Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-08-16

GOLD ROMAN"
WHITE SOX OWNER
HAS A BIRTHDAY
Chicago, August 1o-(By 4. Pr
THE Grand Old Roman today !,
celebrating his sixty-fourth birthday
He is Charles Albert Comiskey
president and owner of the Chjcaso
White Sox, and one OF the creates
men in baseball. Builde, o. uha,
was considered in years gone by ons
of the greatest baseball clubs in
professional ranks. Mr. Comiskey
after wrecking his machine follow.
ing the world series disclosures q,
1919. today sees his rcconst:ucted
team again fighting in the fist
division.
coast this year as poor second
division club the White Sox nav,
provided one of the greatest surprises
of the season. The club after ye,.
ting away to a poor start. suddtn,y
started it's climb toward the ~,
of the league. and on June 49, II.
White Sox were intrenchcd in third
place. The club recently went mo
a batting slump but again has struck
its stride.
Mr.. Comiskey upset the hasehay
world in the fall of 1920 when Re
wrecked his baseball club following
disclosures of throwing the 1919
worlds series games to the Cinclr.
natl club. AT that time the Old
Roman suspended seven OF his star
players-Jackson, CICotte. Williams
Felsch, Weaver, Rishcrg and Nc.
Mullin-thereby wrccking the club 10
the extent OF one million dollars or
more.
Not discouraged ty the terrible
loss, Mr.. Comlshcy set about at
once to build another baseball club.
He tried to buy star players from
other clubs in his league hut With
little success He sent scouts 10 all
parts of the country and gathered
every promising player he could into
the fold.
One of his moves was the acquisi.
ton of the entire infield Of the Sal.
Lake City Club of the Pacific Coas.
league, with the exception OF the
second baseman These we're Ennis
Johnson, Eddie Mulligan and Earl
Shelly. They fitted in rcll with
Eddie Collins. captain Of the Whits
Sox. who was one of the PLAYERS VITO
remained loyal to the Old Roman
This year the club is virtually the
same as last season, with the ex.
ception that a few promising Young
pitchers have been added 70 the
roster.
Recently Mr.. Comiskcy startled ",
baseball world. with the announce.
ment that he had bought WEN
kamm. sensational third b1ssma7
of the San Francisco ci':h FOR
100000 kamm will ropor, N 1923.
'Commy' was born Aug. -, 1858
He played ball when he was scv+T,
teen years of age. He at one tine
was a pitcher for the Elgin, ILL., chr;
later lie played third base and ars'
base, hut as a first basema7 re had
no superior in his dav He is N.
only pitcher who has risen sf%m ire
ranks to be sole ~ ner OF 1 major
league ball club.
Comiskey's real baseball career he.
gan in 1873 with the Dubuque. Iowa
team. In 1882 he Joined the ST Lou,
Browns, then in the American Asso.
citation, and in 1883 he was mad
manager of the team. In lSS5-,@
the Browns. with Comiskey at ths
helm. defeated the Chicago White
Stockings for the championship Of
the world.
Comiskey remained With ST. LOUIS
until 1890 when he took charge Of
the Players League Club in Chicago
He returned to St Louis in 1921 Rad
in 1892 went to Cincinnati where Is
managed the Reds until 1895 DIR.
inc that period in Cincinnati he E1st
Ban f. Johnson. a nevspaperman,
and the two became fast friends
In 1895 "Commy" placed a Western
League team in st. Paul and in 1900
he transferred the franchise 70 Chi.
cago. where with the aid Of Nj
Johnson. the Western League was
expanded and became known as the
League with Mr.. johnson
at its head.
Under Mr.. Comskey's ownership
the Chicago White Sox. as his team
became known, has won two worlds
championships. lost one. and annexed
I'VE American League championships
In the winter of 1913-1914 he and
Manager John McGraw of the Ne"
York Giants. financed a tour around
the world with large number o.
ball players. playing the national
rasome in Australia, Japan. in Ma.
Mia and London. where King EdTaT'
was an interested spectator and IN
many other places. The receptions
given the world tourists upon the'
return to New York and in Chicago
were imposing events.