Evening star., 1946-06-23
C|ubCost5Hope,
Men Up
To $2,000,000
Sale Ends 19-Yeur-OId
Cleveland Ownership;
Dykes May Be Pilot
BY the Assoeioted Press

CLEVELAND, June %. - The
Cleveland Indians, home-owned fol
19 years, shortly after noon today
became the property OF a syndicate
headed by grinning. slightly ner.
vouse Bill Veeck of Chicago and in
cluding radio and film comedian
Bob Hope.
Veeck, 32-year- -old ex-Marine anc
former owner of the Milwaukee
Brewers, Immediately announced he
would be president of the new club
and Harry Grabiner, former vice
president Of the Chicago White
SoX. would be vice president.
They succeeded President Alva
Bradley and Vice President Roger
T. Peckinpaugh, whose designations
were accepted as all Of the clubs
stock changed hands.
! The amount involved in the sale
was not announced, but was report
ed to range between $1.750,000 and
s2,000,000. The purchase involved
League Park and the clubs minor
league interests.
Chicagoans on Directorate.
Named as new directors were two
Chicago bankers, President Philip
R. Clarke and Senior Vice President
Lester Armour, both of the City
National Bank; Sydney K. Schiff
Chicago attorney; Newton P. Frye
of the Central Republic Co., Chicago
investment concern; Veeck and
Grabiner. Joseph Hostetler re-
mained a director and also will be
secretary.
Other stockholders announced
were T. Philip Swift, of the CONT
mental Trust Co., Chicago: A. c.
Alleyn, Investors Syndicate. Chi
cago; and two others previously an
nounced-comedian Hope, a former
Clevelander, and Robert Goldstein
New York representative of Inter-
national Pictures Corp.
Unanswered was the question of
whether Lou Boudreau would be
replaced as manager of the Tribe
currently tied with st. Louis for
fifth place in the American League
I'VE can't say anything about
that now. We haven't talked to the
manager Veeck commented. Gra-
biner added that I'VE want to feel
our way around for while"
Veeck also declined comment con-
corning the possibility that Jimmy
Dykes, former White Sox manager.
would be considered as pilot for
the Indians. Asked about Joe Nc
Carthy, sex-manager of the New
York Yankees who was reported in
Cleveland, Veeck declared: "Abso-
lutely not. That's definite"
Managership Nc. Mentioned.
Boudreau said he had not
learned of the sale officially before
starting today's ball game which
ended in 4-to-3 victory over the
league-leading Boston Red Soy
Later, the Tribes manager, whose
contract runs through 1s47, met the
clubs new president for the first
time at dinner.
The two discussed plans for
operation of the club, but did not
touch on the managerial question
Veeck asserted.
These plans include the acquisi-
ton OF hitting outfiefder, an estab-
lished relief pitcher and anothe,
lnflelder, Veeck said. Since the
June Is trading deadline has passed
ne will turn to the open market fol-
these players.
He also plans to restore free ad-
mission for women fans at games
change in starting time of games
from pm. to 1:30 pm. (EST) and
game broadcasts as soon as ar
rangements can be made.
! Shortly. after the papers were
signed, Veeck departed for League
Park and look at the club he
bought as the Indians met the
league-leading Boston Red Sox.
Asked about the box he would
occupy, Veeck remarked: BOX?
He'll, never sat in box in my life
I'm no rich boy"
The sale of the Indians was con-
summated in Hostetler's law offices
Alter old directors met and ap-
proved the sale, Veeck and Gra-
biner were summoned to the meet
ing. Veeck made a strange appear
ance in the sedate Office, wearing a
white sport shirt open at the neck,
a brown jacket and slacks. His
right foot, badly injured while he
was serving with the Marines on
Bougainville, still in cast.
Emerging from the meeting
Veeck announced the completion of
the deal. At first he told newsmen
Il have some names for you," but
was confronted with the question
rs the deal closed?"
/ Never at Top Under Bradley.
Bradley expressed regret in re-
tirlng from baseball in a statement
which also said:
During my 19 years as president
OF the Cleveland Baseball Co. il
has been by good fortune to have
met and known many fine person.
in the sports world. I shall mis-.
the aSSOcia ton.
Baseball is great game and il
shall always have my keenest in.
terest and support"
| The sale ended a Cleveland enter.
prize begun in 1927 when CLEVELAND
business men acquired the indians
from the estate of the late Jane!
G: Dunn. Their object was to brinl
Cleveland a pennant. That goa
nVer was achieved under the Brad
ley aegis. The Tribes average unde
the old owners was a little. bette,
than fourth place.
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