Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-01-08
sALL RECORDS FALL AS NEW YORK
u OFFERS BRANCH RICKEY 100000
FOR ROGERS HORNSBY'S SERVICESI
by ROBERT w. MAXWELL
Sports Editor Evening Public Ledger


THE limit has been reached in the price of ball players
That is to say, the January limit has been reached
What will happen next month or in March or April is
difficult to determine However If the magnaes persist
In pulling the frenzed finance stuff the lid will be blown
20 high that it will never come back to earth.
Yesterday down in Houston, Tex, Branch Rckcy.
while conversing with couple of natives admitted that
he had received offer of $500 900 and four players from
a certain National League ball club for Rogers
Hornsby. Hickey evidently is handing out the straight
dope because he is not drinking man nor does he do
and day dreaming Therefore, there is nothing left but
to believe the wild yarn and the pop eyed price.
Last year IIornsby sought by the Giants and an
Offer of 100000 made. After it had been turned
down the ante raised until it reached 5000 Then
the matter was dropped. This year the Giants tried
again, and while Hickey did the club making the
$3oO0o0 offer, it has all Of the carmarks of New York
overture.
Times certainly have changed in baseball When
Speaker purchased for $4,000 the sports world
amazed Then came that S75 900 deal between the
Box and the Athletics when McInns SChang Strunk and
Bush went away from here Eddie Collins was sold to
the White Sox for price now reported to be $50 600,
brought S137 800 the hoof.
All of these men proved to be good Investments They
brought much money their and everybody
satisfied Ruth made more money for COloncls RUPERT
and Huston than they made before and the same
goes for Collins and Speaker But can any player bring
back $500 900 in real through his individual efforts
In his playing career?
1t must be remembered that no matter how many
people ball player draw to a ball park, he can't
draw beyond capacity After the park is filed and the
receipts show loss then there is something to worry
about Hornsby is great player, a batting champion
and all that of thing but he big enough and has
he the power to draw the mob like Babe Ruth, iris
Speaker Ty Cobb? Many experts say he can't, and
the chances they right.
IF A ball club plays to 400 900 paid admissions in
year profit teiN be Sho,cn. Feto clubs
pass the 500 900 mark. Then, rhcn crpenSeS
paid aud the other clubs get their share Of the
ceipS, there isn't much left for the mHgnac There
fore, this $500 900 offer leads ask, hop come?
Nedr-Scandal in the South
THERE almost terrible scandal connected with
this latest story from the South. The entCrprsng
author who put it the wires a bear for details
and did not overlook bet Here is part of the yarn
which dot and dashed into the Office
"Rickey mentioned the latest offer for Hornsby to
President John II. Crocker of the Houston club, after
conference between the two and Connie Mack Luke
Charles exhibition game dates Hickey, however, did
not the city making the Offer
This brings the of Connie Mack into it, but
Connie does not figure in the deal Far be it from that
We mentioning this to avoid arguments in the future.
But to return to Hornsby That young athlete has
been reading about himself all winter and knows how
much he is worth It's cinch he will not be satisfied
with his lot unless the St. Louis club pays him big
salary, and you cant blame him for asking for it. If