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VETERAN PILOTS STEP ASIDE AS THREE CLUBS MAKE CHANGE AT THE HELM
Leach Retires in Pittsburgh — Lozano Dismissed by Boston — Bewley Out in Chicago
By Arthur H. Leland, Sporting Times
October 16th 1917
With the curtain drawn upon another hard-fought campaign, the offseason has commenced in earnest, and with it comes that annual reckoning in the front offices of the major clubs. Owners and magnates, casting a sober eye upon the standings, have begun the task of determining whether new leadership is required to guide their nines to brighter fortunes next spring. This year, three managerial chairs have already been vacated.
The first development comes as something of a surprise out of Pittsburgh Pirates, where Jason Leach has elected to retire from the managerial post he has held since 1910. In eight seasons at the helm, Mr. Leach consistently kept the Pirates in the first division’s outskirts, never allowing the club to sink below fifth place. Yet the championship appearance that remained his chief ambition proved elusive.
Mr. Leach’s earlier tenure with the Brooklyn Superbas, from 1904 through 1907, was marked by far leaner results, making his steady stewardship in Pittsburgh a creditable achievement, even absent a pennant. The Pirates’ ownership has expressed its gratitude for his years of faithful service and now faces the task of appointing its first new manager in eight years.
In announcing his decision, Mr. Leach stated, “I have enjoyed my time in Pittsburgh greatly and shall always hold affection for the club and its supporters. But the game moves forward, and I believe it is time I step aside and allow a younger man to take the reins.”
Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox have relieved Bob Lozano of his duties following another difficult season. Mr. Lozano, who directed the Red Sox from 1911 through 1917, guided the club to a playoff appearance in 1914, a high-water mark during his administration. However, the past three seasons have witnessed a steady decline in Boston’s fortunes, with finishes of sixth, seventh, and now eighth place sealing his fate.
Reflecting upon his dismissal, Mr. Lozano remarked, “Baseball fortunes can turn swiftly. We reached the playoff not so long ago, yet the last three years have not met the standard expected in Boston. I accept the club’s decision and wish the men nothing but success going forward.”
The third managerial vacancy is found with the Chicago Cubs, who have parted ways with James Bewley. His three-year stewardship, spanning 1915 to 1917, proved a study in fluctuation. The Cubs concluded his first season in seventh place, rose admirably to second the following year, and then tumbled to eighth in the campaign just ended. Such uneven returns have cost Mr. Bewley his position.
In taking leave of Chicago, Mr. Bewley said, “My time with the Cubs has been one of both trial and triumph. To rise as we did one year and fall the next is the nature of this contest. I am proud of the effort given and shall look back on these seasons with respect.”
Thus, as autumn deepens and the grandstands stand empty, three experienced baseball men now find themselves without posts, while three clubs embark upon the search for fresh direction in hopes that 1918 may yield brighter results.
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