The Detroit times., 1911-02-07
TRADE
WITH A
LOSER.

TRADE gregation OF rivals
WITH A Once in d while
LOSER. when the occasion
IL an extreme one,
deals are pulled on between leadins
teams. but this Is seldom.
The Clarke-Griggs trade between
st. Louis and Cleveland Is fair sam.
pie OF the modern, approved basepaii
swap. The Maps had In Clarke a
catcher whom several OF the league
leading clubs would have been giad
to get. In all probability they couid
have secured elsewhere more In
value than they did from the Browns.
However, there was no chance that
Clarke's presence on the 81. Louis
roster would make enough difference
In the PLAYING ability of the team 60
enable Il 20 beat out the club Clarke
left. The Maps don't amount 10 much
hut tho Browns are a CHASTITY joke.
or course. the rule works also In
the case OF sales. No club should sell
a player OF real ability 10 any close
rival. The Detroit management FOUND
this out by actual demonstration IN
the Thomas deal.
Ira Thomas had been discarded py
the New York club. Detroit gave MIN
a thorough trial and was forced 10
the same conclusion, despite lras
batting ability. Ira's throwing arm
was chronically lame. He did saus-
factory work only with left-handed
pitchers who kept men close TO nrst
base.
The spring OF 1905 found Detroit in
possession OF Beckendorf. Schmidt,
Thomas and Stanage. Beck" and
Oscar were the pick or the minor
leagues. Ii looked like a great stan
without Ira.
Connie Mack's club lost Powers and
was in a bad way. Connie wanted
one of the Detroit backstops and
offered Frank Nayin $4,000 for either
Stanage or Beckendorf. The Detroit
man turned him down. but suggested
Thomas. In at OF desperation, Con-
ME grabbed at the bait.
I don't believe IT has ever been gen.
orally known that, when Detroit SOLO
Thomas. Ira himself was OF the be-
lief that his days in the big league
were practically over. In fact, he had
gone so far as to make Mr.. Navin an
offer for his own release In order that
he might, in partnership with a friend,
purchase a club in the New England
league and settle down there to end
his day at first base.
II looked as IL, though transgress-
ing the rule OF trades and sales. the
Detroit club was perfectly safe in sell.
ing Thomas to the Athletics, yet the
deal turned out TO be disastrous IN
the extreme. Thomas came back as
II by a miracle. The throwing arm
which he had lost four years before,
was revived and Ira went on to do MS
part in making the Athletics not only
the champions OF their league, but OF
the world as well.
Would Frank Navin sell Phiiadei-
phia a ball payer now?
Yes, II that bal player had had both
arms amputated In a railroad and was
in the last stages OF consumption.
Otherwise, No,
G r. Shuart, the talented and dill
gent exploiter OF the indianapolis
Speedway tells us that most OF the
star drivers on the American ana
European tracks were formerly pilots
OF taxicabs They made the change
in the interests OF quiet life, in all
probability.
Now that we hear Tommy Burns
intention of suing the railroad on
which he sustained that injury. we
shall take with grain OF salt those
stories about his ring retirement
Damages might prove a powerful
panacea.
Interesting fact: The Saginaw club
of the South Michigan league has 81
PLAYERS under suspension, In which
respect 1t leads the world, the Spring
field I. /. I. club being poor second
with 10. Hang TO 'em, Burk,
Now IL big Jim Jeffries will only
take US into his confidence regarding
those wagers his close, personal
friends won on Jack Johnson, all will
be well.