Norwich bulletin., 1914-12-11
REcoRn MARK.
It Is Said s11o,Do0 Is Involved in the
 Sale of Eddie Collins.


 The high water mark. for the sale of baseball player was reached when President Charles A. Momiskey of the White Sox announced that he had pur- chased Eddie Collins, the second base man, conceded to be the greatest ball player in the world from the Phila-- delphia Athletics. The deal is said to involve an expenditure of $110,000 for the player and his salary for five years. The officials of both clubs re- fused to give out the extra terms of the big deal, but it is understood that the sale of Collins involved a greater financial transaction than any deal for players before consummated in, major league baseball. According to base ball men who are well informed, Com iskey gave $6o,o00 for Collins. and the choice of two players out of i've whom he named. In Philadelphia, when Con nie Mack was asked, how much was paid for Collins he stated that he would like to have all over ':420,o00 Of the purchase price Comiskey re- fused to say who the five players he named were but it is understood. that two of them are satisfactory to Mack, one of them being an inf1elder whom he considers capable, of playing in Collins place.
 Comiskey gave Collins contract players. He has signed him for a term of five years for $60,000, or $12.O00, a year. Collins will not be asked to as- sume any managerial duties, but will play second base and captain the team. James J. Callahan will continue as manager. With Collins in the keystone position on the team. and with the added batting and field strength he will give the club President Conis- key considers that the White Sox will be strong pennant factor next sea- son.
 ' 7T,are have Naer sar.,or.1 +,-.,...-, tions in baseball during the past few seasons which involved large sums of money, but none had ever reached the. mark of $110.Oo0 set in the Collins deal. Iris Speaker of the Red Sox last season signed for two years for down S15.o00 a. year. The biggest deal in the major leagues for player be- fore this time was the purchase of Marty O'Toole from the minors by Barney preyfuss who gave s22,6oo for the pitcher who failed to live up to his reputation with the Pirates. The Federal league has also set exorbitant prices in signing players. notably Wal ter Johnson.
 Comiskey Is not speculating in sign ing Collins at a record price: He is getting a, young ball player who at the age of 27 has established himself as the greatest player the game has developed. He was born in Afillerton, \. Y., and in 1905 played on the Co., iunnbia university baseball team. He joined the Athletics in 1906. and in 1907 became a regular.
 Under Mack, Collins became the greatest second basernan in the game and his work in the worlds series in which he has taken part stamped him as one of the best players of all time.
 After leaving Columbia Collins en- deavored to get a chance to play with the Giants. He reported at the Polo grounds for morning practice a, num- Der of times but was overlooked by Manager McGraw. He finally got a chance with Mack and for the first few months played under the name of Sullivan.
 There is much surprise over AracRs disposal of Collins. The star second basennan was one of the players who last season hampered the harmony of the club. Another reason for his sale was: the fact of his great money value. By selling Collins at such a high price the AthIetice get back some of the money which they lost through the poor patronage of the club last sea-
 Record prices paid for basebaIl stars Eddie Collins, Philadelphia
 Americans. bought by Chi
 caSo Americans .......-.-. $50, 900 Joe Tinker, Cincinnati Nation
 als. bought by Brooklyn Ma
 tionals ---e.. --...--... 2o,oOO Marty O,Too1e St Paul Ameri
 can association bought by
 Pittsburgh Nationals .... 22y5o0 Lang Chappele, Milwaukee club of American association,
 bought by Chicago club .....s 1s,00O Lefty Russell. Baltimore Inter national league, bought by
 Philadelphia Americans .-.-. 12,00O Fritz Afaise1, Baltimore Inter national league bought by
 New York Americans ...... 12.G00 Rube MafQuard, Indianapolis
 American association, bought by New York Nationals .. II S000 Cy Seymour. Cincinnati Nation 2 als, bought by New York Ma tionals ........'..-..... ..... ...... 10000 Spike Shannon St. Louis Ma
 tionals, bought by New York Muggsy McGraw has quit waiting