El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-02-25

with the SOx. 1t is very doubtful II
Comiskey feels that he got value re-
ceiveG for Lena" and certainly the in
fielder never came up TO general eN-
pectatiOns. and his big league playing
never justified the excitement he
created in the baseball world when he
was at Providence. It was said that
they at one time had Blackburn wear
ing eye glasses on the streets to throw
off the major league scouts who rushed
into Providence when they heard OF
the player. Few scouts would care
to pay a big price for a pastimer who
had weak eyes.
few days ago it was also announced
that Chappelle, an outfielder, is TO be
turned over to the Cleveland club by
Comiskey as part OF the deal for Joe
Jackson, and Chappelle represents an
other costly experiment on the part
Of the owner of the White Sox It was
claimed that COmisley gave $lS,500 for
Chappelle when the player was with
Milwaukee. Most Of that amount was
cash, too. according to reoprt
The Costly ChappeIIe.
Comiskey bought Chappelle after a
number of other scouts and managers
had turned him down. Joe Birming-
ham, then managing Cleveland, had
a chance at the Milwaukee club. and
took Memo Leibold IN preference to
Chappelle- Sinister Dick" Kinsella, Of
the Giants, came along looking at
Chappelle for John J. McGraw, and did
not care for the players lack of speed
on the bases, He spoke TO the woman
who owned the club about the matter.
She was then asking $4,000 for Chap
pelle.
He hasn't stolen many bases" COM
mented Sinister Dick"
Well. Mr.. Rinsella, he hits so many
three baggers and home runs that he
doesn't have to steal bases" she re-
piled.
Il would suggest, Ma'am, if you want
20 sell him, that you have him hit q
few singles after this so the scouts
can see him rum" said Dick, as he
reached for his hat.
Chappelle was more what his detrac-
tors said than what his admirers
averred. He was hardly SfS,50O worth
OF ball player for Comiskey, though
he may prove to be worth that for
Cleveland
1t is scarcely necessary to resUrrect
the case OF Marty O'ToOle. He cost
Barney Dreyfuss $22. 500, and a con-
siderable segment of that must have
been cash. as lot OF other clubs were
bidding high for Marty The expensive
young man is back in the minors. and
whether he ever returned Dreyfuss any
part Of the purchase price, even as a
gate attraction. is problematical.
Cree and knight.
The old management Of the Yanks
sold Jack Knight, the infielder. to the
Jersey lily tluh anu lutn INDuI Cildhttl
him at a big advance over what it re-
ceiyed for the player Knight failed
to suit the mana cement a second time
and was passed along to Cleveland
and checked off the books as a cOnsid-
cradle loss Birdie Cree was sent TO
Baltimore, and it cost the Yanks a
chunk Of money to get him back. to
say nothing of having to pay Birdie
a big salary. Recently the new owners
OF the club made some sort Of cash set
tlement with the player and he has
been dropped from the rolls.
BY no stretch Of the Imagination
could Birdie be figured n profitable
venture on his comeback, though he
was in the beginning of his career with
the club. He did not cost much origi-
nally and was for years a grand little
player, so maybe his opening balances
his closing
Included in the general cost of any
player who proves a failure with a
club must be considered not only the
price paid for him, but his salary and
his maintenance in the training camp
and on the road. Some Of the money
may be returned when he is sold to a
minor league, but a player who cannot
be placed anywhere else, ana who does
not possess sufficient ability to war
rant his retention, is a dead loss from
a financial standpoint.