Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-09
.CRON|N IS 100000
LAD, SAYS HORNSBY
Cub Pilot, PraiSing Griff Star,
Thinks Chicago Has
Another "Joe."
BY JOHN B. FOSTER.

A VALON, Catalina Island, March
~ CT told you once upon "A
n time" said Rogers Hornsby,
that thought Cronin, now
Washington's shortstop, was one of the
best young players I had seen and
wondered a little why he did not get
regular position with a major league
club. He had all the action Of Wright.
whom consider one of the great short
stops of base ball, until he injured him
self playing hand ball, or whatever it
was.
Nov will tell you some more about
Cronin. Once he could have been had
by the Boston Nationals for the sum
of $500, but the judge thought he
could not put any more money In play
ers at that time The Boston club
needed funds quite as badly as it needed
he could get it all back but he couldn't
see it, although he might have been
willing enough If he had the capital.
kansas City was after him and was
to get him, but Washington stepped in
and took him. How much would
Cronin now be worth to the National
League? presume that Pittsburgh be-
came impatient when he did not de-
velop as rapidly as they thought he
should.
IAN of this conversation that am
having with you is leading UP to the
fact that the Chicago base ball club
has another Cronin. Now don't make
the mistake of thinking that he can go
out and do the things right now that
Cronin can do, but II the Lord lets him
get his health, which at present Is
&.1~r &.A xwrfk1 ~ <7as nxzI 1an
covers his normal condition in due
time, this boy Jurges on this nine of
Chicago, who came to this team from
Reading, Pa, to play shortstop, Is one
Of the coming kid players Of the United
States.
Il hope that this will not make him
swell up. because he has yet to make
good. The stuff is there. I am per-
fectly willing to bank my opinion on
him. All that he needs is to come
through. Never plays ground ball on
the side and never lets the ball get him
where he must play it on the side. Is
smart as mustard in seeing plays and
knows what is going on in the game.
These Cubs have two of the best
infielders in base ball, one in the max
ing In urges, and the other in Woody
English. who is one of the best infield-
ers In this league, or any other league,
and who gets less than so per cent of
the credit that is his due"
Must Have Good One.
When Hornsby is willing to discuss
"a ball player in that way rest assured
he has seen something out of the or
binary, and If the player doesn't get
injured he will have a future as sure
as he has two legs and two arms.
The advance in the value of Cronin
Is also part of this story. Il can't
estimate it." said Hornsby Picked
up by Pittsburgh for nothing, TO begin
with; kept by Pittsburgh at a nominal
outlay, not much, all told; couldn't be
bought by Boston, which hadn't the
waiver price, and finally was snapped
up for next to nothing by Washington
because Bluege was Ill and Washing
ton was scared.
Made good on the team in WASH
ington and also made the team. Raised
it from second division fodder to run
ner-up in the American League race,
and the same year in which he made
Washington good Pittsburgh went bad
for the lack of him.
What is his price? Figure it out,
everybody, for yourselves. Players have
been sold for $150,00O.
THE net value of Cronin, If you fig-
ure everything from the ground up,
his investment at nothing and what he
did. finally being voted the most val
liable player to his club in the Ameri-
can League, is about as near 100000
as anything you or ! ever heard Of"