Evening star., 1938-12-13
From the
Press Box
Bite Is Worse Than Bark
Of Baseball MoguIs' Dogs
BY JOHN LARDNER,

NEW YORK, Dec. 13.-Unti
you've soft-shoed eight or ten times
around the hotel lobby at major
league baseball meeting. like the one
beginning this week, you may have
an idea that there are sensational
trades, deals and sales transpiring
under every potted palm.
Wherever you look, you see
licensed master minds in close con-
ference, grabbing each others coats
blowing cigar smoke into attentive
faces. gesturing widely like herring
statesmen unloading the new winter
line
What these deep thinkers actually
are saying dn the lobby is some
thing like this:
The curtain rises, as curtains will
an Mr.. Casey Stengel, perched be-
meath a palm. He is f1anked by Mr..
Bill Terry and Mr.. Bill McKechnie,
while Mr.. Doc Prothro circles around
shem cautiously. like vulture look
ing for place to land. Mr.. Stengel
IS talking very earnestly, empha-
sizing his point by pounding one
hand with the other.
Stengel-My feet hurt.
Terry-Eow come. Casey? You
been sitting there all day.
Stengel--Yes, and I am going to
keep on sitting here till they stop
hurting. They started to hurt me
In New Orleans. They hurt me
worse on the way up here. My
dogs are killing me.
Fixing Teeth No Help
To SteneeIs Dogs
McKechnie-There's a doctor in
the house. Right over there (points
to Prothro, who gradually is closing
I'M.
Stengel-Hes a tooth doctor.
Terry-That ought to be a les
son to you. You're always beefng
that you should of stayed in the
dentist business instead of manag-
ing ball clubs. There's guy who
does both. Why don't you fix teeth
in the winter?
Stengel-What good would that
do me? It's my feet that hurt.
Prothro (coming to a landing
Who wants to make deal?
Stengel-Have you got Medwick?
Prothro-No. but
Stengel-Medwick is the one I
want. I'm gonna sit here till some
body comes and trades me Med
wick.
McKechnie-For who?
Stengel-Well, how about Vince
Di Maggie? There's straight
trade. One outflelder for another
outfielder.
McKechnie-I'll mention it to
Branch Hickey. He'll probably
Jump at it. This is what he's been
waiting for.
Prothro-Did you offer 100000
for Medwick. Bill?
Terry-A hundred grand would
have been all right, but they also
wanted OFT, Moore, Hubbell, Dan
ming and the Polo Grounds. I
can't afford to let the Polo Grounds
60 until get replacement.
Prothro-What have you got in
mind. Casey?
Stengel-My feet hurt.
Prothro-I know, but do you want
to make a deal?
Stengel-Have you got Medwick?
Hortnett, Blades Merely
Cos and Oil Men
McKechnie-This is where came
In. (McKechnie drifts over to Ray
Blades and Gabby Hartnett, who are
discussing the price of gasoline0
Hartnett-What do you know, Bill?
McKechnie-Stengel's feet hurt.
Hartnett-That's bad sign.
McKechnie-Do you want to trade
me Clay Bryant?
Hartnett (yawning)-No.
McKechnie-Do you want to trade
me Stan Hack?
Hartnett-No.
McKechnie-Do you want to trade
me Medwick?
Hartnett-No-I mean, amt got
him. There's the guy that's got him
(points to Blades. Ask him.
McKechnie-I know better than
to ask the guy that's got him.
Hartnett-So do I. (McKechnie,
Hartnett and Blades wander back to
Mr.. Stengel's chair, where DR..
Prothro still is making flank at
tacks)
McKechnie-How are your feet,
Casey?
Stengel-Well, Bill, you can be-
lieve this or not, and maybe you
think I'm lying, because it don't
seem hardly possible-but they still
hurt me.
Hartnett-Ill buy beer. (There
Is a general movement to the tap
room, with Stengel in the lead, NOV
ing strongly on both feet)
Copyright 1898. by the North Americaa