Evening star., 1946-08-09
Seven Franchises Sold
As Majors Crowds
Interest Big Money
BY jock Hond
Associated Press Sports Writer

Big league baseball property
worth an estimated $4,000. 900 has
changed hands within the last three
years as the franchise market has
spiraled toward an all-time high
under the impetus of soaring at
tendance totals.
Sale of the Pittsburgh Pirates
Yesterday to Frank Mckinney of
Indianapolis and group including
Bing Crosby was the seventh big
deal since late 1943. Four National
League clubs and three American
League teams were involved.
The remaining nine franchises in
the major leagues would also be
grabbed up by new money if the
present owners were anxious to
make deal. Idle capital appears
to find the national game an in
triguing investment possibility
Back in the mid-1930s four new
owners moved into the big time pic
ture in the persons of Phil Wrigley
of the Chicago Cubs, Walter O.
Briggs of the Detroit Tigers, Tom
Yawkey of the Boston Red Sox
and Powell Crosley. jr., of the Gin
cinnati Reds. These progressive
executives, with wide holdings out
side OF baseball. proved most sue
cessful. There would be no reason
for any of them to get out unless
they became bored with the bust
ness
Five Clubs Appear of Block.
Connie Mack and family have the
Philadelphia Athletics under lock
and key, shutting out the possibility
of deal at least as long as the
elder Mack lives. The Comiskey
family which has controlled the
Chicago White Sox since the Amer
ican League was formed. still oper-
ates the franchise.
With the New York Giants head
ing toward a second straight year of
over a million paid admissions to
the Polo Grounds. Horace Stone
ham, who took over in 1886 after
his fathers death, appears to be in
no mood to sell.
Sam Breadon, who stepped out of
the automobile selling business TO
become president OF the St. Louis
Cardinals in 1920, has been talking
, about building new park and Clark
Grlrf1th and his associates. Wash
lngton owners since 1920, have found
a new fountain of wealth in night
baseball.
The S3,100.00O deal bv which
Larry MacPhail, Del Webb and Dan
Topping took over the New York
Yankees from the Col. Jake Rupert
heirs, January rs, l945, involved the
most cash Of any recent sale. An
original investment of 81, 300 900 was
/ followed by an additional OUTLAY
estimated at $500 900 to ACQUIRE 100
per cent of the stock.
Baseball Prices Are High.
Exact figures are difficult to get
in baseball as the moguls like to
cover up their business with crisr
statements like the amount OF
money involved was not disclosed. >
However Mckinney admitted the
Pittsburgh club cost over 81. .OOO, ,OO3
and reliable estimate placed the fig
ure al Sc 225 900, including farm club
holdings.
seven weeks earlier, on June %.
Bill Veeck. heading a syndicate that
included Boo Hope, chucked out
about S1,750000' for the Cleveland
Indians
Branch Hickey and his associates
closed in on the Brooklyn Dodgers,
little by little, grabbing 25 per cent
of the stock for a reported $500 900
November l, 1914. and then follow
ing up with about so per cent more
With no price announced, Value of
all Dodger ho'd'ngs has been set at
over $1,000 u.
The thret contra ctorS who bought
up the Boston Braves in January 81
1914, name y, Louis Perrin, Guido
Rugo and e Nancy. came up with
a eood-sized chuck OF dough as did
Bob Carpenter when he purchs sed
Bill Cox's holdings in the Philadel-
phla Philies November 23, 1943,
after the late Commissioner K. M.
Lands had banned Cox from base
ball for life.