Evening star., 1940-12-03
New Pirate Ace
Utility Player,
.Frisch Claims
Giants Get Hurtnett
As A. |. Holds Back
At Minor Meeting
BY PRICE HOWARD.
Associated Press Sports Writer.

ATLANTA, Dec. 3.-The Pitts
burgh Pirates began strengthening
their club today by purchasing Sec
ond Baseman Stuart Martin from
the st. Louis Cardinals In a deal
which gave the National League
jump on the American League
in winter transactions.
Manager frankie Frisch indicated
move to make his Pirates pennant
contenders next season by LABEL
ing the 27-year-old Martin as one
OF the Nationals best utility play.
ers and adding:
you can't win a pennant with.
out good utility man"
Martin. who beat Frisch out Of
the latter's infield Job with the
Cards. rejoined the former Ford
ham Flash" again in a straight cash
deal. The price was not announced.
Martin performed under Frisch
three years before frankie left st.
Louis as manager after the 1888
campaign.
oidHtS TICh u hdTtneII.
The New York Giants. who fin
ished in sixth place-two notches
below Pittsburgh-last season. OBJ
tanned former Cub Manager Gabby
Hartnett as a player-coach. and
Brooklyn signed John Corriden as
coach before the American League
completed deal. The Chicago Cubs
let out Red Corriden along with
Manager Hartnett and Coach
George Uhle last month.
Major moguls are here for the
convention Of the minor leagues.
Although Stu" Martins batting
has not been over impressive. Man
ager Fr!sch pointed to his ability
to play all infleld positions and the
fact that he always stays in good
condition. He also has played in
the outfield in the minors.
Martin. used chiefly at the key
stone for the last three years. batted
.238 last summer, decline from his
PIT major league average for the
four previous campaigns. Martin.
who equaled the modern record OF
II assists by second baseman in
1886, also was used at first and short
stop in his first two summers with
st. Louis.
Gustine to Retain Buc Job.
Frisch indicated that young
Frankie Gustine would retain his
second base job. leaving Martin to
plug any infield emergency.
Hartnett played 1S years with the
Cubs, the last three as manager
after replacing Charley Grimm in
midseason of 1888 His addition to
the Giant pay roll would not affect
Bill Terry said. enabling the 40-year-
old catching veteran to fill pinch
hitting roles.
Hartnett led National League
catchers in fielding for seven years
and he caught 100 or more games
per season for II years for league
record. Hartnett also holds the
major league mark for most con-
secutive chances (452) by a catcher
without an error.
Brooklyn Manager Leo Durocher
said Corriden would replace Fred
Fitzsimmons as first-base coach,
leaving Fitzsimmons free to devote
full time to pitching. He hurled Is
victories last season.
Lands to Speak at Banquet.
These deals opened the major
league bargaining season at the
annual convention Of the A minor
loops in the National Association Of
Professional Baseball Leagues. Busi-
ness sessions will get under way
tomorrow.
Some Of the approximately l.400
delegates of both the minors and
the majors were surprised to learn
that Baseball Commissioner Kene-
saw M. Lands would make one Of
his rare public appearances at a
convention banquet Thursday night
to give "few observations"
The minors are making plans to
demand a voice In selecting the
commissioner. He now is chosen by
the major leagues.