Evening star., 1954-11-05
Even Chance 10 Bar
Transfer Of Athletics
Seen by Senator's

SVVu w SVlnUlVt)
Continued From Page CID
heading of new business Mon
day.
It will be the fourth league
meeting in an attempt to act on
the fioundering franchise. Own
ers met in New York September
% and gave Roy Mack two
weeks to straighten out the AS
financial affairs. They met
again in Chicago October IL,
when Harridge made his pre-
mature announcement of sale
Of the club to johnson. They
convened again in New York
October % and rejected a bid
of an eight-man Philadelphia
syndicate to buy the franchise
and keep the club in Philadel-
. phia.
johnson, a business associate
Of Dan Topping. co-owner of the
Yankees, presumably purchased
the Athletics yesterday for ap-
proximately $3.5 million when
Connie Mack, 91-year r-old found
er Of the club, signed the final
paper from his sickbed. john
son said Connie would receive
1904, 900 for his stock, with sons
Roy and Earle getting $3.50 900
cash each.
johnson said both Roy and
Earle will remain in the organi-
cation under three-year con-
tracts. Connie would be given
the honorary title of chairman
OF the board of directors.
Gets Jump on Syndicate.
johnson got the upper hand
In the muddled situation yester-
day when he beat a foul man
Philadelphia syndicate - rem
nants of the original eight-man
group-to a meeting with the
Mack family. johnson arrived at
8 am, an hour before the Phila-
delphia group of John P. Girls
conf, Isadore Sley, Morton Lieb-
man and T. r. Hanff appeared
on. the scene.
Newsmen weren't allowed to
see Connie. He repeatedly was
weak and hasn't eaten a solid
meal since owners turned down
the eight-man group last Thurs
day. Connie was said to be deeply
detected over the possibility of
the Athletics moving from Phil
adelphia.
Richardson Still Interested.
Tommy Richardson, president
of the Eastern League, said the
Macks still aren't reduced to
their last potential customer in
case johnson again is rebuffed.
Richardson, who previously
made an unsuccessful bid for the
club, said he and a group of
associates still are willing to alb
sorb all the AS losses through
1855 up to maximum OF. $3.50
600 and then buy out the Macks.
The club then would be moved
out of Philadelphia if it then
appeared a hopelessly losing
proposition there.
1t is presumed, too, that the
reduced Philadelphia syndicate
also would be willing to resume
negotiations.
The 47-year -old johnson and
his associates would take over
the $l,200,000 mortgage on the
clubs property. plus 100000 in
outstanding debts, in addition to
the payments to the Macks.
johnson said he would have a 81
million fund set aside to recon-
struct the AS from player
standpoint.
johnson plans to sell Connie
Mack Stadium to the Phillies
for $1.675.000. He named his
associates as Nathaniel Leverone,
j. Robert Lehman and Joseph
Briggs, all Of Chicago.
Comics wife, Katherine, told
reporters. johnson offered too
strong proposition. There was
nothing else We could do. Mr..
johnson is a nice man and he
won out. We said whoever got
mere first would be the buyer.
MIR. Johnson was here at 8
o'clock, the Philadelphia group
came at 10 o'clock. The Phila-
delphia group dilly-dallied."
There have been buckets of
tears shed by the Macks in their
numerous dealings. At the meet
ing in Chicago. Roy emerged
weeping Yesterday Earle was
weeping when he came out of
the conference with Johnson.
Meanwhile. Ed Doherty, presi-
dent Of the American Associa-
ton, indicated Denver may re-
place Kansas City in that loop
if sale of the Athletics to john
son is approved. That would
disrupt the Glass A Western
League, of which Denver is
member.
Hurvurd Seeks 500th Win