The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-08-07
Yonk Says Strike If Mike Returns

Brooklyn Dodgers hoped today that Baseball Commissioner A. B. Happy) Chandler would react fav- orahly to Mickey Owens intended application for reinstatement to baseball, but indications were grow ing that players of other clubs would view such an action with re- sentiment.
 To Brooklyn, Owens decision to jump back from the Mexican league in an effort to return to the Dodg- CTS came at an opportune time. The Dodgers are now involved in a bitter pennant fight, and hold a two-game lead over the St. Louis Cards, but are weak in the catch ing department.
 Bruce Edwards and Terrell An derson, both rockies, comprise the Brooklyn receiving staff and the re- turn of the 30-year-old Owen, vet eran of many campaigns and a rec ognized star, would be the greatest aid the Dodgers could receive at this time
 Welcome Home
 
 Branch Rickey, Jr., vice. president of the Dodgers and son of the cubs president, expressed the Brooklyn attitude by saying, "cer- tainly we want him. We hold noth- ing against Mickey and now it is up to the commissioner to decide whether he can have another chance"
 Owen, now en route from Browns vile, Tex, to his home in Spring field, Mo, said he was fed up" with the Mexican league, which he described as a terrible place" and said he sure would be glad to return to Brooklyn. Owen never reported to the Dodgers, he said, when he was discharbed from the Navy last Spring.
 There seemed to be no general trek under way for other ex-major leaguers to follow Owen in his re- turn from Mexico. Lefty Max Lanier, former pitching mainstay of the St. Louis Cards, said in St. Petersburg, Fla, where he is hav- 44%S S toI%t pA III D4 CdgtA, DlidJ llb 10 satisfied with life in Mexico.
 With seasons salary in ad- vance and quarters in a fine hotel" Ianier said, T don't have anything to worry about"
 In Mexico City former major leaSuers Lou Klein Cards, Harry Feldman (Giants), Danny Gardella tGiantS), and Tomas de la Cruz tReds) chimed in with Lanier. Each of them expressed surprise at Owens decision to return to Brook lJn, saying that he had not given them any notice of the move.
 Several members of the New York Yankees expressed both surprise and annoyance at Owens attempt to return.
 We should strike if they let him back" one Tank said.
 Others on the team protested that Owen might be returning because he had heard of the new benefits major-leaguers were going to re- eeive as result of player manage ment talks and that he wished to share in them,
 Cards Sore?
 It was expected that national league clubs, against whom Owen would compete if reinstated, would be particularly irked. The Cards, who were seriously handicapped by the loss of Lanter, Klein, and pitcher Fred Martin to the Mexi- cans, might be expected to be most annoyed since they are Brooklyn's closest contender in the tight race.
 Owen, along with all other major league players who refused to re- port back to their clubs after given warning by the commissioner are under five year suspensions from organized baseball but Chandler said he would be glad" to hear his plea for reinstatement.
 In Cincinnati, Chandlers assist ant, Harold (Muddy) Ruel, acting as spokesman for the commis- sioner, said that the ex-Dodger catcher had made no specific ap- plication for reinstatement" 7"
 Owen claims that his case is diff ferent from that of other major leaguers who jumped to the Mexi- can league, because he was not under contract to the Dodgers, hay ing just been released from the Navy. Under those circumstances, if he should be reinstated, other major league clubs might seek to bid for him as a free agent.