Evening star., 1952-12-05
|Griffs0fferCoan
Vernon as Bait
In Trade Talks
Want Browns to Part
With GoIdsberry
And Johnny Groth
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By Burton Howkins
Sior Stoff Correspondent

PHOENIX, Ariz.. Dec. 5.-First
Baseman Mickey Vernon and Out
fielder Gil Coan were dangled
before other American League
clubs today by the Mats bosses,
who were concentrating on the
st. Louis Browns and Chicago
White Sox in an effort to negotiate
a trade.
Vernon and Coan were bait
offered Bill Veeck of the Browns
in an attempt to land Outfelder
Johnny Groth and First Baseman
Gordon Goldsberry. Groth, who
batted .284 last season, was traded
to the Browns yesterday by the
Detroit Tigers.
Manager Bucky Harris and Vice
President Calvin Griffith of the
Mats were scheduled to huddle
with officials of four clubs today
They planned talks with the Tigers
and Cleveland Indians, but Griffith
wasn't optimistic that anything
would develop with those two
clubs.
Won't Trade Several Players.
I'VE definitely won't trade Eddie
Yost, Pete Runnels, Jim Busby,
Jackie Jensen. Bob Porterfield,
Frank Shea or Mike Fornieles,"
Calvin said. He added he al
ready had talked with Veeck,
Hank Greenberg of the Indians
and Frank Lane of the White Sox
in regard to proposed deals.
Veeck is an admirer of Vernon,
who had a disappointing season
with Washington, but the Browns
owner was believed to be reluct-
ant to part with Groth, who isl
26 years old and an accomplished
outfielder. Groth was a consist
ent 300 hitter before last season.
Goldsberry is a fancy-fielding,
light-hitting first baseman who
has served as an understudy to
Dick Kryhoski with the Browns
Kryhoski is more powerful hit
ter but his fielding is somewhat
short of sensational.
Mats Want Chicago Pitchers.
The White Sox have six left
handed pitchers and the Mats
would like to acquire either Tom
my Byrne or Chuck Stobbs. Coan
is being offered in exchange.
The Mats also are eager to land
Catcher Sherman Lollar from
Chicago, but barrier is the fact
that the Mats haven't an accept
able catcher to offer in return.
They're willing to part with
Pitcher Sandy Consuegra, but
Griffith insists that Fornieles-I
desired by the White Sox-isntI
on the market. Fornieles, Cuban
right-hander, pitched a one-hitter
against the Philadelphia Athletics.
in his major league debut last
year.
Byrne, who can throw a base
ball through a brick wall-butI
who might have difficulty mus
tering enough control to hit the
wall-pitched under Harris when
Bucky was managing the Yankees
in 1947 and 1948. Bucky feels
Byrne can be taught control and
would develop as an outstanding
pitcher. He had a TIA record
last season, while Stobbs won n
and lost IL. Tommy will be 33I
December 81, while Stobbs is only
%.
Groth, who played centerfield|
for the Tigers, probably would be
switched to rightfield If obtained
by the Mats, with Jensen shifting
from rightfield to left and Busby
remaining in center.
Want to Trade Carrasquel.
The White Sox are trying toI
dispose of Shortstop Chico Carras-
quel, while the Indians are trying
to trade Outfielder Dale Mitchell
and Shortstop Ray Boone, but
other clubs say they're asking too
much.
Casey Stengel, the Yankees
manager, says he's willing to stand
pat. Jimmy Dykes, the AS pilot,
says he won't deal and Manager
Freddie Hutchinson of the Tigers
says his club is set following the
six-player trade with the Browns
yesterday.
The major league meetings were
scheduled to get under way today
with television the hottest sub
Ject. In an informal meeting yes
terday. six American League clubs
beat down a proposal by Veeck
and Lane for visiting clubs toI
share in television receipts.
The six clubs signed a two
year reciprocal agreement start
ing January l on television and
radio rights.
Veeck to Renew Fight.
Veeck declared he would renew
the battle today in a formal ses-
sion. There are no legal means
Of forcing us to permit televisionI
of games when we're on the road,"I
Veeck said. I'm not licked
yet"
The National League also isl
sharply divided on the subject.
with the st. Louis Cardinals and
riyHN D@L.