The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-02-03
WORST DEAL
WAS NANIN'S
BEST.

o---N providing all sorts
u-oas- ma. OF "reminiscences or
MAS NAVIN's cases of players
BEST. bought at nominal
- prices who made
good and high-priced phenoms who
have conversely detonated. some
times the magnates who have lost a
good man cheap or paid extensively
/ for an overrated star, have had only
their own poor judgment to blame
More often, however. the advantage
gained by one alagnate over anothor
Is merely a matter OF luck. IL, Tor one
man purchased and tried out, the ciuo
secures one player OF first-class abiI'
lily, the average impresario is satis'
/ fed, or ought TO be.
( In this line il is a peculiar fact that
! the worst deal OF the Detroit club
viewed from the purely monetary point
OF view-Vas really about its best, To
great extent this deal illustrates The
element of hazard which prevails IN
the market for ball players.
In the fall of 1907 Detroit drafted, at
the request of the indianapolis club
and for the comparatively insignih-
cant sum of $3.50, a colt shortstop
named Bush from a Central league
club. He was at no time considered
a factor In the Detroit club for the
coming year and was turned over The
following spring 20 Indianapolis at tho
price paid for his release from the
Glass b organization. Incidentally.
each of the other clubs or the Ameri-
can and National leagues missed
chance OF landing Mr.. Bush for $1,000,
so the joke that follows is not entirely
on the Tiger management
With indianapolis Mr.. Bush. as any
well-posted bug will recall, developed
into the best ball player In the Amerl-
can association, which is commonly
attributed with being the fastest OF the
minor leagues. Detroit naturally want
ed Bush. but there was no string az
tached to his release and Mr.. Navin-
who is the clubs recruiting agent
was forced 10 go into the market ana
bid against the other clubs who were
after the same player. and this includ-
ed virtually all the world Of big-leag1e
baseball.
Mr. Nqvin went bit farther than
the others cared 10 go and landed Bush
for the sum of $500 cash. The local
management had sold and bought back
player within six months at net
loss OF Sc 500. Bush came to the Tigers
before the end OF the American league
season and helped most materially IN
the capture of the American league pen
nant. Last year he accepted more
chances than any shortstopper who
has ever performed on a basebaU field
and acquitted himself with great
credit in all departments OF the gans
Mr.. Nayin always looks on the Bush
deal as one OF the best he ever put
through. And this in spite OF the fact
that a transaction of that sort IN
almost eny other line of business
would be set down as an evidence OF
chronic and hopeless paranoia.
We are indebted 10 Ed Bang, OF
Cleveland. for calling attention to the
fact that Joe Birmingham played col
lege football for three years without
being hurt, only to enter on a series
OF calamities in baseball, while the
only injury which the rugged frame OF
Jim Jeffries shows is the result. not OF
a fight but of ball game. And still.
who wants 10 abolish or reform the
game or DaSeDall!
In addition TO being quite a nifty
boxer. Johnny Kilbane, who gives an
exhibition OF his skill at Windsor. Is
said to be very good to his poor. blind
sister.
For a man who has gotten a living
all his life out OF the boxing game,
John l.. Sullivan is making some very
tactless cracks these days. don't you
think?
And we understand the official advo-
cate of Windsor little flyer with tho
thoroughoreds, Canada gets all the
benefits Of the proposition, while De
Il oft gets the drawbacks-a most COM
mendable arrangement.