The Topeka state journal., 1916-08-02
CLASS ARM ASSET
Comiskey Once Testified That
1t Is in a Court Trial.
On Strength of Testimony
Player Won $4,000 Suit.
BY FRANK G. MENkE.

New York, Aug. Z.-CnarleS COmlS-
key once offered in a court of law
expert testimony" to the effect that
a third baseman with a glass arm is
of more value to a ball club than one
with glassless wing!
Whether the present owner of the
White Sox expressed such belief
merely as a joke, or whether he actu-
ally meant it, has remained a mystery
for something like twenty-four years.
But the fact remains that the "Old
Roman" did make such a declaration
and that it undoubtedly helped to in
fluence a judge in rendering verdict
in a baseball suit involving $4,000.
Back along in 1892, when William
Chase Temple owned the Pittsburg
Nationals he decided to sign up Tom
Burns, the one time member of Cap
Anson's 'stonewall infield How
ever, before the deal finally was put
through, Temple was tipped" that
Burns had a glass arm" In baseball
parlance that means a throwing arm
which has become kinky and stiff and,
therefore, is useless in a baseball way.
Temple, however, refused to pass up
Burns merely on the strength of that
report He wanted first hand in
formation. And so he wired Burns
| something like this:
Burns Released, Files Suit.
will contract you for three years
at salary $4,000 per year upon condi-
| ton that your throwing arm is in per-
| feet condition. Unless you can guar
antee condition of your arm, deal is
Off"
Burns wired back:
MY arm is in perfect condition.
Will guarantee it,"
| Temple then signed Burns only to
find out within a short time that the
reports concerning the flinging fin of
| Burns had been true; that the arm of
| the former star of the Chicago team
was dead as far as baseball usefulness
was concerned.
$50 there was nothing left for me
to do but to release Burns" said Tenn
pie.
Burns Immediately afterward filed
suit for s12,000-three years salary
against the Pittsburg club, summoning
Comiskey, among others, to testify in
his behalf.
The trial came up before a Chicago
judge who regarded baseballing as a
sort of rough-neck occupation and
knew little more about the game than
does a cannibal island chieftain.
sOId Roman" Testifies.
| Comiskey, who then was famous as
| a ball player and manager of the four
time champion ST. Louis Browns, was
called to the stand.
| r Have you ever heard used in your
baseball business the expression.
glass arm - Comiskey was asked.
- "Oh, yes, sir, 1 have one myself"
was the reply.
do you think that the possession
tof so-called glass arm is a handicap
to ball player? Would it affect the
usefulness of a player?"
Il do not think il would affect the
usefulness of an infieIder."
why not?"
I Coniskey, without the flicker of a
smile on his face, then made this re-
rlarkable reply, in substance:
! Well, your honor, the position
played by an infielder requires him
to make what is known as snaI
throws. AS you surely must know
glass is brittle and snaps easily. There
fore, a third baseman with glass
arm would seem to be of more value
to a ball club than one who didn't
have glass arm. Do / make myself
clear"
Perfectly. sir" answered the Judge
L get your point exactly"
And then the judicial person YER
bally flayed the Pittsburg club owner.
for their stand that a glass armed
player was a rather useless person ant
ruled that the club should pay Burn
the $4,000 and the costs of the cas-,
as well.
Objection was taken to the ruling
however, but the club owners lost TIL
suit finally was settled by the Firat
owners paying Burns six weeks sal