Evening star., 1953-06-08

interesting to see if the Cubs fortunes improve
with the acquisition of Kner Now the Chicago club in the
curious position of having the National Leagues twin
kings in the outeld yet running last
Kner and Sauer tied for the title year with 81
apiece Previously Ralph had outright five times and
tied once with Johnny Mize.
FOR THE CUBS, THIS WAS not trade for the future,
but for the present They going nowhere-probaby
still aren't-bu K1ner plus Sauer is likely q
engaging team to watch in action the Pirates
received six players in return smacked of deal primarily
planned to rid themselves of KnerS salary
Branch Rickey doesn't baplayers that kind of money
Phil Wrgley does
Only Kiner makes the seasons first 1O-man truly
distinctive 1t Is not the general practice to deal off peren
NAL home-run king, often considered the who might
day break Babe RuhS record of go in year. But
anybody is apt to be party acquisition
1t Wrgey His Of tea landing the big boys regardless
Of price, salary age
Kiner is SO-in addition to being somewhat of tapgle-
foot-and 100000 and six players however unframed is
brisk rap But Wrgey while not professional baseball
like Rckey Griffith, Mack and others of the old school, is
sportsman. The Cubs dismal showing perurbed him. If
he can't give the customers winner at least is trying
to field an eye-arrestng club.
THE KINER DEAL REvIvEs memories of other notable
Cub acquisitions Back in 1929 the gave 100000 and
five players to the Boston Braves for Rogers Honsby then SO
Old They $500 three players to the Phls
IN 1888 Tor Chuck Klein Five years later Wrgey sent
$S5oO and two players to the Cardinals Dizzy Dean and
in 1s45, after Larry MacPha mysterousy had obtained
waivers on Hank Borowy he bought the Yankee pitcher for
100000 $4,000 than it would have cost any
American League club to claim him. these players
had his best years behind him.
Deans version of his sale the worth repeating
when met Mr. Wrgley" Diz says II told had sore
arm You probably got better fast ball me- said
Whereupon Wrigley replied: "Diz dent care your
arm is bad not I've always admired you The deal
II wasn't any big help to the Cubs" relates but he
didn't never cut and he took
me. It's on me-, Mr.. Wrigey said And you know what?
Long after left the Cubs because couldn't pitch more
Mr. Wrgley kept paying that policy until 1t mine"
THE CUBS FOR YEARS have been looked on as soft
touches by other clubs The straits
financially when Wrigey 100000 Hornsby Ditto
for the Ph and Cards when they unoaded Klein Dean
The Borowy transaction bit different that the Yam
KEGS didn't need the money MacPhai simply felt that he
couldn't win the pennant that anyway by keeping
the pitchers the waivers list he shrewd enough
to suspect that other American League clubs would discontinue
filing what they felt hollow claims for winning pitcher
Borowy had 105 record with the Yankees when Mac
Phas bombshe exploded and the fragile pitcher was sold
to the Cubs for 100000 MacPha got money couldn't have
obtained otherwise for Borowy he was confident that
adequate requirements coming up from the Yankee
farms.
But Wgley isn't to be underestmated trader DESPITE
his avishneSS and disregard for condition For the
Cubs won pennan after each of these big deals
although Of the key players involved as long as
four years in Chicago uniform Hornsby batted $50
and Wrgley won a pennant Klein played on a Cub flag
winner in 49, Dean in 38 Che had record DESPITE his
bad arm and Borowy in AS won II of 3 decisions for
Wrigley.
To repeat, Hornsby Klein Dean and Borowy failed to
last four If tradition to be maintained this means
that the Cubs with Kner will to Jump from the cellar
to the top by 1885,