, 1923-04-15
REDS SUIT THEMSELVES
ON BASEBALL DEALS
BY I. E. sANBoRN.

They do funny things In baseball IN
Cincinnati, but there Is II certain bull
dog consistency about the queer slant
they take II they want to do a thing
they do it Qf they CAM. no matter
what the rest Of the world thinks or
says with a sort of scornful ~independ-
ence of alien opinion which is uncom-
mon at least Nor does It seem to
make any difference that they FRO
quently are sorry afterwards thai they
did not accept the Judgment OF out
siders-
HI latest houting OF public opinion
In the rest OF the world is the signing
OF J.. C. Rube) Benton to pitch with
the Reds this season in spite OF the
officially expressed ~disapproval OF the
president of tho National league.
backed by a majority OF h club own-
ers OF that circuit
Garry Hermann made a trade with
the St Paul club last fall for Benton,
and although informed shortly after
ward that the pitcher was not con-
sidered a desirable person on o
of his reported b~oastings about being
wise to the worlds series scandal OF
1919. the Cincinnati magnate would
not give up. He carried the fight for
Benton into the league meeting and
lost, then appealed to Commissioners
Lands and won because the dictator
Of baseball gave Benton a clean bin
OF health
Red Fans Want Benton
It doesn't matter a tinker's cuss
word to Redland fans what tho rest OF
the baseball world thinks about it
They want Benton and they arc going
to play him.
Once the fans Of Cincinnati demand
cd Christy Mathewson as manager at
about the time Big Six had reached the
end of his great career as n pitcher.
They get him at a heavy cost from
the Giants. who had no place for him,
but undoubtedly would have made ono
through sentiment alone. Hermann
was told by many men who knew base
bal and knew Mathewson intimately
that the great alabman was unlikely
to succeed as a manager. having none
OF the essential qualifications for tho
job. and that he never could become
popular in Cincinnati because Of his
inability to mix with the hol pollol.
Redland had its mind set on Mathew
son and got him. but realized Dor
enough that tho disinterested advisers
were right.
Reclaimed Chase Once
Once whe Hermann needed a FIRST
baseman desperately Hal Chase IA
reclaimed out OF the outlaw field. to
which he had sentenced himself by a
fragrant a S OF contract jumping from
the White Sox in mid-season- BY
logged perseverance Cincinnati OBJ
tanned the right to sign Chase and did
81. .-1,r 80 ra1raf gt parxr ra,,rh n Ittf1a
while later. Nc outside advice against
the wisdom OF reclalming Chase had
any weight with the Rec owners. They
had to learn by personal experience.
That has been typical OF Cincinnati
in other ways. MANY years ago" a
college mate of mine installed the joke
trolley system. on which the Ohio city
prides itself as being the only one
OF its kind in the country. My friend
strongly advised them against the
double trolley idea. but the city fathers
wanted it So they got It. But they
can't get rid OF It Is easily as they did
Mathewson and Chase.
Opening Big Day.
Cincinnati is the only place on the
baseball map where every man. WON.
an. and child thinks he or she must at
tend the opening game OF the season
or be considered a nobody. Consequent
ly thousands OF Redland folks work
every known pull to get reserved seats
for opening day and storm the gates
for what space is not reserved Then
so per cent of them forget all about
the Reds until the following April
unless they lead the league
Apparently utterly unconscious OF
what the rest OF the world Gays or
thinks. Cincinnati is proud of its
worlds champions and cannot under
stand why any me should Imagine any
cloud on that title Just because some
OF the opponents of the Reds in that
series confessed that they "a laid down"
Without expressing any opinion
about the ~deslrability of Benton as a
player. It can be forecast from the
foregoing precedents that Red fans arc
likely to regret nee more their in.
sistence and disregard OF good advice