Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-11
BY JOHN B. FOSTER.

N YEw YORK, January 1.-THE
~ sickly yellow mire that was
NJ stirred up by the fuln1na-
A tions of Swede Risherg from
his home in Minnesota has
nothing to do with the explicit state
nent by President Heydler OF the
National League regarding Rogers
Hornsby's complete severance of rela'
tons with the St Louis Cardinals,
TIE Hornsby situation is unlike any
other in base ball. Not only was he
captain and manager of his team, but
he had been put in the way or be-
coming a stockholder who might reap
about one-twelfth of the clubs profits
and then he was traded outright as
a player. and was not released TO
another club as a manager nor even
dropped from ana executive position
because he had failed.
Hornsbv is not the first base ball
manager TO hold stock in a club. John
J. McGraw has stock in the New ork
Giants. and receives salary as vice
president OF the organization In con-
nection with whatever he may be paid
to manage the Giants.
Frank Chance years ago had little
stock in the Chicago Cubs and so did
Arson in his day. II memory serves
right, when Arson left Chicago for
good he also disposed of any interest
he may have had in the organization.
Must Unload Stock.
Hornsbys situa ton is that of part
rival owner in a team against which
he is fighting as a ball player until
he is able TO get rid of his st. Louis
stock. He can not play ball game
in the National League until there
is proof that he is out of the st.
Louis club completely, and II is not
likely that the st. Louis clubs presi-
dent, Sam Breadon. would want
Hornsby as a stockholder under any
condition when Rogers is signed to
captain the Giants and play second
base for them.
Some question has been raised as
to why Breadon did not make it clear
to other clubs that Hornsby was not
to remain with him, and thus obtain
q price something like the $275,000
that the late Charles Ebbets once Of
fered for Hornsby The offer was
bona fde. but Ehbets would have lost
his breath If it had been accepted.
Wants Team Harmony.
Breadon did not care to dispose of
wanted a player who would be salts
factory to him as a second baseman.
and New York had the best player in
Frank Frisch, in Breadon's opinion.
Frisch is worth more TO Breadon,
II Hornsby could not be brought to
cooperate with the st. Louis owner.
than a price of $3.50, 900 for Hornsby.
Frisch will At in we'll with the speed
which he will find on either side of
him. The combination of Frisch and
Thevenow may become one of the
fastest in base hall.
A threatened action by a bookmaker
against Hornsby TO obtain his st.
Louis stock has not pleased the Ma
tionl League by a long sight This
race gambling yarn has cropped up so
often that the National League
owners, other than those Of st. Louis
and New York, are becoming In
furtated, and another regulation may
be put in the base ball players agree
ment' relative to betting on the horses.
Base ball is determined to associate
itself from gamblers.
Feur.Way Deal Seems Even.
The fourcornered deal among
Brooklyn, New York, Philadelphia.
and the Buffalo club seems one of
the most even trades that base ball
has seen in a long time. If any club
got the best Of the deal twas Phila-
delphia. for the Phillies obtained a
promising youngster in Lafayette
(Fresco) Thompson, who was traded
by the Giants after they had obtained
him from Buffalo.
Burleigh Grimes. pitcher, comes to
the Giants from Brooklyn at the fag
end of his career. and George Harper,
the Phillies' outfelder. traded TO the
Giants, is also at the twilight of his
career. Henline, Philadelphia catcher.
goes to Brooklyn, which badly needs
him or any other catcher.
Huber. third baseman, and Pierce,
left- handed pitcher Of the Phillies, go
20 Buffalo. Both will be of Some help,
az Buffalo Is badly in need Of players
Lands Decision Tomorrow.
Commissioner Lands will give his
decision tomorrow in connection with
the Risberg Gandil scandal charges.
and that he will exonerate all the ac-
cueed players appears to be a reason
ably sure deduction from the testi-
rnony that lies before him.
When the investigation was ended
and Risberg and Gandil had had their
say, not word of evidence had heen
proffered to reflect upon the conduct
and players of the national game.
except the statements of that pair
who said they had played unfair base
bali in 1919.
The importance OF this is not to
be overlooked, Ball players were
taken widely from the Detroit and
Chica go clubs of 1917 and 1919 and
Judge Lands asked them point blank
whether they had done the things
charged against them by Risberg and
Gendil and whether they had heard
or anything in the nature Of an
attempt to lose games dishonesty
They not only replied in the mega
tive, but they made their replies
emphatic.
Judge Lands made no direct state
Hnent along the lines OF the foregoing
but when the investiga ton came tc
an end there was an air OF unmistak
able satisfaction surrounding him and
his face was beaming with good
humor.
The Outstanding Points.
Vital points in connection with the
lands decision are:
F1rst,-That Gsndil, on his own
statement. began the dicker about the
Detroit pitchers through Bill James
James did not bear out in any way
LnS assertions maze nN tJdnnll, Dul
Aid admit that Gandil came to him
with a proposition TO reward the De
troit pitchers If they could defeat
Boston. Gandil at that time was ir
financial difficulties. for it was devel
oped that he had gone into bank
ruptcy in 1917. To win the American
League championship and thus get q
share of the world series meant much
to Gandil.
Second.-Bill James evidence II
pertinent. He made "a straight
a,>d 20 e. -,