The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-09-06
NAVIN CAMBLED
 FOR COCHRANE
 AND GOT BARGAIN
Rejected Ruth and Now Tigers Will Earn $250,O0O
BY HARRY GRAYSON Cv,rvfs Editor MIA Spry1ne

Frank J. Navin was torn between two choices last fall. The president of the Detroit baseball club could obtain Babe Ruth in exchange fOi John Stone. Connie Mack asked $100,000 and a catcher for Mickey Cochrane.
 Navin left it to Henry G. Sal | singer. veteran Detroit sports edi- tor. Salsinger didn't have to be | told by Bucky Harris. who had | bowed out to go to Boston, that the ineffectiveness of the Tiger l pitchers in 1888 largely was due to bush league catching. | Having made his decision, Navin did not let the fact that the De- troit club was broke stop him. He hopped on New York train, and borrowed $100,00O in Wall street. Then he went to the AAAA AAs in the deal.
 | The barter turned out to be a darling for Navin and his club. Detroit, which ran mediocre fifth 1, last year and was a poor attrac- | ton, lost no time this spring in becoming the biggest card in the game. The Tigers will play to close to 100000 people at home. They recently performed before l 131,697 paid admissions in three playing days at the Yankee stadi- um. Navin's profit will be more than $25o,000.
 Detroit led Cleveland, to 3, as | Monte Pearson doubled into the overflow crowd to open the seventh inning of a tough game at Naviil field. GalatZer beat out a bunt to Marvin owen, Pearson logging it to third base.
 Cochrane elected to cut off the tying run. He yanked the Tiger infield in. Then, suddenly, with one strike and two balls on Bill Knick- erbocker, the impulsive Cochrane switched. He decided to make the tying run a secondary issue. He waved his infield back.
 Knickerbocker took a toe. hold with Hamlin's next pitch. Whami A screaching liner rifled its way to
 Owens eft. The third baseman stabbed at the ball with his gloved hand-grabbed it with back-hand motion, stepped on the bag to double Pearson. and threw to Hank Greenberg, retiring Galatzer, and completeing triple play. It would have been impossible for Owen to spear that ball had he been play ing in.
 i That lucky Cochrane!" groaned Billy Evans, the famous umpire, who is general manager of the In diaps. He's been guessing right all season."
 Cochrane might have been play hunch on that occasion. He might simply have changed his mind. But Cochrane usually has a very good reason for doing some thing. His nine years under Mack were not wasted. However, it is just as well for baseball that young managers get away from the the- ory of playing according to Hoyle now and then. A little individuality spices the program.
 The trouble encountered by Lefty Grove, Earnshaw and Walberg since they parted company with Cochrane illustrates his value be- hind the log. But his ability is stressed to an even greater extent by the improved form of the De- troit staff this season-the phe- nomenal Schoolboy Rowe. Bridges, Marberry, and Auker. Alfin Crow der's difficulties disappeared as quickly as he hit the jungle. Cochrane has a lot of stuff as a player-so much that he inspires his team.
 And the Bridgewater Irishman is as great in store clothes as he is in a baseball uniform-so popular that he requires Cy Perkins as a caretaker to protect him from well- wishers.