Evening star., 1938-04-02
MATS SLICK PREXY
HOMES BRAIN DAILY.
Practices Trading, Writing
of Persuasive Wires
Before Breakfast.
By JOHN LARDNER.


ORLANDO, Fla, April I'm the
small hours of the morning there is
commotion all over Florida, as seven
baseball club owners begin rising early
to get ahead of Mr. Clark Griffith
They tell me the same phenomenon
occurs in California, Texas, Louisiana
and Mississippi
Thomas Yawkey leaves call for
$3.50 am. Jake Rupert, Gerry Nu-
gent, Walter Briggs and Cornelius
Mack are summoned at 4. Lou Com
iskey, Phil Wrigley and William Bens-
wanger arise at S, allowing three hours
for the difference in time All the
rest of the boys are up by $50, brush
ing their teeth and glancing uneasily
over their shoulders.
1t may be, of course, that Mr.. Grif-
nth will cross them up by remaining
in the hay till noon. He never gives
notice OF his plans. 1t would be nice
of him to post bulletin, such as
"Outsmarting operations will begin at
1890 am. sharp, with one hour off
for lunch" But he doesn't do it..
mo quarter given and none asked"
is the motto of the Grifhths-in more
ways than one
Griffith Brain Honed Daily.
After careful investigation learn
that Mr.. Griffith devotes Is minutes
every morning to sharpening his brain.
This honing program is facilitated by
grindstone, built into the wall of
Mr. Grifflths bathroom.
Setting-up exercises occupy the time
from $50 to 9 am. Mr.. Griffith calls
in stooge and trades him an empty
waste basket for a full waste basket.
This exercise is repeated 25 times.
The Washington club boss rings for
stenographer and dictates kilograms
for an hour. These are specimen
kilograms:
Col, Jake Rupert, New York Yam
KEGS, st. Petersburg, Fla: Am pre-
pared to accept 100000 cash for
Buddy Myer. Cannot hold the offer
open for long, so do not delay"
Walter Briggs, Detroit Tigers, Lake
land, Fla: Stand ready to trade my
ball club for yours in straight deal,
no cash involved. This is my final
word"
"Alva Bradley, Cleveland Indians,
New Orleans: How about sending me
Bob Peller and cash for Joe Krakaus-
kas? Would not do this for any one
but you"
Branch Hickey, ST. Louis Cardinals,
st. Petersburg, Fla: Pending delivery
of Joe MedWick, on whom I have prior
claim. will accept $4,000 week
indemnity payments. Let's keep this
out of court"
Great Offer to Mack.
Connie Mack, Philadelphia Ath-
letics, Birmingham. Ala: Will trade
you ace st-ball-thrower-out, Presi-
dent F. D. Roosevelt, for three out
fielders and cash. Roosevelt arm guar
anteed fine condition, anxious to leave
Washington for larger city. better op-
portunities. Advise grab this offer
Immediately, as six rival clubs are
bidding"
There is hypnotic swing about
Griff's kilograms. No matter how
early they rise in the morning, the
other owners are likely to fall under
the spell of the Old Fox before the
day is over
Witness the case of j. Louis Com
tskey of the Chicago White Sox, who
started for bed one evening to find
that he no longer owned a first base
man nop,od zoko porr,o
Did anything happen during the
day?" demanded the anxious tycoon
Of his secretary.
Eyes. You had wire from Grit
fifth
That explains it," said Mr.. Com
iskey, mopping his brow. And what
did he give me for Bonura?"
Joe Kuhel."
And cash?"
mo cash"
We'll" said Mr.. Comiskey philo-
sophically, lit might have been worse
But do not open any more kilograms.
They might be from Griffith
Has Way With HoIdouts.
That, according to unimpeachable
sources, is the story of the Bonura-
Kuhel trade, which gives the Ma
tionals the right-handed slugger they
needed so badly.
In further tribute to Mr. Griffith it
should be pointed out that Bonura, a
chronic holdout accepted Griff,s con-
tract 20 minutes after the deal was
made.
Grif has way with holdouts.
Goose Goslin. demanding a $4,000
raise. was once persuaded in half an
hours time to sign at last years figure
And Grif made me feel like I was
robbing him to take it," recalls the
Goose.
Goslin is around the Washington
camp now. looking for a job. He
might land it. The Nationals can use
help. Bonura represents all the i'm
provement in club which finished
sixth last season-Bonura and the
full-time presence of the Ferrell boys,
Rick and Wesley, who may or may
not hustle for Washington.
But do not sell the Nationals short.
As long as Mr.. Griffith can lift a
telegram blank his team is in the
running.
(Copyright. 1888. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance, Inc.)