Evening star., 1953-01-28
Lane Says Deal,
Sought forY
Fits in Program
Loss of Robinson's
Power Minimized;
Yankee Rumors Hit
BY the Asseeiatsd Press

CHICAGO, Jan. 28.-Landing
reliable Ferris Fain from the
Athletics has pumped the White
Sox full Of 1858 pennant dreams.
General Manager Frank Lane
today was in state Of high
elation over his successful year.
long attemp to reel in the 30
year-old first baseman who led
American League batters with
i .344 in 1851 and 1927 last season.
To get Fain the White Sox
gave UP their only proven long
ball hitter, First Baseman Eddie
Robinson.
Three Others Involved.
That others were involved in
the otf-season's biggest baseball
deal is somewhat inconsequen-
tial. The AS also donated Bob
Wilson. rookie second baseman,
who batted .269 for Indianapolis.
The Sox gave up Outfielder Ed
McGhee and Infielder Joe De
Maestri. both Of whom were un-
successful in previous filings with
Chicago.
The relinquishing of Robinson,
32-year-old power-swinger who
batted 1896 last season, was
viewed with some misgiving
among White Sox fans who have
thought all along that Lane was
shopping for another long ball
hitter.
Robbie in the last two years
has driven in almost twice as
many runs as Fain, 221 to 116.
Lane Hits Talk of Later Deal.
This fact gave rise to some
speculation that perhaps Lane
eventually would trade Fain. pos
sibly to the Yankees for Out
fielder Hank Bauer and First
Baseman Joe Collins.
Were not a farm club for
the Yankees" Lane snapped. IT
expect Fain to be our first base
man for the next five or six
years. We started dickering for
him a year ago and kept it up.
Only in the last week did we
offer Robinson in any such deal"
Lane said Fain will At In
perfectly with the definite pro-
gram we've been planning at
Comiskey Park for years in
getting a pennant winner"
I'VE are designing our club
for speed. defensive ability and
hitting ability" he added. 1--WE
are designing it around the spa
ciousness of Comiskey Park
where we play II games. Fain
will do better for us there than
Robbie. Robbie should do bet
ter at Philadelphia, just like Gus
Zernial did when we traded him
to the AS. Both clubs benefited
in the trade"
"Great" ON Defense.
"Fain has fiery leadership and
is great on Defense" Lane con-
tinued. Robbie was good on
thrown balls. but Fain is among
the best in the business in field
ing bunts and has a strong
throwing arm.
"Fain is not the base stealing
type. But he can go from first
to third on a single and get
home on a fly ball. Robbie could
advance only one base on q
single-in other words it re-
quired three hits to bring him in
from first.
And don't let the runs
batted-in figures fool you. They
can be misleading. Managerial
control has a lot to do with it
where fellow is placed in the
batting order. Fain led the
league in doubles with 43 last
year and his slugging percen-
tage was .429. Robinson's was
.466, not much difference"
Robbie Dismisses Popping Off,"
Robinson, contacted at his
Baltimore home, expressed de-
light at the deal. I'm happy to
be on the same club with Bobby
Shantz and Harry Byrd" Eddie
said. II think they're two of the
best pitchers in the league.
Shantz wore me out. Isdon't be-
lieve I got more than two hits off
him all year."
Eddie dismissed Lanes crack
about Robinson's slowness afoot
with, "Oh, well, that's Lane. He
likes to pop off. I know I'm going
to be happy working for Jimmy
Dykes. Every ball player
know has played for him says
he's a great guy"
A liquor salesman in the of
season, Robinson said. he's
hopeful Of a raise from the AS.
II had a pretty good season last
fCoa rD Anr poro ~9N