After Ned Hanlon guided the Brooklyn Superbas to horrible back-to-back seasons in 1904 and ’05 (56-97 sixth place, 48-104 eighth place) it was time for a parting of the ways between Hanlon and Brooklyn—it was announced that Hanlon had signed to manage the Cincinnati Reds in 1906.
Ned Hanlon
During fifteen years with the franchise (eight in Baltimore, seven more in Brooklyn) Hanlon led them to five pennants and three second-place finishes, and according to The Brooklyn Eagle his departure “caused no end of regret among the wide circle of friends he had gained during his seven years stay here as head of the Superbas.”
But, the paper said, one man “learned of the change with greater dismay than anybody else.” John Montgomery Ward, the former player, manager and leader of the Brotherhood was, by then, a successful Brooklyn attorney.
Ward and Hanlon were long-time friends and Hanlon had been an active member of the Brotherhood, but Ward said, more than that, he “owed my start as a successful ballplayer,” to Hanlon.
John Montgomery Ward
“I had begun my career as a professional that year with the Binghamtons, but along about June the club disbanded. I received offers from Rochester and Providence to finish the season in the box. For I was pitching in those days, and went to Rochester to look over the field. I was a boy of eighteen then, and inexperienced, and I was taken aback when the manager and players clamored for me to sign immediately. Hanlon was captain of the team and he joined in the request for me to sign. I asked them to give me a little time to think it over and went back to the hotel for that purpose. Hanlon, and a well-known player of those days, Ed Caskin, followed me there, and continued their importunities.
“’I told them that it was my first year in the game, and then turning to Hanlon said ‘Mr. Hanlon, put yourself in my place and tell me what to do. Advise me just as if you were speaking to a brother.’
“’Hanlon flushed up, looked at the floor, then at Caskin. Then he turned to me.’
“’Go to Providence.’ He said. Caskin coincided, and I took my bag and went to Cincinnati where the Grays were playing. I made good with them (22-13 1.51 ERA) and gained fully five years of my career because of the sacrifice of Hanlon, who wanted me in Rochester. We’ve been firm fiends ever since, the bonds being strengthened during his stay here. I’m sorry he has gone, but I am confident he will have better success with the Reds.”
Despite Ward’s confidence, Hanlon was only slightly more successful with the Reds in 1906 and ’07 than he had been during his final two seasons in Brooklyn–64-87, 66-87, sixth place finishes.
Baseball History Daily 
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