Damn Yankees by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Damn Yankees

Page 121

with the umpires, Stengel hit .302 in 100 games as the Panthers finished third.

However, the Panthers were not enough of a box office success to satisfy owner Fuchs, who planned to move the team to Providence, Rhode Island for the 1926 season, with Stengel to remain in his roles. John McGraw, with whom Stengel had remained close, wanted him to take over as manager of the Giants' top affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens of the American Association, at an increase in salary. Stengel was still under contract to the Braves, and Mud Hens president Joseph O'Brien was unwilling to send them money

or players in order to get him. When Stengel asked Fuchs what to do if a higher level club wanted to draft him, Fuchs half-heartedly suggested releasing himself as a player, which would automatically terminate his Braves contract. Stengel took up Fuchs on his suggestion, releasing himself as a player, then

firing himself as manager and resigning as president, clearing the way for him to move to the Mud Hens. Fuchs was outraged, and went to Judge Landis, who advised him to let the matter go.

“People talk about all the money I've made. But they never talk about all the money I've lost.” - Casey Stengel.

Stengel's six years in Toledo would be as long as he would spend anywhere as manager, except his time with the Yankees of the