, allowing them too much freedom on and off the field. He warned that if this type of lax authority continued, a change in managers just might occur. McAuley wrote, “I don’t want the public or anyone else to fire you Steve, and that’s why I’m taking the liberty of speaking frankly.”

The revealing open letter cited numerous examples of Indians ballplayers making foolish mistakes on the base paths. Later in the piece McAuley briefly tried to tone down his ire by adding, “I am not trying to second-guess. You’ve made some mistakes Steve. You haven’t played the percentages like you did last season.” McAuley gave further space to the lax attitude the players seemed to be carrying with them. He noted a recent road trip where, after some tough losses, the Indians were enjoying themselves on the train home, wolfing down steaks and playing poker without a care. Apparently McAuley believed O’Neill should have stepped in and ripped the players for having a good time.