The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-10-21
Cronin, $25O, 900 Beauty To Go ODerseas
RED SOX PILOT .FLATTERED BY
 RED CROSS BID
First to Volunteer; Tried to Get in Air Corps; May
 Come Back to Baseball

Boston, Oct. 2l. - CUP) - Joseph Edward Cronin, $250,OO0 pilot of ths Boston Red sox, has joined the Red Cross team for foreign service and he hinted today that he might not return to major league baseball un- til World War II is ended.
 I'm free to come back to thN sox for spring training in March unless I go some place else" he said with a provocative grin. "But how do know I'll want to return? Oncs I get over there might get itchy for some action and join an outfit you know how 1t is."
 For the next five days Cronirl who celebrated his 36th %irthdaJ Columbus Day, will be winding up his business affairs. Monday he re- ports at Washington for 6 brie1 training course that will fit him as morale director for the Red Cross After that his plans are somewhat of a military secret. But from Cronin's conversation 1t seemed that he probably would see service in recreation centers in the British Isles.
 With IS years in the major leagues behind him and a contract with the Red Sox that has two years to run, Cronin hoped to return to baseball in 1943 If they're still playing base- ball."
 Gets OK.
 He said he had talked the propo. sition from the Red Cross over with owner Tom Yawkey of the Red Sox and Yawkey told me to do any, thing you want to do."
 Yawkey told him if he didn't re-. turn the team would get another manager but think you'll be back. Joe"
 Though the announcement of Cronins move came as @ surprise, he said he had been negotiating for the post several months.
 After being classified 3-A in the selective service, Cronin sought uns successfully to join the U. s. Army Air Corps but was turned down be- cause of his age.
 i've beefhg trying to do Somes thing since early summer to help the war effort" he said. T would have joined as . flyer if they had taken me. wouldn't seek a commiss sion in any other branch of the ser. vice because I felt wasn't entitled to such a rating"
 After casting about among several government agencies, Cronin was summoned to Washington by the Red Cross after the world series.
 T thought over their proposition and talked 1t over with my wife and Tom Yawkey and 1t didn't take me long to make up my mind" he said. "The Red Cross appealed to me and was very much fattered to receive their offer"
 Costly
 Cronin will receive only his ex. penses in his new job. Should he fail to return he will lose $30,00O for every year he Is out of baseball. He said his greatest regret was leaving his wife and sons, Thomas, 4, and Michael l, who will remain at their Newton home this winter.
 Thus, Cronin, whose contract sold in 1885 for the highest price in base- ball, becomes the first major league manager to volunteer for war ser- vice.
 His career as a shortsop began in his native San Francisco, in 1925 and after series of trades to minor league clubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cronin found himself with the Washington Senators in July, 1928. He became the youngest mapor league manager when he succeeded Walter Johnson in 1892.
 Volunteer
 Boston, Oct. 2l.-(UP)-Manager Joe Cronin of the Boston Red Soxx said today that acceptance of an offer to manage one of the Red Cross overseas recreation clubs sat- isfies an urge to do something to help ever since the war started"
 First big league manager to vol- unteer for war duty, Cronin revealed that he will return to this country to pilot his club during i943 as has war service will only be temporary. The Sox mentor has two years rec maining under the second of two five-year contracts with owner Tom Yawkey.
 Cronin was turned down by the Army Air Corps because of his age he was 30 on Octo. i2-but during the world series. he received word from Norman Davis, head Of the Red Cross, that he had been ape pointed.
 The Red Cross dld not specify where Cronin would be sent. He will probably visit the wounded and try to promote sports functions In various overseas cantonmenks.