Evening star., 1916-05-07
BY ROBERT B. McRoY,
Business Manager Cleveland Base
Ball Club.


Business Manager Cleveland Base
Ball Club.
Ttng-a-ling-ling
The telephone bell rang sharply close
to my elbow. / had been debating the
American League situation in general
and the Cleveland ball team in particu-
lar in my mind. and l was somewhat
disturbed by the loud ringing of the
bell. / took my own good time in pick
ing up the receiver. Had L had any
inkling of the message that was to be
conveyed to me 1 would have beaten
all records in answering the phone.
Hello. Is that you. McRoy?" was
the query that came over the wire.
Yes, what's wanted?" 1 replied.
Il thought you might be interested to
know that there isn't a chance for
Cleveland to obtain Outfielder Clarence
Walker from the st. Louis Browns"
1t was a Cleveland newspaper man
talking, He had been tipped off to the
fact that we had been negotiating with
ST. Louis for the purchase of Walker
OF course, l was interested, as we had
figured Walker might help our club.
But that very afternoon. Thursday,
April 6, l had beeen advised by Man
ager Lee Fohl, not to do anything on
Walker until he had talked matters
over with me.
asked.
Sold him to the Boston Red Sox,"
was the reply Say, it looks as
though Lannin is having trouble com
ing to terms with Iris Speaker after
ALL doesn't it?" he continued.
Maybe he is ! replied in an Off
hand way, but. believe me, l was
| thinking on tall scale. Much
obliged for the information 1 replied,
as l hung up the receiver.
Real Ball Club.
Speaker, Speaker, Speaker! That was
the only thing that came to my mind.
Gee. whiz! If 1 could land him for
Cleveland-the Indians would be a real
ball club. Would Boston sell him?
debated the question pro and con. 1t
occurred to me that Philadelphia sold
Eddie Collins to the White Sox in the
zenith of his career and that Cleveland
had sold Joe Jackson. Perhaps Lannin
might be willing to sell Speaker
1 decided to take chance on put
ting deal over. / knew from reports
from the training camp at New Orleans
that the Indians were a fair ball club.
Speaker would make them good
club. I put in a call for James c.
Dunn, president of the Cleveland club.
at Indianapolis.
1t didn't take me long to get him
on the phone and I put the issue
squarely up to him. and he responded
like the good, game sport he is.
Were in base ball a business and
the prospects for a prosperous season
are not overly bright with our present
lineup" l told Mr.. Dunn. II think
| there's a chance for US to deal with the
Boston club for Iris Speaker. They've
bought Walker from st. Louis, which
makes it look as If Lannin has about
made up his mind to sell or trade Iris.
He'd be a wonderful advertisement for
US and would transform our club from
a second division certainty into
three-four place proposition. Shall
go east and try for him."
what will he cost?' queried the
Cleveland clubowner.
Il don't know, but he'll come high,
was my reply.
GO and get him." were Dunn's next
words.
1t was my turn to query now. Whats
There is no limit. Go as high as
the sky ii Necessary. Use your own
judgment" Dunn said.
Close Connections.
That was enough for me. 1 had ex-
actly thirty minutes to make train con-
nections for New York. where Lannin
was at the time. but I would have been
aboard that train II my limit had been
ten minutes. 1 had sent out for an
afternoon paper. but saw no notice
of the sale of Walker to the Red Sox
and 1 had misgivings as to the deal
going through. On my way to the
train, however, l bought later edi-
tion and, sure enough, there it was in
cold, black type: Walker sold to the
Red Sox."
1 dreamed Of Speaker and Lannin all
night and guess, il truth be told. T.
also had visions of a United States
mint going from Cleveland to Boston
and an American League flag and a
worlds championship bunting floating
from the flag staff in center field at
League Park. Cleveland.
arrived In New York early Friday
morning and 1t didn't take me long to
locate the owner of the Boston club. :
had read in the morning papers that