Evening star., 1940-12-07
Sale To Farley
Of Yanks Now
Accomplished
Signing Of Mccarthy
Is Seen Tip-off DeoI
Has Gone Through
BY GRANTLAND RICE,

BY GRANTLAND RICE,
Special Correspondent Of The Star.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 7 (N.AN Az.
An announcement that James A.
Farley finally has purchased the
Yankees will be made during the
major league meetings in Chicago
next week. This is the information
get from a source have no reason
to doubt.
Jim's move to take over the YAM
KEGS began last summer and at one
time and another, as the negotia-
tions dragged out, it was rumored
the whole business had been called
of. But from what I hear the de-
lay was occasioned only by the many
details involved and there never was
chance Of the deal falling through.
Among the details was the not un-
important one of financing. 1t is
no part Of cinch these days to get
together the money necessary to buy
the YankeeS-a matter of $500, 900
or thereabouts. And when I say
that, I don't mean it is hard to
scrape up the coin to buy only the
Yankees. That goes for any ball
club-and there are at least two or
three others on the market.
With the threat of conscription
hanging over so many ball players
and the present time generally be-
ing troubled and uncertain, many
men who ordinarily might rush to
get in on a deal of this kind are
holding off. The 194l season may
be one of the best baseball ever has
known. But there is no way to de-
termine that now.
Farley's Faith Indicated.
Farley's faith in the immediate
future of baseball, however, has been
indicated by his persistence in
rounding up the men who are
backing him in his purchase of the
Yankees. Incidentally, in his ef-
forts to swing this transaction, he
has the enthusiastic support Of the
men he is about to join For years
he has been one of the Nations
outstanding fans and baseball men
recognize that he will be a tremen-
dous asset to the game.
A sign that he was about to close
the deal was seen in the recent news
from the Yankee Office that Joe Nc
Carthy had agreed to terms that will
be incorporated in a new contract.
1t was taken for granted that Ed
u q
Joe unless he knew exactly where
he-and the ball club-stood.
In other words, it was certain that
Barrow didn't call up Mccarthy and
say, Joe, it looks as though Farley
isn't going to get the club after all
and I don't know who is going to
get it, but meanwhile I think you
ought to sign new contract and
take a chance on running into a
snag If the club should be sold to
somebody who would like to have
another manager"
Mccarthy Apparently Informed.
Nor was it likely that Mccarthy,
not only a capable manager but an
/ astute businessman, would make
any move without knowing all the
angles of the situation confronting
him. There is, then, every reason
to believe the last hitch had been
ironed out when Barrow called up
Mccarthy, for Jim virtually had
said that when he gained control
of the club he wanted Barrow and
Mccarthy to carry on.
The imminence of Farley's sue
ceSsion to control of the club should
be welcomed by Yankee fans. In
way-with the tag end of the foot
ball season yet to be picked up-it
doesn't seem possible, but the ball
clubs will be in training less than
three months from now. and there
is lot of work to be done to get
the Yankees ready for another cam
paign.
The Yankees were a worn and
tired array at the close of last sea-
son. They didn't quit in their pur-
suit of the Tigers and the Indians.
They simply begged down. Some of
their key players obviously had
reached the end of the string-or
come pretty close to it. This, as
matter of fact, had been obvious
over most of the uneven way they
followed from April to the finish in
September In ordinary circum-
stances trades and purchases would
have been made to strengthen them
in the face of their own decline and
the rise of their opponents, but Bar
row and Mccarthy were handcuffed
by the rule, sponsored by Clark
Griffith, against dealing with the
champions.
Now that, as far as the Yankees
are concerned, is out. That's some
thing-unless the rule is rescind-
ed at the meeting in Chicagoefor
Walter Briggs and Del Baker to wor-
ry about. At the cost of the cham
pionship they had held for four
years, the Yankees gained access to
the player market again, and they
are expected to be among the most
active traders in either league.