Evening star., 1939-07-19
Co|orfu| Figure
Lost in Death
.0fCon1iskey
Son Of odd Romun,'
81, Spent All His
Life With Chisox

| BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, July 19.-Death of J.
Louis Comiskey, president and own
er of the Chicago White Sox, re-
moved from baseball one of the most
colorful second generation" leaders
in the history of the sport.
Victim of a heart ailment and
pneumonia, Comiskey died yesterday
in the same summer home at Eagle
River Wis, where his famous father,
| Charles A. Comiskey. died eight
years ago at the age of p. He had
been i'll a week and in coma since
Monday.
Comiskey, who was 81 and the only
son of the noted "Old Roman.
| founder of the club, was survived by
| the widow, Grace; two daughters.
Dorothy, %. and Grace Lou, 1S, and
son, Charles, II, 13. The body
will be brought here tonight and fu-
neral services will be held Saturday.
Grabiner Remains in Charge.
oS nillSlA ASdll ACdSuC SuStOlIl, IllC
White Sox game with the New York
Yankees will be postponed.
Harry Grabiner. who started in
the White SoX organization So years
ago as an Office boy. and served as
vice president of the club under
both Comiskeys, will continue in
charge of the club.
News OF Comiskey's death was re-
ceived at Comiskey Park while the
White SoX were winning the second
game of double header with the
Boston Red SoX. No public announce
ment was made, but at Grabiner's
order the flag in center field was
lowered to half staff.
Comiskey spent all of his life in
the service of the club his father or
ganized 80 years ago. AS a boy he
had an ambition to follow his IA
theirs footsteps as player, but signs
of the heart allment appeared early
and he had to be content with a ca
reer in the business Office.
His Size Was Harmful.
He was a ponderous man. scaling
as much as 375 pounds at times.
factor which contributed to his early
death. He served the White Sox in
yarious capacities and for many years
was in charge of concessions. He
had no great part in the affairs OF
the club until after his fathers death
in 1881.
Tn bo
despite almost constant i'll health, he
maneuvered the White Sox back into
a position they had not occupied
since the team was wrecked by the
Black SoX scandal in 1919. He spent
$4,000 to get four stars from the
Philadelphia Athletics, Jimmy Dykes,
AL Simmons. Mule Haas and George
Earnshaw. Then in May, 1884, he
elevated Dykes to the management,
succeeding Lew Fonseca. and the
White SoX stock Immediately rose
The club finished in the first divi-
sion in 1885, 1896 and 1887.
Comiskey watched with interest
the growing popularity of night base
ball and only month ago reached
a decision to f1oodlight Comiskey
Park The first night game will be
played next month.
Popular With Associates.
Comiskey-Lou TO his intimates-
was tremendously popular with his
players and the business staff. He
was regarded as genuine sports
man and rarely quibbled over sal
aries with his players.
William Harridge, president of the
American League, said:
Because of his i'll health few base
ball fans in Chicago had the oppor-
tunity or privilege of personally
knowing Lou Comiskey No one in
baseball, perhaps, had met with more
misfortune, but he always took his
bad luck with a smile. He had many
friends who will cherish his men,
ory along with that of his late IA
ther."