New Britain herald., 1928-10-31
CHICAGO ID PAY
 HIGH FOR H0RNSbY
Owners Of Clubs Trying to Fix
 Fair Price for Star

The gentlemen who own the Chi cago and Boston National League clubs are trying as good business men to agree on what is fair price for Rogers Hornsby.
 For the purpose of getting some definite starting point for the nego- tiations it seems that the Chicago club p.accd minimum value of $c00,o00 on the National Leagues g greatest batter.
 William Wrigley. who owns the Cubs, was told by his subordinates that cash alone would not buy the transfer and that some players would have to be thrown in to make the deal tasteful to the Boston cus- toners.
 Wrigley. according to the story. then instructed his agents to start the cash conversation at $a00, ,000 and use their own judgment on the weight Of human stock that had to go along to boot.
 Trio In Trade Worth ItsO.OOO The Braves are supposed to have mentioned casually that Mcguire, Root and Webb would be treated kindly in Boston and there is &150.- 900 worth of material if you figure that an untried rookie such as Roy Johnson is worth $75,000 of Detroit money. It might be figured conseryatirely then that in the initial stage of the bidding Hornsby is at least a $3o0.- coo ball player and Chicago will not halt on higher price if Goston will listen.
 Baseball men are practically agreed that Hornshy would he too much of a bargain at 3:5o.ooo to get in day when gifts are no part of the national pastime.
 Dissenting Voice From Hendricks There will be one dissenting voice because at this time last year a cash appraisement of less than g dime was placed upon the great Raiah by Jack Hendricks. manager of the Cincinnati Reds.
 When the owners, of the Giants decided that the club could prosper and be happy without Hornsby, Hendricks was summoned from Gin cinnati and asked how much he would give for the man.
 Not dimc." Hendricks said. 'In fact I wouldn't have him on my ball club" But Hendricks will ad- init in his frank way that he has a great personal distaste for the play CT and these personal prejudices have been known to operate at the cost of pennants.
 Several years ago the Brooklyn club threw tho baseball world into a great stomach laugh by offering St. Louis $25U.o0O for Hornsby. Il was worth q laugh at that time but WiIbert Robinson insists that thu | club made the offer in good faith and had the money to pay. Tho Brooklyn club is celebrated for it. frugaIity. but it got dough by beint that way and it went for abou $1o0.0oO in the Dave Bancroft ex' pertinent that didn't work. Indians Would Like Horusby Billy Evans says that his CIeve. | land club would lay $2OO,O00 on tn. line without a tremble for Hornsby but he knows that they couldn't get him out of the National League The magnates are very wary in these days. Several years ago the Yankee. had a chance to sell Wally Pipp te the Cincinnati Reds for $20.000 They asked waivers and Philadcl- Connie Mack went into a huddle and the circumstances were discussed Mack said he guessed Pipp wasn't worth more than 37.50o 10 him and withdrew the claim. Joe Hausei broke his leg that season and il Mack had had Pipp to play first base he might have won the pen. | nant.
 There isn't a chance. of course for Hornsby to get away from the National League. There are toe many show horses in the American AlSdS uC Ho"s
 Cleveland offered Uhle. Scwell and $175.000 last winter to the Yankees for Lou Gchrig and got a laugh Later the club offered $10O,00O tc Washington for Buck Harris and was co,nforted with the admonitior to be yourself.
 Would Means Pennant for Cubs
 Babe Ruth cost the Yankees what at the time was the staggering price of $125.000 and he has returned . dividend of perhaps 200 per cent on the investment.
 Hornsby wouldn't be any such in. vestment for the Cubs. but it seem. to be agreed among baseball men that Hornsby ought to make a pen- nant winner out of the Cubs and that is what the Wriglcy millions want.
 It would mean something to the Wriglcy firm 10 get a champion team because at some time during the period leading up to the world series some unethical reporter would violate & confidence and mention something about chewing gum. And if you think this is a sap na ton, ask Sir Tommie Lipton if he didn't get all his dough back out of all those losing yacht races.