Evening star., 1955-10-11
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW }, FRANCE, ,r.pp
Fronkie's Cup of Tea

A YEAR THAT rs waning faster than most Of us think
will be remembered by sports FANS perhaps for such high
Moore Dodgers beating the Yankees and some footba
past and future
During any lulls between now and the bowl games.
and this studied suggestion might be wise to keep
eye the doings of Frantic frankie Lane. ever
appeared to be made to order for bali club It is
general manager Of the aing St. Louis Cardinals
The amateurS-Brewery Tycoon Gusse Busch and
Assistant Dick Myer-haven had much at playing
baseball magnaes since they bought out Fred Saigh Marty
Marion last choice Of Saigh field moved the
Redbrds from fifth d950l third u951 but when the
brewery boys command they decided that Marty
too nice guy to handle tough bali players
they fired Marion and hired Eddie stanky whom they
also booted out this year. and instead Of getting better
the Cards got steadily worse
LANES FORTE IS building up rundown clubs and
only by winning pennant viii he do better job at St.
Louis than he did with the White Sox who lost l0l games
and finished the cellar 1913 when frankie took charge
The once-proud Sox had farm system that was
joke. The club losing money 1t was rudderless
dereict Lane moved it up two notches his hrst year
The last five have the Sox in the first division. even
entertaining pennant hopes in 81 and SIS.
Indeed last they were in first place eight times
but out nine Money was made however and Mrs Grace
Comskey draws $4,000 annum as president OF the
Sox with strain the budget Chuck Comskey her son
whose troubles with Lane brought about Frantic Fankies
resignation, drives Cadillac and has a Brooks Bros
wardrobe
It has been suggested that with Lane at the controls
the Cardinals could well become the Gas House Gang
again. Ser thoughts have been expressed Lane himself
ercely competitive person There high official
in baseball who rants and louder than Frank who
puposey sits in the farthest Of ball parks
to eliminate the possibility Of spling onto the feld
and getting into trouble
IF MEMORY SERVES he has made 241 deals involving
353 ball players and had his fourth field at the
time he quit Chicago He Trade-A-Day Lane Trader
Lane and Frantic frankie to the Windy City newspapermen
but there purpose behind multiple He
picking up players who had few years, Just few
games, left in their systems He added who, like
Minnie Minoso, had received a real chance.
There be serious doubt but that Lane anticipated
his divorce from the White Sox long before happened
And he had the Cardinals in mind first and foremost
because patching up club in that kind Of shape his
of tea In Chicago his position became untenable Mrs
Comskey admired him and gave Lane his head but
Chuck felt otherwise Chuck wanted more to do. Now
he's got 1t.
years reason Lane felt to crawl into hole
The Cards won't be getting boss who is unfamiliar with
the National League He not only official of the
Cincinnati Reds 1888 until 1942 but all during his
tenure with the White Sox he made it point to study
the National League by following the Cubs when the Sox
were on the road. Semper paratus stuff
Il
WHEN HE SIGNS Fred Hutchinson to be his field
the Cardinals will feel another whpcracker OF the
field Hutch Is big shaggy, easygoing guy In the heat
Of competition especially during his pitching days he
and is fierce Lane himself
Although Hutchinson and Lane never have been
the sde frankie always has respected the former
Detroit pitcher and manager When Hutch wasn't signed
to manage the Tigers again-this about year ago
and moved to Seattle to pilot, Lane filed him away for
future reference.