The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-25
Corbeft's Daily Letter
 On Great Sport Topics
By JAMES !. CORBEIST

A ball player who. has a glass arm is supposed to be an absolutely useless member of pennant chasing combina- tion. But Charles Comiskey, owner of the White Sox, once testified that third baseman with such wing is of more value to a ball club than one whose arm
 is in perfect flinging condition.
 The story was told by William Chase Temple, Father of World Series," who died year or so ago. Temple. life long fan, became involved in the own ership part of the game back in 1890 and for number of years was one of the conspicuous figures in baseball's affairs
 As president of the Pittsburg Pirates
 in 1892, Temple decided that he would sign up Tommy Burns, at one time q member of Cap Ansons "Stonewall In- field" Temple, discussing the deal he had in mind with a friend, was informed that Burns had glass arm'--which means a throwing arm stiff and kinky and utterly useless in a baseball way
 But Temple refused to be guided en- tirely by the statement of his friend. He was so badly in need of third base man at that time that he didn't want to pass up Burns without giving the third sacker chance to tell his own side of the case. So Temple wired Burns telling him that he would give him a three-year contract calling for $4O0O a year upon the condition that Burns throwing arm was in first-class shape.
 otherwise the deal is off, concluded Temple
 That same afternoon Burns wired back:
 Your terms satisfactory. My arm is
 in perfect condition. I will guarantee it.
 Temple then signed Burns, but Tommy hadn't played more than half dozen games before Temple discovered that the report concerning the throwing arm of Burns was true; that the wing of the former star of the Chicago infield was glassy' to an extreme So Temple released Burns, as he had right to do under the ruling of the contract which provided that the arm of Burns had to be in first-class working order. In handing Burns his release. Temple went so far as to give Burns six weeks salary.
 But Burns, dissatisfied filed suit against Temple for sum trifle less than $l2.000-the three years salary less about the six weeks pay. The case came up for trial in Chicago before a judge who knew nothing at all about the in- tficacies of baseball
 Burns among others, summoned Char lie Comiskey as witness. The "Old Ro- man was then famous as a player and as manager of the four-time champion St Louis Browns.
 When Comiskey was put on the wit ness stand. he was asked: Have you ever heard used in baseball the expression glass arm?" "Yes. sir was the reply. 'Is 1t your opinion that the possession Of so-called glass arm is handicap to a ball player?"
 No, sir-I have one myself' Then you don't believe that a glass arm would effect the usefulness of ball player?" was the next question Well. don't think it would effect the usefulness of an infielder." 'Why not?'
 Without the trace of smile on his face comiskey made this remarkable reply.
 Well. sir. if you are pt atl familiar with baseball you know that an infielder is required to make snappv throw IT. fact, all of his throws are snappy throws. You surely must know glass be- ing brittle. snaps very easily. Therefore. isn't it logical that third i,aseman with a glass arm would seem to be of more