The Washington times., 1934-03-03
WON'T ACCEPT
LAST YEAR
SALARY

thousand a year or nothing!
That's Jimmy FoxX's price for
subjecting himself to six months
of fresh air and sunshine between
the hours of 3 and 5 Of any
given afternoon this summer.
Offhand, it seems little lux
urious, common labor being what
it is, but Mr.. F'oxx is common
like an ear of corn in a florists
window. Mr.. Foxx is the young
man who, on behalf of Mr.. Cor
neliuS Mack, hits most Of the
home runs and drives in most
of the American League runs
throughout a given season. And
on behalf of Mr.. Foxx, Mr..
Mack would wish to say that,
after a struggle, he has persuaded
himself to believe that the young
man is worth at least $4,000 a
year to him.
FOxx Is DiSgruntled
Two years ago, AL Simmons,
who cannot hit any better than
Mr.. FoxX and does not Of neceS-~
sity handle as many chances, was
worth $33,333.33 a year to Mr..
Mack. In any case, that is what
Mr.. Mack paid him and, if it
makes the case any clearer, Mr..
James Dykes, an eX-associate, 81
years old and just another ball
player, is to draw $1,000 from
the Chicago White Sox this year.
So Mr.. Foxx wishes to announce
today that he is 26 and very sore.
"T can't help it that Connie
Mack lost money in the stock
market" said he. 81 didn't
tell him to go broke that way.
That was his own choice.
Therefore, don't mind telling
him that this is mine.
"I'm not accepting the con-
tract he sent me. He knows
that. What he doesn't know
is that I wouldn't accept the
$16,666.66 I have received for
the last three years.
SAP TO TAKE 1T
"T was a sap to take a con-
tract like that in the first
place. Well, this is the second
place ard I'm through with
being a cOme-on for some
bOdy's pleasant conversation.
81 Joined up with major
league baseball when / was .
little more than 16, and Mr..
Mack has never hesitated to
take advantage of that fact.
In 1928, when I was one Of the
leading hitters Of baseball, I
was making $500 when men
Of my ability were drawing
three and four times that much.
He always told me that if I
stuck along with him and
earned the money that my
performances justified, he would
pay me right up to the limit
of my ability.
"My performance during the
last season was to lead tho
American League in almost
every department Of hitting,
and both leagues in several.
And my reward is to be cut
more than $5,OOO."
Mr.. Foxx didn't wish to state
just exactly what he intended to
do. But one of the things he
won't do is sign up for less than
$4,000. He's sure about that.
Biggest Sucker
"Tf I do, put me down as tho
biggest sucker in the world"
he continued. Ruth, an old
man, is getting a great deal
more than that for his fare
well year in baseball; Gehrig,
Klein and others are drawing
money well above that figure.
Therefore, 1 think I'm being no
more than reasonable. In the
same way, this is no more than
fair, too.
cat the age of 26, with most
of my life ahead Of me, I'd
rather go to work at sOme-
thing permanent for nothing
a-week than take something
temporary at $4,000 a year.
know there have been hold
outs in baseball before but
they've never had one like me.
Figuring things the way I sec
it, I'm ready to hold out for
the rest of my life."
Yesterday it was reported that
Mack had made a compromise
otter to Foxx, which called for a
basic pay of $4,000 a year and
about $4,000 additional If the.
AS drew a million in attendance
at the home park ,4