The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-08-08
Chandler Has Job; Players Sound Off'
By WALT BYERS Tuifad PraSc SnOrfS Wrifarl


 Owen may catch more harsh words than baseballs if Commissioner A. B. (Happy) Chandler lets him re- turn to the majors after his Mexi- can League misadventures. a sampling of opinion from big league players revealed today
 Except in Brooklyn, where Owens admitted value to team that is battling desperately for the Ma tional League pennant may have sWayed objectivity a little, not many players were in favor of let ting him return.
 The former Dodger catcher, who has been in hot water more often than a turkish bath attendant since he dropped an historic third strike in the 1941 world series, indicated that he would try to see Chandler today in the commissioner ivory tower at Cincinnati, O., but his troubles may be only beginning if his automatic five-year suspension is lifted.
 "Slats" Speaks
 former teammate, Marty Mar ion of the St. Louis Cardinals, led the criticism of Owen. Marion, the games greatest shortstop and au- thor of a player pension plan, had this to say about Owen, with whom he played on the l940 Cardinal club:
 Owen jumped his team to go down there for that big money, now let him stay down there. We would feel the same way about our star pitcher, Max Lanier, if he tried to come back"
 Howie Pollet, who succeeded Lanier as the top Cardinal lefty, put it even stronger than Marion.
 T think I am speaking for our club when I say it would be un- fair to take Owen back-unfair to the players who stuck, Pollet said in Pittsburgh.
 Even Brownie Shortstop Vernon Stephens, who like Owen went down to Mexico, took look and returned to the United States, said that he was against the catcher being reinstated.
 I'm in sympathy with Mickey, dDOGJ b44C GOIHOlL4OItS t4ldl thloL III Mexico, but at least he received some of the fabulous sums offered him, which is more than I can say. I don't think he should be reinstated in organized baseball until he serves the f1ve-year sus- pension"
 Stephens jumped the Browns in spring training and returned to St Louis after playing one game in Mexico.
 The usually loquacious Louis tBobo1 NeWsom of the Washington Senators. was content to let Chand- Ter worry about Owens destiny be- cause he's the guy who went out on limb Newsom referred to Chandler's ruling that players who did not report back to their clubs within a stipulated period after jumping to Mexico would be banned five years.
 Let Owen and Chandler work it out between themselves the best and say they can play" he said. with the commissioner decision" NeWSom said magnanimously.
 First Baseman George McQuinn of the Philadelphia Athletics was slightly confused by it all.
 First they were barred for five years and now it looks as if the commissioner might turn around and sa ythey can play" he said.
 Maybe they should tell the players who want to come back it 7ould be okay next year-but not low!"
 Seeks the Gravy"
 The New York Yankees were bit ter and made no bones about it.
 We should strike if he is per- mitted to come back, one player said Now that we are going to get new player contracts he wants 10 come back and get in on the gravy. After all, a lot of us could have gone down to the Mexican League for big money, but we didn't"
 There was a rumbling of discon- tent in the minors, too. Charles Stoneham, secretary of the Jersey City Giants farm club of the New York Giants, said that his club was ready to forfeit one game in pro- test If Owens return is okayed by Chandler.
 Paul tDizzy) Trout, fast-talking fast-baller of the Detroit Tigers, figured that Owen ought to be penalized some, but eventually should be reinstated."
 "A man shouldn't be barred be- cause he couldn't resist the temp tation for more money Trout said