The New York herald., 1921-12-08
Beat Pirates and Cubs to Groh,
and Yankees to Jimmy
O'ConneIl.
BY DANIEL.

/
high market for players and has
spent nearly 100000 to strengthen its
forces Some time ago John McGraw
announced that he would stand pat
rat the Giants who beat the Yankees
Tor the world title looked good enough
10 repeat In the National League.
But McGraw never was a stand pat
! ter---he could not be one ths time and
| he never will be one. AS & result we
sind Heinie Groh, a great third base
nan, acquired at the expense of $780,
600 and two Giants-George Burns and
hike Gonzales. We find Jimmy O'Con-
iell, the most talked about minor league
star OF the 1921 season, purchased for
$4,000 from the San Francisco club OF
the Pacific Coast League--and McGraw
still in the market, with further sensa-
t'onal developments expected before his
outfit entrains for San Antonio.
Report has it that in place OF Burns
we are to have Eddie Roush OF the
= eds--lille Groh, once Giant. Ii also
IS asserted that a few OF the Baltimore
| stars may become memt ers OF the
Giants. McGraw, with purse strings
loose after perhaps the greatest finan-
cial season ever enjoyed b. the. New
| York Nationals, is on the rampage and
no one may assume 60 predict his linn
| its.
FOrestoIis Rival Clubs.
McGraw does not lack confidence in
| the ability of his Giants of 1921 to win
| another pennant. But he wants TO ac-
| Guire new blood for the future--and he
wants to forestall rival teams. In the
| bidding for Groh he had to fight Chi
! cago and Pittsburgh, bot.l Of which
wanted the player perhaps more than
IdcGraw wanted him. But the Pirates
| with Groh would have beer even more
pestiferous than they were in the bat
| tie of recent memory. So McGraw had
90 go high. Besides. McGraw hates to
he balked. He had counted on Groh
last summer but Judge Lands stepped
| IN and stopped the trade. Now he dared
snybody stop hin,--money regardless.
AS for O'Connell, McGraw knew that
| IL he did not purchase the young player
the Yankees would get him. DR.. Strub
and Charley Graham of the San Fran
cisco club were here for a couple OF
weeks before going TO Buffalo, and the
deal whereby O'Connell would become q
Yankee was regarded rs practically
settled.
| DR.. Strub announced that not one cent
less than $4,000 would land O'Connell.
hut the Yankees had hopes of getting
him for $4,000. They did not figure
that the Giants might be after him.
too. They spared and SPARED, and
then, acting on the advice of Bill Lange,
once great slugger with the Chicagos,
| who recommended George Kelly, his
nephew, and on the sayso of Al Dema-
rec, who was with Seattle last season
and had fine chance to adjudge the
worth OF O'Connell, McGraw Jumped
right into the arena with $4,000, and
beat the Yankees to the star.
That the Giants are paying $4,000
for O'Connell there is no doubt. With
Jack Bentley Of Baltimore the San
Francisco player was the most highly
praised minor Lacquer last season.
Every scout who saw him in action
came back frothing at the mouth about
the fielding. batting and general YER
satiIity Of the youth. who is only 20
years old. and has many q year before
him. Bentley is comparatively a vet
eran. He already has been "up"
O'Connell is not only first baseman,
but an outfelder an well. Don't forget
that in passing. He came to San Fran
cisco from Santa Clara College Of Cali
fornia two years ago. II was while
playing for Santa Clara that Hal Chase
broke into the limelight. Last year he
played the outfeld. but during the 1921
campaign, O'Connell played first base
He is a left handler with a beautiful
stance at bat, and gives the old leather
q terrific prod.
He made three home runs in series
at Seattle last summer, whereupon Lange
rushed word TO McGraw to grab him.
But the San Francisco club would not
sell at that time. And now, having sold
1t refuses TO give UP the players SER
vices for 1929. That item is worth
something In money. O'Connell, as a.
Giant, will become bigger attraction
than ever on the coast. The OConnell
case shows why the Coast League is
so strong against the draft.
Second to Ruth's Price.
The payment of $4,000 for O'Conneli
sets record price for a minor league
player, and is the second highest sum
paid for any player, the top mark having
been established at s125.o00 when the
Yankees bought Babe Ruth from the Red
Sox. The O'Connell price sets National
League record by at least $4,000.
Eddie Collins, when sold by the
Athletics to the White Sox, brought
$4,000. and Joe Jackson, when sold by
the Clevelands TO the White Sox, brought
s3f 500 and Outfielder Roth and Pitcher
Kepfer. Grover Alexander cost the
Crbs $4,000 and Bill Killefer $4,000.
Inc nlBncSL price LOT q MINOR ledEuer
before the O'Connell deal was s22.5
paid for Marty O'Toole, pitcher, by Pitts
bursh to indianapolis. O'Toole proved
what Is called bloomer.
There was a great ado when tho Giants
paid $1,000 Tor Rube Marquard, the left
handler. to indianapolis in 1908. But
although referred to for a season or two
an "the 1900 lemon" the Rube made
good-and still is making good. Last
season the Giants went high for another
minor Lacquer when they paid $4,000 TO
st. Paul for Goldie Rapp. who was
somewhat OF disappointment and was
traded to the Phillies for Rawlings.
other High Prices.
It Is said that the Giants paid $4,000
for Arthur NNhf TO the Braves, that they
paid close y $40, 900 for Dave Bancroft
10 the PHI. -. throwing in Art Fletcher
They gave s35.000 TO Harry Sinclair OF
the Federal League for Benny Kauff.
TEcy paid $4,000 10 the Cardinals for
Frank Snyder, $4,000 to that club for
Slim Sallee when he first came here.
They gave $4,000 to Springfield Of the
Three League for Larry Doyle I'm 1907
and how the fans Easped over that
price.
Baseball certainly has moved In the
matter OF finance. We remember what
p stir was created i'm 1909 when the
White Sox gave $500 and Atz and
Medacy 10 Providence for Lena Black
burne now manager UP at Toronto.