The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-12-06
PUTS OUT
$4,000 FOR A
THIRD Stacker
Baseball Flesh Highly Priced on
the Mart At Louisville
Today. "a
BY JOHN B. FOSTER.

\SOpyll6At, ACSSs ~ IL AAooS.l
Louisville, KY, Dec. 6--The bulls
were in the ascendency today in
the baseball players exchange. The
market opened today long before
breakfast with prices up even over
the close of Tuesday, when Connie
Mack paid $4,000 for Sammy Hale
and threw in several players to
boot.
Of course, the National Associa-
ton of Minor leagues is continuing
its program of annual convention,
but the buying and selling of play
ers. and the reports Of buying and
selling have crowded news of the
actual dOings of the sO-called little
fellows off the map for the time BE-
ing.
When Connie Mack came to
Louisville in a private compart-
ment, every one wondered why he
was SO exclusive. Now they know.
Connie had 5000 in the First Ma
tional bank, and he was guarding
it with his we'll known austere eye.
| He had a lock and chain and a
| combination on his door. There
was a lot of doubt at first that
| Mack had paid that much money
for Hale, but the man who sold
him said that was the price, and
that man is honest as mud because
no one will cheat on mud.
Then some mean guy, who has
lost all love for his fellow man,
said it could not be. whereat q sad
smile fitted over the face Of Con-
| ME. 1t was as plain as if the ath-
letic manager had said whats the
use? They won't give me any
credit at all when l do join the dol
lar busting throng."
1t was the smile Of one who had
born all the humility of a tail end
team for years, and who was re-
fused credit when he finally tried
to put his club in the running.
Suffice to say that both Detroit
and the Chicago Americans were
hot on the trail Of Hale with their
strong boxes wide open. Be as
sured that Connie Mack had to go
some in price.
Other major league owners upon
hearing Of the deal sank deeper
int the hotel divans and muttered:
"If Mack is giving up $4,000,
where do we get of? The market
is up higher than it was for Texas
| shares"
Hale is a real third baseman.
Once the Giants thought they had
him. The Giant management wired
San Antonio put him on our ac-
count and ship him quick" San
Antonio had overlooked the little
formality Of a fled agreement with
the Detroit club which gave De-
troit first choice of q San Antonio
player, and Of course Detroit
picked up Hale. Thus San An
tonic lost some Jack, the New York
Nationals lost q player, and De-
troit gained q chattel. Detroit did
not think enough OF him, however,
to keep him, and Mack threw $75,-
900 into the center Of the table to
get him. Figure out. therefore,
what New York and Detroit lost.
Hale can play third better than he
can play anything else, and he was
a hitting Goliath In the Pacific
league this last season at Portland,
lore. With Hale at third. Galloway
at short, and Dykes at second-for
that is where Dykes will go-Mack
has three flashes. II they hit we'll,
he has three fuses tQttouch OF the
championship bomb which he ex-
poets he may throw next season.
Jack Dunn of Baltimore has
three major leagae clubs running
around after him like . flock Of
fdeer galloping to . salt lick. vii
you sell Boley for 81. 000?" was
asked today Of the self-made and
sturdy Baltimore owner, sNo."
. Dunn replied. slgako e 3EAeOo?.