Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-13
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ;, FRANCE, ,7Aru

1T WAS ONLY LOGICAL tn

1T WAS ONLY LOGICAL that Frank Lane should Wno
up in Cleveland general manager of the Indians The
Tribe been aing time and in Ohio they like
winners contenders Lane didn't produce any winners
in Chicago ST. Louis but he took sick ball clubs and
made them we'll.
AS general manager of the White sox for seven years.
the who called Frantic frankie sod bought traded
and claimed couple of hundred ball players. While he
didn't have big money going for him. he had the SoX con-
sseny shooting at the Yankees Some of his dash and
daring must have rubbed off, because the Sox became
known as the COCO Sox"
They bases II they belonged to another era.
Retreaded pitchers became standouts. Everything was
going smoothly until the end of the 1885 when Lane
and young Chuck Comskey H. vice president of the Sox
disagreed. Lane not having "a kid still wet behind
his ears" tell him what to do
Frank wasn't out of job very long The Cardinals,
too sick They'd finished seventh in the IS season
and August A. Busch wealthy brewer and president Of
the club, promptly hired Lane.
IN MARCH OF 1856, sitting in the at st. Peters,
burg Lane watched the Cardinals work out.
IF don't finish in the first division Frank volun-
TERED I'VE ought to be Investigated
"Its pretty big jump, isn't it?" asked
Not when you have the horses" Lane replied. And
those don't have, we'll get"
The Redbirds in Sc finished fourth Last season they
second to the Braves who the World Series STILL
Lanes intimates say he wasn't happy in st. Louis
"He had to go through too many channels, veteran
st. Louis newspaperman explained. Lane was con-
stany running into executives who were men,
Trading off Red Schoendenst didn't help his popularity
This may have been Lanes worst deal Next to Stan
Musial Red the best and best-ked player on the
ST. Louis club Lane, however, got Shortsop Alvin Dark
in that June, 1885, transaction And Dark lot of
ball player for the Cardinals.
At least Dark could throw schoendienst, when Lane
marketed him, had suspect arm.
LANE MADE FAR more good trades than bad ones
during his He always proud OF getting Minnie
MinoSo from Cleveland.
1T was the darndeSt thing Lane says. THE Phia-
dephia AS the Indians and the White SoX all par
Elephants players involved and MnoSo the
only real good one among them"
Lane often is asked if that his best DEAL For
time he hedged Not now, however.
THE the century had to be Nellie Fox, Frantic
frankie says
Nellie was considered mediocre infeder even by
bush league Standards Lane said Then in October OF
l949 called the AS said that I'd like to deal for Fox
He's busher little guy, was told.
"Ill still take him. answered.
LANE GAVE UP Catcher Joe Upton for Fox Right
now . indeed ever since he joined the SoX in 1850
Nellie has been the best second baseman in the
American League.
He makes all the plays and gets on base and makes
the hits
Fox far the second baseman in the business
it's ptul" Lane says. Il wish had one like him at
Cleveland"
The second baSeman frankie wants may not come up
this year But Lane has way. Chances are that he'll
latch onto good and then the Indians will be in
contention.