Evening star., 1954-10-18
Fast 81 Million Deal
JoIis Kansas City,
Ends Connie 5 Ties
BY the Asseeietsd Pres.

Early reaction from American
League club owners indicated
general pleasure that an eight
man Philadelphia syndicate has
purchased the Athletics and
saved the club for the city, al
though the action ended the
baseball life of one of the games
greatest figures, 81 : year : old
Connie Mack.
Months of confusion and in
decision over the status of the
AS was ended when the syndi-
cate of wealthy Philadelphians
bought out Connie and his son,
Earle Mack. and made a one
ninth partner of another son,
Roy, in a 81 million deal.
The reaction of Will Harridge.
American League president who
had welcomed Arnold johnson
to the loop as a new member.
was awaited. It was an EN-
barrassing turn Of events for
Harridge. who had all but
turned the club over to john
son, the Chicago f1nancier who
planned to transfer the fran
chise to Kansas City. Harridge
said he would have no comment
until he had received the list
of new owners and had a chance
to study it. He planned to issue
a statement today.
Griff 'Tickled to Death
Clark Griffith, senior states
man of baseball now that Con-
ME Mack becomes merely ''hon-
orary president" of the AS, is
"tickled to death" about yes
terday's action. II think Roy
Mack made a heroic fight"
Griffith said. land I believe the
people of Philadelphia will ap-
preciate his efforts in keeping
the club there and will sup
port the team.
Its a regrettable thing, of
course. to see Connie get out
of the picture" Griffith contin-
ued, but he wasn't active any
longer and he's financially Sc
cure. We were worried about
that angle of it all along"
Griffith was burned a bit by
the reaction of Johnso
There's a fine fellow" the Sem
ators' boss said caustically. HE
wishes the new owners luck,
but tells them they won't draw
anybody in Philadelphia. They
might fool him."
Briggs and Cronin Pleased.
Spike Briggs, owner of the
Detroit Tigers. said, kansas
City has no place for a major
league baseball team. I'm glad
the AS are staying in Philadel-
phia."
Joe Cronin, general manager
of the Boston Red Sox, also ex-
pressed satisfaction that the AS
would stay put. I'VE feel that
whatever the Macks wanted,
that's what the Red Sox WANT
he said.
Other club officials in the
league declined comment until
they were notified officially Of
the sale.
The syndicate moved with
startling speed in concluding the
deal that kept the AS from
being transferred to Kansas
City. It was only last Tuesday
that the. American League met
in Chicago and approved sale of
the club to Arnold johnson,
Chicago businessman who wanted
to take major league baseball to
Kansas City. Roy Mack was
given until IL am. today to
make up his mind on whether to
sell to johnson.
Obituary Already Printed.
It appeared then that nothing
short of miracle could save
the franchise for Philadelphia.
The newspapers here ran the
teams obituary notice with an
lit was nice to have had you
for 81 years" salutation.
But the Philadelphia group,
stung in their civic pride with
the thought that the city was
about to lose its American League
representative, saved the day,
accomplishing a deal in less than
70 hours that no one here seemed
able to work out in the four
previous months.
The new group. which has
asked Will Harridge. president of
the American League. to approve
the purchase agreement, paid
Connie. sr., $604,000 for his 302
shares and gave Earle $3.50, 900
for his 1853 shares. 1t assumed
liability for a $1.2 million mort
gage held by the Connecticut
General Life Insurance Co. The
balance of the 81 million will be
used to pay off other indebted
ness and as working capital
Row was given S45f1 ()0n for his
1853 shares, but he reinvested