The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-05
DODGERS ACQUIRE
OWEN FROM CARDS
Reds Trade Myers To CuDs
For Gleeson, Mattick And
Another Player In Deal
BY JUDSON BAILEY

BY II DfAAAIGA
ATLANTA, Dec. A. Up Tit
trading tempo of basebalps big
winter meetings reached top speec
today with completion of two ma
ior deal sin the National league
and the rumored near-closlng OF
several others.
The Brooklyn Dodgers, contlnu-
ing their fabulous spending IN an
effort to build up a pennant winner
acquired the coveted catche r.
Mickey Owen, from the St. Louis
Cardinals in exchange for catcher
Gus Mancuso, Rookie pitcher John
IPintar and a large amount" OF
money, v~ariously estimated at 500,
900 or $75, DOC
Before this deal was two hours
old the world champion Cincinnati
Reds, who had come to town tel
ling everybody they weren't in
terested in the trade mart, gave
UP Billy Myers, their 3O-year-old
shortstop to the Chicago Cubs for
outfielder Jim Gleason, shortstop
Bobby Mattick and an additional
PLAYER to be named later. No cash
was involved.
The net effect of these swaps
was to confuse everybody at the
seth annual convention of the min
or leagues and make the National
league outlook for 1941 a charming
uncertainty.
At the first glance it looked like
the Dodgers benefited most in their
transaction with David Harum
Branch Hickey and Sam Breadon
getting the money they like so
well, while the Reds and Cubs
broke about even.
The money paid in the Owen
deal goes on the same side OF the
Brooklyn ledger as the $3.50, 600
they put out to get outfielder Joe
Medwick from the Cardinals jand
the $500, 900 they gave the i'm
poverished Phillies last month for
pitcher Kirby Higbe.
There were players given in ad-
dition to the cash, in each in
stance, and in spite of this ire
mendous outlay, President Larry
MacPhail of the Dodgers still was
the most active bargainer in At
lanta tonight.
He was hidden away with Presi-
dent Bill Benswanger and Mana
ger Frank Frisch of the Pittsburgh
Pirates and was known to be striv-
ing to get an outfielder, of which
the Pirates have seven. Pittsburgh
wants a pitcher badly and may
come out of the huddle with Luke
(Hot Potato) Hamlin, who is not
one of the Dodgers chosen people.
Brooklyn wanted Gleason, but
Cincinnati cooked that one. The
Reds one weakness last year was
lack Of hitting and Gleason, q
years old and just finished with
his second campaign in the majors,
batted 1928 in 129 games last sea-
son besided playing fine defensive
ball.
Myers, although he was the for.
mer captain of the Reds and a
valued player, slumped to POI in
hitting in 1910 and played in only
80 games. His bad season had
cooled off his popularity of the
year before among fans in the
Rhineland city and his loss will
be no major blow.
Manager Bill McKechnie said the
shortstopping job was wide
open," but added, you can just
figure, though, that Eddie Joost
is going to get a lot of considera-
ton Mattick played in 1913 games
and batted .218 for the Cubs ir
his first full year in the Nationa
league, but he was an erratic in
fielder. Some observers foresaw
the Reds in a deal to get another
shortstop since Joost is a frail
youth who never has been able to
perform long periods at a time.
The Cubs were elated with their
end OF the deal, Manager Jim Will
son feeling that Myers would bene-
tit by the change and come back
to his 1899 form when he hit ,281
and performed marvels afield. II
ne plugs the Cubs leak at short,
Wilson feels he will have a con.
tending club and with Lou Novikof1
coming up, could afford to give
up an outfielder. s