Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-05
Dresser Says Price
For Cox Is Too Hioh,
Wants Young Player
By Burton Howkins

DutAOU ItOWMlUS
Manager Charley Dresser, al
ready on the scene in New York,
where the major league meet
ings start tomorrow. and Vice
President Calvin Griffith, who
will head there today, agree that
the Senators prospects of nego-
tiating major deal at the
three-day sessions are slim.
Dresser, contacted by tele-
phone yesterday, said the Sena-
tors are only mildly interested in
acquiring slick fielding Billy Cox,
35-year-old Brooklyn third base
man who repeatedly has been
waived out of the National
League.
Sure. I'd like to have him for
utility" Dresser said, "but he
couldn't play regularly and
they're asking too much for him.
I understand they want $4,000
and a couple of players for their
minor league clubs. He isn't
worth that.
Wants Young Infielder.
IT have a couple of things in
mind that might help the club"
Dresser continued. lone of them
would be a utility infielder out
of the minors, a lot younger than
Cox, who would do us more good.
Generally, though. it doesn't
look as if we'll make a big trade.
Sure, I've had offers for some of
our key men, but nothing worth
considering.
"They offer us a lot of junk"
Dresser said. I'm willing to
trade, but they'll have to come
up with something better than
they've talked about so far. IT
we can't make a deal-well.
maybe some of our fellows can
bounce back. I'm anxious to
get a look at them in spring
training. Tom Implicit had a
good year as a rookie two years
ago with Boston but slumped
last season. Maybe we can help
him.
Dresser. who journeyed to
New York from Houston, where
he attended the minor league
meetings, said, II saw Pete Run
nels in Texas and asked him if
he liked to play second base.
He said sure and I told him
not to worry about anything
else-that we'd show him how
to make the double play, the
cut-offs and so forth.
Wants Him to Boss Infield.
II told him, too" Dresser
went on, that I want him to be
take-charge guy. I like my
second baseman to boss that
infield. Pete said he'd do it,"
Calvin said, 1--WE have some
players in mind that we'd like
to. get. but other teams tell US
they'd prefer to wait until
spring. until they've watched
some of their youngsters in &C
ton, before dealing. Maybe
we'll be offered a deal in New
York that's SO tempting we
couldn't afford to turn it down,
but as of the moment there's
little likelihood of anything ex-
citing developing.
WED like to get an outflelder,
a catcher and a relief pitcher. I"
young Griffith said. ED Fitz-
Gerald would be a lot more eff
fective if we had another
catcher to alternate with him"
Since late last season six
American League clubs have
changed managers. Paul Rich
ards. general manager as well
as field boss of the Baltimore
Orioles, beat his competitors to
the punch by draining off some
Of the Yankees surplus in an
1S-playes deal. His fellow pilots,
lacking his authority and per-
haps his daring. apparently are
reluctant to trade until they
become more familiar with play
ers on their roster.
To Consider Greenberg Proposal.
At the meetings the American
League will consider a proposal
by Hank Greenberg. general
manager of the Cleveland In
dams. to study operation as a
1O-club league in 1856. Green
berg will advocate naming a
committee to investigate the
merits of expanding the league
to 10 teams. with authority to
inform reputable groups that two
franchises will be awarded upon
proof of financial stability and
willingness to meet stadium re-
quirements.
Greenberg is anxious for the
committee to report with a
schedule and all other matters
pertinent to a l0-team league at
the 1855 summer meetings. SC
that expansion could be reality
In 1856.
The National League will con-
slider the same idea. Both leagues
are involved in a race to the
Pacific Coast, with Los Angeles
and San Francisco as the prizes
The league that loses probably
will settle for Montreal, Toronto
or Minneapolis-St. Paul.