Mann was platooned in the outfield of the 1914 World Champion Braves; the next year
he jumped to the
Federal League and led that circuit with 19 triples. He headed a
player revolt for better shares in the 1918 WS as a member of the pennant-winning
Cubs. He batted over .300 six times, mostly as a reserve; in his three seasons with
the Cardinals (1921-23), he hit .328, .347, and .371. He turned in Giant pitcher
Phil Douglas for writing him a letter inviting a bribe in 1922. After his playing
days, Mann formed the National Amateur Baseball Association. In 1936, he persuaded
the World Olympic Committee to add baseball as an exhibition event; two American
teams puzzled a throng of Germans, who formed a larger crowd than had ever attended
a
World Series game.
(JK)
Les Mann
teams