Evening star., 1916-02-13
TAFT AND MURPHY
SELL THE PH|LL|ES
Philadelphia Capitalists Buy
Their interests in National
League Champions.
PRICE PAID Is BELIEVED
AROUND $500, 900 MARK
Real Estate Now Valued at Half
That Figure-Deal Swung by
Fred Chandler.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
PHILADELPHIA, February
12-Nice President Fred T.
Chandler of the Philadelphia Ma
tional League Club and syndi-
cate of five millionaire bankers
and clubmen of this CITY have
bought the holdings Of Charles P.
Taft and Charles Webb Murphy
in the Phillies and will take con-
troll of the club at once. The deal
which eliminates Taft and Muir
ply from base ball and adds sew
eral more college men to the
roster OF ownership was clinched
at the recent meeting of the Ma
tional League in New York.
The details of the sale have not
been made public, as Mr.. Chand-
ler wants to wait until the papers
are formally turned over to him
before he announces the price
paid and the complete list of new
owners. However, it will mark
another epoch in the fortunes OF
the Phillies, for it brings the ven
cradle National League franchise
in this city back into the hands of
local capital. The men who are
associated with Mr.. Chandler are
Walter Clothier, prominent club
man, and William H. T. Huhn, the
banker; S. P. Huhn, Clarence
Wolf and E. L. Hynneman.
Taft Interests Large.
The Taft interests in the Phillies rep
resent 81 per cent of the stock The
original price paid for this when Taft
placed Horace Fogel in charge as presi-
dent in 1909 was said to be $s50.00o The
Tafts also own the grounds. the property
at Broad and Huntington streets being
held in the name of Mrs. Taft. wife OF
the magnate. Taft also owned the Chi
cago National League club, but re-
Gently sold his interests for $500, 900
to Charles Weeghman and coterie of
Chicago wealth. The real estate of the
Phillies now is valued at more than
$3.50, 1000.
At the time that the club was sold
to Taft his interests controlled 9S7
shares Of stock. and these were turned
over to Fogel. Frank Elliott was made
were picked from among friends of
Fogel and Elliott. The number of
shares Of stock controlled by the Fogel-
Elliott combination that were act
public.
When Horace FogeI was forced out
of base ball along with Charles w.
Murphy. several years ago. the club
changed hands. William Locke, for
burgh club. was placed in charge.
and when Locke died William F. Baker,
the present head of the club. took
charge Of affairs.
Civic Pride Factor.
Fred T. Chandler was associated with
him. and it is due to Chandler's enter
prise and civic patriotism that the
Phillies come back to ownership here.
The negotiations for the club have
been conducted with a secrecy that has
really been remarkable. Chandler
quietly gathered his syndicate. and
while the price involved is a matter
value of the club with its realty should
at least be around $5000O0 or $500 900
The Philiies last year for the first time
In the thirty-eight years of their his
League. and the club starts its second
year under Manager Pat Moran with
great playing and financial prospects.
The first inkling that something was
week of the National League in New
York. Nessrs. Chandler, Huhn and
Clothier were constantly together and
met the Taft and Murphy representa-
tives in secret. The deal was closed
then. but until the final papers were
closed the new owners preferred to
keep matters strictly quiet.
One little incident at the meeting
hinted at the change in ownership
Johnny Evers. the second baseman OF
the Boston Braves. and Joe Tinker
new manager of the Chicago Cubs
were standing in conversation. Clothier
came along and went up to Evers and
This in Mr.. Eyerz. isn't itc Well,
I'm Mr. Ciothier. one of the owners OF
the Philadelphia club"
Ball Players Wised 10
The ball players shook hands with
the new magnate and almost imme-
diateiy Mr.. Huhn came upon the trio.
Clothier introduced his partner to
Evers and Tinker. saying: This is Mr.
HUM. one of the owners also
The news that the Chandler syndicate
had obtained the control OF the Phiiiies
however. has been percolating Though
financial circles. One of the biggest
men in the street told a base ball
writer yesterday that he should see
Fred Chandler and get the news about
buying the Phiilies
Walter Clothier. one of the new own
ers. refused to discuss the details to-
night, when seen at the Racquet Club
when are you and the rest of the
syndicate going to take over the Phil
lies he was asked.
"oh, don't know: see Chandler about
that; he knows about it: get him and
he'll tell you. IL you talk to him."
Further than that Clothfer would not