Evening star., 1947-01-19
Tigers Receive
.'SizeabIe Sum
For Big Better
Briggs Hints Recent
Publicity Moy Have
Influenced Action
By ths Assoeiofed Press

(HanN Greenberg, the ma ajor
leagues home run king, today was
purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates
from the Detroit Tigers for an un-
disclosed but "sizable sum-"
General Manager Roy Hamey, N
announcing the purchase OF one of
baseball's highest paid players, said
the Pirates landed the big slugger
after days Of negotiating between
Frank Mckinney, president and
principal owner of the Pittsburgh
club, and Billy Evans, new general
manager of the. Tigers.
Hamey refused to say what the
Pirates paid for the man who hit
A home runs last year to lead both
leagues, but said it was a "sizeable
sum-" Before the deal could be
completed, the other seven Ameri-
can League clubs had to waive on
the services of the first baseman-
outfielder.
| Started With Tigers in 1888.
Greenberg, who has pounded out
311 homers in his major league
career, five of them in World Series
competition, started out with the
Tigers in 1888 as a first baseman.
But in 1910 Manager Del Baker
caused something of a sensation
when he switched him to the out
field.
Billy Herman, new manager of
the Pirates, will say what position
the 36-year-old star will play with
his new club, according to Nc
Kinney.
Hank, believed to have drawn in
the neighborhood of $50, ,00o0 last
season, entered the Army May 7,
1941, but was discharged as over
age before the United States en-
tered the war. He re-enlisted two
days before Pearl Harbor and rose
from a private to a captain before
being discharged June IA, 1945.
He had his greatest home run year
in 1898 when he cracked out So, only
two short Of Babe Ruth's major
league record.
Pay Question to Arise.
What the Pirates will have to pay
Hank is a matter thatM have to be
settled before the Pirates 60 into
Spring training at Miami Beach
Fla.
During his II seasons with the
Tigers Greenberg led the American
League four times in runs batted-in
and four times In home runs.
I Last year his winnings Of the
major league homer championship
with A and his leading the Ameri-
can League in runs batted-in with
127, probably rates as Greepberg S
best year in baseball in the face of
the fact that he was IS years old
and continual leg and back all
ments plagued him through his first
full season since his return from the
Army. He hit PIT last season.
Arriving back in baseball at mid
season, 1945, after his lengthy mill
tary hitch. Greenberg stepped di-
rectly into the left field position
he held when he left, belted 13 circuit
clouts including the one that beat
St. Louis and clinched the pennant
for Detroit on the last day Of the
season, and was a batting star in the
World Series as the Tigers defeated
the Chicago Cubs
Most Valuable Player Twice.
Hank was named the most valu-
able player in the American League
in 1885 as a first baseman. his orig
inal position, and earned the honor
again in 1910 after shifting to the
outfield to make room for Rudy
York at first. Detroit won the
American League flag in both 1885
and 1910.
Last year Greenberg returned to
the infield because the Tigers were
over supplied with capable outer
gardeners. but at the close OF the
season. when the Tigers finished
second back Of the Boston Red Sox
Hank expressed a desire to return
to the outheld if he continued in
the game.
At that time he said he had not
made up his mind whether he would
retire before the 1947 season and
he still has not announced his in
tentions.