The Washington times., 1936-03-13

COnteStIO
DrawFans
By FRANK BUCK" o'NEILL

ORLANDO, Fla, March l3,
Joe Cronin, who will win the
American League pennant this
year or be stoned on the Com.
mons, leads the Boston Red sox
into Orlando tomorrow to face the
Washington Griffs. A banner
crowd is expected. There is only
one game on the spring schedule
OF exhibition games that COM
mands more interest than this
clash Of Sox and Griffs. That is
the game between the Red Soy
and Detroit Tigers, scheduled for
March 20.
The game tomorrow will mark
BoStor's start under the formal
circumstances Of competition,
President Will Harridge is here
for the game and Baseball Com.
missioner Judge Kenesaw Noun.
tain Lands will flee the traps and
bunkers at Bellair to be in the
Grandstand.
Cronin carries a double load
this season. He staggers under a
cross Of gold. He has the costli.
est ball club in history. He in
the coStlieSt ball player in his
tory. II the purchase price paid
for a ball player were the only
criterion by which values could
be judged, Cronin would spread
eagle the field. With a five-year
contract at $4,000 per year, and
a purchase price Of $3.50, 900, the
prognathic-jawed Frisco Kid set
the Red Sox back 100000.
These figures, doubted at first,
may be accepted as authentic.
They place Cronin far ahead Of
Babe Ruth, the greatest drawing
card in the history Of baseball,
and certainly a far greater bali
player than Cronin ever can
hope to be.
Ruth Cost 100000
The Yankees paid an even
100000 for Babe Ruth. The rec
ord books place the figure at
$685. 900. but the books are in
error.
The Red Sox paid $250,00O for
Cronin and gave him a five-year
contract at $4,000 per year. The
Yankees paid Ruth $40, 900 q year
in 1920, $4,000 in 1921, and in
1922 staggered the world with
five-year contract calling for $52,-
600 a year.
In his liberal Interpretation of
the role Of baSeball's Santa Claus,
Tom Yawkey stepped out and paid
$400, 900 for Jimmy Foxx, Roger
Cramer, Eric McNair and Johnny
Marcum. A lot Of money, but it
failed to shake Cronin's position.
Not even Foxx, who was the ball
player the Red Sox sought, com.
manded the price brought by Joe
Cronin,
Now you can make your own
comparisons and do your own
figuring. You may set up q player
as being worth far more than
Cronin. But ball players are like
Statuary, a fine painting, or a rare
tapestry. If you are a connoiseur,
they may be priceless to you. But
il you're just another man in the
street, they're pretty, and they
may be art, but they command no
great value.
Tom Yawkey, or perhaps it was
Eddie Collins, the man who con.
trolls the Yawkey purse strings
in baseball, decided that Cronin
among all the players in the Amer
ican League, would win the pen
nant for Boston. AS q matter Of
fact, he didn't do any better than
Bucky Harris did with the Red
Sox, but that is neither here nor
there.
So Cronin comes to Orlando TO-
morrow, leading a team that has
boldly announced its intention and
ability to win the American League
pennant. Following the lead Of
Cronin the Red Sox had climbed
reSolutely out on a limb and pro-
claimed themselves the best in
the land. The Tigers are good too,
but very lucky. The Yankees? Be
your age young man. They
haven't chance to grab the bunt-
ing.
And as for the poor benighted
Washington team; well, brother,
starting tomorrow, the Griffs will
be kicked in the pants on all oc-
casions. The Red Sox rather ex.
pect to win, say 81 games from
Washington this year.
This writer can tell you openly
and without confidential restric-
tions that Mickey Cochrane is
somewhat burned up over the arro-
gance of the Red Sox. Those II
gers are going to make a pretty
rugged battle, and Cochrane will
tell you that whether Hank Green
berg comes to his senses and signs
his contract at $25, 1000, the Tigers
have what it takes to win that
flag.
AS a matter Of fact, the Bos-
ton Red Sox have nominated
themselves as Baseball Enemy No.
/, The forces Of organized base
ball will try their damndest to
cut them down. If the Sox
should win, they will knock out
Of the box the best pitchers on
every team they face.
Joe Cronni will start his cam
paign tomorrow in full tilt. He
intends to open up with Rube
Walberg, and then send in Lefty