Evening star., 1909-02-19
SOMERS
A WISE MAGNATE
His Purchase of Pitcher Cy
Young a Master
Stroke.

CLEVELAND, Ohio, February ID
Charley Somers, the man who used MS
Judgment brains and money to finance
the American League and gave the Ma
tional League a stinger for years, the
man who is responsible for the high sal
aries In organized base ball today. came
back into the limelight with rush.
When he was able to land Nap Laioie,
Bill Bernhard and Elmer Flick to CleVe-
land club contract years ago 1t was
master play and appealed to the pubic.
1t made base ball in Cleveland.
Now he follows up by bringing Young
to Cleveland, the place where he started
his professional career almost nineteen
years ago against the chicago team tieh
managed and captained by Pop Anson
The Cleveland club owners could never
have made better play. This was the
unanimous opinion OF the ciun owners
ball players and every one when broach-
| ed on the subject The prevailing ques-
ton was what did the Cleveland club
nav for the famous twirler and what in
duced John l. Taylor to part with the
| last veStige of what was Formerly 'lie
world champiOns?
They are now all gone He is building
up a new team with young players. The
Cleveland contingent refused TO discuss
! the subject, while John l. Taylor said he
| had nothing to say.
No Chance for Mistake.
But whatever the price may be the
Cleveland club did not make single mis-
take in landing the greatest pitcher that
has ever shown in the great natlonal
game, the man who starts on his twen-
tieth year in fast company
bad year for Young and he would
be in oblivion and that is the chance
the Boston club took. The same may
| be said of the Cleveland club. but they
| are taking the chance for close TO $l2' 'ol
| as well as two pitchers. Chech and JacH
Ryan. c,,,o
land club has the better of the deal Is
apparent. Jimmy McAleer of the
| Browns will surely testify to that.
McAleer Gives Opinion.
He declared that he would pay jus
| twice as much as Cleveland had. ant
| he did not know the price. If the
| Cleveland Club paid $4,000 for Young
we would have paid Boston $40Oot
| for him." was McAleer's opinion ASH
the Cleveland Club what they. Will sell
| CIV for, and they will come right bacK
that he is not on the market-cr say
| $4,000.
| II am glad to see old Cy back to the
| stamping grounds where he made ms
| mark. the same fields where he and
|
| man, not only from a business standpoln,
but as a player, even though he does not
| pitch a single game. 1 did not thlnf
| had a chance or that Young was or
| the market. but Somers beat us all tt
the game. With Young and Joss as pitch
ers Just watch the Maps in 1909
Charles Comiskey of the White Sox
Billy Murray of the Philadelphia Ma
| tionals. Roger Bresnahan of the St
Louis Cardinals Garry Hermann. Charles
Ebbetts and any one approached on the
subject said practically the same thing.
Great Predictions Made.
! Connie Mack declared that the Cleve
lands had the best chance in the worlt
for the pennant if Young could show
lust about half the same form as h'
did in 1903. while Joe Cantillon remarked
/. We'll, Lajoie has got some one tina
can beat us. He only took six game!
from us last season. / guess that Ii
, going some. That was great move OF
the Cleveland club owners part, and lie
me say, it was a wise one"
Charles Somers was the happy man
, "Why, / had no idea that we could lant
, CIV Young" remarked Somers. ''Whil
=, talking to Fred Lake the matter came III
and just as luck would have it John 1