The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-12-21
HORNSBY To
EOFFSET
FORRlJTH
BY George Barry

NEW YORK. Dec. 21.-"Hornsby
now playing second base for New
York;
This announcement. broadcast
over the length and breadth of the
land today, left the fans fairly gasp
ing with amazement over the deal
that brings to the New York Giants
the man who piloted the st. Louis
Cardinals to a worlds championship
less than three months ago. No
longer manager, though he has
the present worlds title to his
credit. No longer a Cardinal. al
though it was with that club that
he established himself as the great
est of right-hand hitters by winning
the National League batting cham
pionship through six consecutive
years.
He had been with the Cardinals SO
long that, seemingly, he was a st.
Louis institution and would so re-
main to the end of his playing days.
Yet. according to the, announcement,
he was traded to the Giants via a
long distance telephone call for
Frank Frisch, second baseman. and
Jimmy Ring, pitcher. No mention
of cash was made, and Sam Breadon
has denied that any was involved.
However, it was estimated today
that at least 100000 must have ac-
companied Frisch and Ring to St.
Louis, based on the relative values
Of the players sinvolved.
Friscll, something OF a New
York institution himself, had
bad year i'm 1926, and Ring is
believed to be nearing the end o.
his tether. But, whatever he
gave, John McGraw today has
made success out of previous
failure in his, attempts to bring
HOrnSby to the Polo Grounds
as an inter-ieague rival to Babe
Ruth.
John must have something il COM
mon with the royal mounted, for
apparently he always gets his man.
Few thought it possible that he
could succeed at this time after
Hornsby, taking over the Cards as
player-manager, had brought st.
Louis its first pennant in nearly
forty years.
McGraw. finding the Giants out
rivaled in popularity by Ruth ard
the Yanks, sought to buy Hornsby
for $250,000 several years ag7.
Rrisch hardly is worth ore tnan
that today while Hornsby's value
Fas been enhanced at least 100000
and Ring is regarded as virtually
Valueless. Hence. the belief that
100000 changed hands on the deal.
Hornsby, of course. will play
second base for the Giants and, In
addition to tightening their defense
at spot where a number of double
plays missed fire last ear, he Will
have the short left field fence at the
. Polo Grounds to shoot at in an at
tempt TO keep pace with Ruth.
The Giants, therefore, prOfited
handsomely by the deal. How
the Cardinals will fare rests al
most entirely with FrIsCh. He
had run in with McGraw last
season, quit the team OH the road
without permission and was due
to go somewhere. Perhaps st.
Louis and Jew surroundings will
furnish the tonic that will bring
FfiSch back to his form of 1924.
Ii such is the ease the Cards will
get a great hall player-nOt
H0rnSby in all around effective
ness-but the next best thing to-
him.
Whether the next best" win sat
isfy ST. Louis fans remains to be
seen. Certainly owner Sam Brea-
don showed the nerve Of d faro
dealer in sending his idol away at
the very apex of his popularity.
But Breadon apparently had the
courage of his convictions. These
were that he couldn't afford to pay
Hornsby a matter of $4,000 a year
as a player-manager on a three
year contract. as demanded by his
; star. Hornsby's contract as
player still has year to run.
The deal leaves the Cardinals in
the unfortunate position of being
without manager near the tnresh-
old of another season. Bill Killefer,
who was Hornsby's 1926 assistant,
might have been available a week or
so ago but he since has signed
with the st. Louis Browns.