This week. BKP chronicles the baseball life and career of the sport's first great manager. Cornelius MacGillicuddy, better known in the MLB universe as Connie Mack, spent 71 years in organized baseball, from 1884 to 1955 as a bare-handed catcher, a manager, a front office executive and an owner. He carried himself with a quier dignity, and he commanded respect from friends and rivals alike. Along the way through his journey, he would evolve along with the game, constructiong one of the greatest "Dead Ball Era" teams, with his dynastic Philadelphia A's, during the 1910's, as well as a second Philly dynasty with one of the more dominant "Live Ball" squads, at the end of the Roaring 20's. Statuesque, stately and slim, you could always find the "Tall Tactician" in a high starched collar business suit and tie. with a rolled up scorecard in his hand, standing on the dugout steps, observing his chess pieces out on the diamond. He was baseball" grand old gentleman, for the early generations of fans, as the young game grows into a national phenomenon. #ConnieMack #PhiladelphiaAthletics #PittsburghPirates #FederalLeague #WesternLeague #MilwaukeeBrewers #RubeWaddell ##EddiePlank #JackCoombs #ChiefBender #HermanLong #NapoleanLaJoie #EddieCollins #JackBarry ##FrankBaker #BenShibe #BanJohnson #JohnMcGraw