Evening star., 1948-12-09
boudreau 0kays
Tribe Post for
Pilot
Mojor DeoIs Shape Up
As TuIent Is Hunted
AT Minors Sessions
BY the Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS. Dec. 9.-Genia
Steve O'Neill, his Irish eyes shining
rejoined the Cleveland Indians toda,
as a coach
O'Neill, fired by the Detroit Tiger
as manager, heard at 2 am. he wa
staying in bigtime baseball in {
telephone call from Bill Veeck, pres
ident of the world champions.
1t was Manager Lou Boudreal
that put the okay on him with these
words shortly after arriving here
What about Steve ONeill? I'd like
to have him as a coach"
That did it.
This is the job I've wanted" sale
ONeill. Il didn't want to take any
job that would take me away from
Cleveland and my family"
He had been mentioned as
strong possibility as manager of tn,
San Diego Padres.
Once Starred With Tribe.
O'Neill starred for Cleveland ir
his playing days and was member
of the Indian team which won the
World Series in 1920.
Recently O'Neill was manager OF
the Detroit Tigers. At one time he
managed the Cleveland club and alst
piloted the Buffalo Internationa
League team at time when
Boudreau played on it.
Now that the Chicago Cubs anC
Pittsburgh Pirates have started tn,
horsehide rolling with the Gustine.
Mccullough swap, the general feel.
ing is that the minor league con.
ivention really will start hummine
with big league deals.
1t is known that all 16 clubs have
been trying to pull some sort of 6
trade. Hardly half an hour passe!
without couple of managers OF
other club officials seen in earnes
conversation. And they are not talk.
ing about the weather or swappine
lies about their respective hunting
Tor fishing prowess.
The Chicago White Sox, busies
traders of the off season thus far
make no bones about their hope O
Turing Third Baseman Bob Dillinge
from the st. Louis Browns, Firs
Baseman Eddie Robinson from
cleveland and Pitcher Allie Reynolds
from the New York Yankees.
Giants Want Wander Nicer.
The New York Giants wan
Pitcher Johnny Wander Nicer from
Cincinnati. They have offered Sec
ond Baseman Billy Rigney. Thu
deal Is hot" right now. Ironically
the Reds tried awfully hard to swa,
Vandy to the Giants for Rigney las
year, but were turned down.
The National League Champion
Boston Braves have made overture
to Pittsburgh for Outfelders Ralpl
Kiner and Wally Westlake, but have
not gotten very far. Brooklyn still
is hot after First Baseman Eddie
Watkins of the Cubs, but so are tn.
Giants. The st. Louis Cardinal!
want guarantee that Walker Coo
per's knee operation is a success
before giving up Pitchers Red Nun
ger or Murry Dickson to the Giant!
for the big catcher.
Detroit is dangling Pitcher Dizz,
Trout before Bill Weeks eyes in al
effort to land Second Basemal
Johnny Berardino. The Yankee
desire to make changes. So do tn,
Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Ret
Sox and Washington Mats.
The Giants were all set to maxi
an announcement yesterday, but a
the last minute decided to chang,
their minds. 1t is no secret the,
were after Catcher Clyde McCul
Tough and Southpaw Pitcher Cliff
Chambers of the Cubs. However
when the two were traded to tn,
Pirates yesterday for Third Basemal
! Frank Gustine and Rookie Right
handler Calvin McLish, it left tn,
Giants in the cold.
Chicago Clubs Most Active.
That left the Cubs and Whit,
Sox, the two cellar occupants o
1948 as the most active of all club
during the off season thus far. Re
Gently the Cubs exchanged out
fielders with the Pnils. giving III
Bill Nicholson for Harry Walker.
The White Sox have parted with
veteran Pitchers Joe Haynes ant
Frank Papish ito the Indians, Out
fielder Taft Wright (Athletics) ane
Catcher Aaron Robinson (Tigers)
They have acquired Catcher Jo'
Upton and Pitchers Boo Kuzav,
and Ernie Groth 1ndians) ant
Pitcher Billy Pierce (Tigers>.
The McCullough-Gustine dea.
easily the biggest thus far, figure
to help both clubs. The Cubs des
perately needed an established
third sacker and got their man il
Gustine, a home town product. Nov
Manager Charley Grimm can re
turn Andy Pafko back to his natura
outfleld position. The biggest Pirat
weakness last season was behin'
the plate. Mccullough figures u
remedy that situation.
The only other big league actor
yesterday was made by the Braves
who announced they had signet
Jimmy Brown as coach to succeed
Fred FitZsimmons. FitZ left sud
, denly to hook up with the Giant
. in a similar capacity.
The first day of the National AS
sociation Convention itself was no
to productive. 1t was mostly jus
discussion, naming of committees b.
President George Trautman ant
other routine business.
! FACTORY APPROVED