The Washington times., 1923-05-03

from the business manager or the
Browns that Sisler would be unable
to play ball for at least a year.
Then it was announced that Sis
Ter would join the team on its barn
storming tour prior to the opening
Of the season. At the same time
the club must have known that
George Sisters vision was seriously
affected and that, instead of one
season, he might never. play ball
again.
It is now known pretty gener-
ally that George SisIer, the cham
piOn hatsman of the big leagues
Tor 1922, may never again don a
uniform. 1t is known that he is
now hoping to be able to pitch,
having come to the painful deci-
sion that he may never again be :
able to play first base.
While the st. Louis club was
hroadcasting statements that Sisler
was suffering, not from a vision de-
feet, but from his injured shoulder,
and that he would join the Browns
on this date or another, it must
have known that the great bats
man and firstsacker has lost all
hope of ever playing ball again.
The st. Louis club must have
known, for instance, that Sisler
went to the ball park one day and
had the ground keeper toss him
balls. The club must have known,
what many bali players know, that
Eisler broke down and cried right
there on the field when he was
missing those easy lobs by two and
three feet
In other words, the st. Louis club
must have known that Sisler was
done when waivers were asked by
the Cleveland Indians on Stuffy Nc
Innis, now playing good ball for
the Boston Braves in the National
League.
What st. Louis fans may not
know, even now, is that the st.
Louis club waived on McInnis so
that Harry I'll. Frazee, of Boston,
would not have to pay McInnis
5000 in 1923 and $4,000 in 1924.
McInnis called up Connie Mack
and asked him as favor to one
of his former players not to wave
on him, explaining the clause in
his contract McInnis says Con-
ME agreed and Immediately
waived. The Browns also waived
and McInnis became a free agent.
Then both the Mackmen and the
Browns sought to sign McInnis,
offering him the same $1,000 sal
AIRY paid him by the Cleveland
club.
AS for the Mackmen, it matter
cd little. Connie had a good first
fv1 nd he
doing Frazee favor, helping out
a brother n1agnate break con-
tract signed in good faith.
AS for the Browns, they showed
themselves fine dumbbells in letting
McInnis get away just to save
Harry Frazee $4,000 when they
must have known the slight pos
sibility there was of George Sis
1er's ever resuming his position at
first base.
Today the Browns are struggling
down in the ruck. 1t is said that
Fohl's players, Disguised with the
failure of the club to get a cap
able first baseman, are quitting,
at least in spirit. Such a team
will hardly get anywhere in a pen
nant race.
Finding the magnate brother
nOOQ TOO Inucn Tor MIN, Mclnn1S
refused all offers from Philadelphia
and st. Louis. He signed with the
Braves in the National League and
is helping to take attendance away
from the Red Sox in what might
be termed his own home town.
AS a sample Of the morale of
the Browns, Hollis ThurstOn, a
rookie pitcher, has been suspend
ed for refusing to pitch to bat
ters while the club was i'm Detroit.
He told Manager FOhI flatIy
that he wasn't used to such
F. chores"
The failure of George Sisler to
return to the lineup has complete
ly changed conditions in the Amer
lean League pennant race. Pos
sible contenders have been reduced
by one.
-. The Browns, after their great
finish in 1929, were doped to make
stiff opposition this year. Instead.
they seem likely to finish in the
second division.
Helping Harry Frazee to save
$4,000 may cost the st. Louis
Browns ten times that in lost
patronage this year and waning
prestige to continue for a longer
time all around the circuit.
AZfacc IccIto NaSi