Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-31
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ;, FRANCE, s1Auu
From a Brewery to the Hall

ONE BIT OF MILD irony apparently largely over
looked the other when Hank Greenbeg and Joe Cronn
voted into the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown For
both rejects certain extent Greenberg by the
Giants and Cronin by the Pirates.
You may be familiar with the Cronn story How, when
he only IT, scout for Pittsburgh named Joe Devne
signed him. How, in the minor leagues he only $3.50
and able to stay with the Pirates when he got
trials And how at the end of 1927 the BUGS dispatched him
to Kansas City with strings attached.
Cronin indeed wasn't much account in the American
Association and might have been shipped down notch but
for the presence in Kansas City night of Joe Enge
who those days comprised the Washington Baseball Clubs
entire scouting staff 1t the best break Cronn
received, and of the best for the Senators.
ENGEL WAS A RED-HOT talent hunter in those days
He had secuted recommended such Bucky Harris
and Joe Judge and later Joe Kuhe and Cecil Travis But
this particular boondogge the conviva Joseph used
to call his foray he wasn't looking any particular player
CLARK Griffith had mentioned something about short
STOP he later recalled but he had nobody in mind and
matter of fact didn't think hurting real bad
We had line couple of promising young boys Bobby
Reeves and Jackie Hayes
"A brewer in Kansas City named George Muehlbach,
who also owned the ball club threw party in his beer
place There must have been half dozen other scouts
present all sampng the brew when heard Muehlbach
Il think I'm going to have to send Cronin away probably
to Wichita He costs too many ball games. What hurts
is that could have gotten $4,000 for him week
ago After the way he played today I'd take $4,000"
THIS WAS LATE in the evening and, presumably, it
wasn't 80 beer that being served Enge at least thinks
not because, as he puts it,
Suddenly heard myself saying, III give you $500
for the guy-cash'
Il didn't have any right to bid Grfs money without
clearance he explained "Shucks that fair money in
those days and there wasn't much in cronins record to
Justify it, figured Grif might fire when
back to Washington towing Cronin"
Cronin merely .243 hitter for the Senators in
1928 but by the end of 1882 he far and the best
shortstop in baseball and GriS manager Today
has further distinction Only three shortstops in the
Hall of Fame and Cronin is the second-best of EN-.
Honus Wagner, naturally, came first Two years ago
Rabbit Maranvie made the Hall, more because of his in
tangible color perhaps than his fielding and hitting
2prowess Wagner and Cronn needed no "ntangibles"|
Il $3.50
4 GREENBERG WAS LESS of reject because when
John j. McGraw threw up his hands in despair after
watching Hank in tyout the young boy from the Bronx
via the lower West Side, gangling, awkward and
possessed of two left feet. Still, McCraws rejection of
Greenberg came at time when the Gants-noaby among
the three Greater New York clubswere angling for
Jewish player.
The Giants, if you remember, went all to promote
second baseman named Andy Cohen. He never the
day he could play ball like Greenberg but that
those quick Observation-Disclosures Hank was lost to
the Polo Grounds.
Perhaps the first ivory spotted Greenbergs
potentiaties Paul Kriche Yankee Had it
been for Lou Gehrg, and the legend that Lou
sdestructibe Hank might have become Yankee.
Krinche who later to give $4,000 for sore-kneed
rookie named Daggo liked to tell the story of how he
slatched onto Greenberg, only to lose him.
AAi1-iA Vfo At' 1AOl1 ScIlool, ana
Vas told to offer as much $1,000 in the way bonus
Gutenberg, though wanted college So, arranged
scholarship at New York University.
Then, for some reason got lost Hank went north
10 play semi-pro ball Next time talked to him, Green
berg had been convinced that Lou Gerg would
And he signed with the Tigers.
Il couldn't blame Hank much. Gehrg at his peak
and when other scouts got Greenbergs trail we lost
him"
At the time it didn't important As Krchel said
Gehrg was the Yankee first baseman, and hearty
But what successor to the Inflated Gehrg the anky boy
from the Bronx would have made!
(Froncs Stonn conductor Of VIM Lose Or Drau, wu be
on vacation starting tomorrow His column vU
February a. In the interim, staff wrsrs The
: pineh-ht.)