Evening star., 1940-12-17
From the
Press Box
New Ownership to Keep
Bees in Boston Hive
BY JOHN LARDNER.
Special Correspondent Of The Star.


BOSTON, Dec. II (N.ANAD.-
Under new ownership, the Boston
Bees glitter with a certain amount
of promise for 1941, based on the
oath of their leaders that they will
not sell or trade single one of the
young stars of the rising constella-
ton.
Il want to stay with this ball
club" says j. A. Robert Quinn, the
sturdy and plain-spoken gentleman
who has run the practical affairs of
the Bees for the last few years, "but
when the sale of the club was ar
ranged, I told both parties that
would stay only if we kept every one
of the players who can help us win.
That's been guaranteed. From now
on, there will be no deals that will
hurt our pennant chances. We have
the makings, and we're going for
ward"
This means that Boston can de-
pend on permanent possession, for
the next few seasons, of Jealous and
gifted youngsters like Eddie Miller,
the shortstop: Sebastian Sisti, the
third baseman; Dick MerriWell
Erickson, the pitcher; Buster West,
the left-handed slugger; Chester
Ross, the right-handed slugger, and
Alabama Rowell, the outfielder-sec-
ond baseman.
Quinn Refuses TO Listen
To Any ToIent Seekers
Bob Quinn has been as good as
his word to date The Cubs of Chi
cago made violent grab for Miller,
and so did the New York Giants,
but Mr. Quinn refused them both.
Bill Terry of the Giants made an
offer that tinkled and changed like
the flow of jackpot from a slot
machine, but Mr. Quinn pointed
coldly to the cotton he is wearing
in both ears.
Mr.. Quinn will wear cotton up
there all winter, changing twice
weekly. 1t is very becoming, and by
far the safest thing a Boston oper-
ator can do. when he has real ball
players in his doodlesack.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have been
baying on the trail of Erickson.
Brooklyn and Cincinnati want Ross
or West or both. And the Bees,
whose coat of arms used to be three
gold balls, rampant, on field of
secondhand banjos, firmly are re-
plying mo dice"
The pennant fever always burns
pretty brightly hereaboutS. This
year both the Bees and the Red Sox
have their folloWings. The Sox, who
ran stout fourth last season in the
American League after breaking fast
and leading part of the way, still are
largely collection of batting muscle
and pitching anemia, but at least
they now have catcher.
We gave up nothing we needed, =
said Joe Cronin, their field pilot, a
few days ago, 'and we got one of
the best catchers in the business
That Pytlak will cure so per cent of
our pitching trouble
The Pytlak in question-Frank A
Pytlak, who came from Cleveland
along with Joe Dobson and Odell
EVIL Tidings) Hale, in exchange for
Gerald Walker, Jim Bagby and
Gene Desautels-is a pretty fair
catcher at that. If you like catchers
on the old Schalk-Cochrane model
fast and fiery lightweight catchers
who make plays all over the field
then Pytlak has the right bouquet.
The only trouble with frankie ur
to date has been self-sympathy
Over the years few men have felt
sorrier for themselves than the vest
pocket athlete from Cleveland. This
kind of thing is great entertainment
when you see it in Hamlet" but
when demonstrated in baseball il
induces a certain restlessness at the
front Office.