Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-03-24
WIN, LOSE OR
HNAV By FRANCIS sTANN
Return of the Sports Shirt

TAMPA Fla, Mar 24-Six years after the American
League clubowners cashiered him magnate virtually
drumming him out of their ranks in this city. Bill
Week has returned And as far as AL owners are con-
eerned on his own terms
1t veeck or the constant squabbe between Chuck
Comskey and his sister Dorothy for control of the Chicago
White Sox, and the American League has indicated that
Sports Shirt Willie acceptable not preferable Not
finger except Comskeys has been lifted to deter the fam
boyant Veeck.
journey from Chicago that must have set aviation back
half century, Week Immediately and inevitably
ronted with the question: us appearance final proof
that you boss of the White Sox?"
81 am here as spectator" Willie replied the first time
1t was asked
Lets put it this way" an interviewer suggested What
II Cal Grifth in Orlando suddenly should tell AL Lopez
your manager that he is willing to trade Roy Severs for
Jim Rivera? Now that is deal Lopez would make Just
who does AL clear it with you Comiskey?"
81 am reasonably sure" Veeck answered, chat John
Rigney would carry out Lopez wishes"
THIS is AS GOOD and as frank an answer as is neces-
sary John Rgney is the husband of Dorothy Rgney who
sold her interest in the White Sox to Week. giving him
81 per cent of the stock Vice President Rgney is the
dummy head of the club at the moment with Veeck
ferrng to call himself executive assistant Rgney" and
Greenberg terming himself executive assistant to Week"
Boiling 1t all down. veeck is the boss.
Nov that are to assume you have taken over the
White Sox formally" man asked can Calvin Griffith get
some sleep at nghts?" For couple of years veeck had
been quietly but earnestly trying to buy the washington
ball club.
Il didn't know Calvin had any trouble sleeping"
Willie replied, hiding slight smile.
you fought the good fight to buy control of the
Senator'S" the other said DO you think anybody
will be able to buy out Griffth?"
yes" Week answered fatty. at won't necessarily be
long drawn-out purchase either It's the timing that will
almost overnight"
UNLESS CALVIN HAS SOURCES of information quite
bit expert than say, his talent scouts Griffith
knew the efforts Veeck and Greenberg made in behalf
of their syndicate to buy the Washington franchise Now
it's all far as Veeck is concerned.
But would have loved to control the Senator's"
Week admitted. Would have moved the teamP Abso-
utey not! 1 wouldn't have applied for transfer not
because think it's essential to baseball to have Washing
ton represented but because think that if Washington
had progressive club would be damned fine baseball
town-one of the best"
Maybe you couldn't say that baseball has rolled out
the red carpet for Weeks triumphant return but the
studiedy silent acceptance of Willie is in sharp contrast
to March, 1883 in Tampa. That when veeck sought
permission Of the American League to transfer the old
st. Louis Browns to Milwaukee.
Veeck not only failed to get permission but he also
forced out of baseball when justice seemed to go
haywire Lou Perini the millionaire contractor whose
Braves weren't being supported in Boston, permitted
TO transfer to Milwaukee but Veeck, millionaire
told to starve in st. Louis sell.
RIGHT HERE IN TAMPA" Bill chuckled 1.-THE deed
done walked to the meeting with six Ameri-
can League owners my side. I walked out with two
still with And, for all practical purposes, had no
ball club"
The AL owners pompousy decreed that time was
against transfer of franchise and that veeck must
operate in St. Louis during the season of 1858 They knew
he couldn't survive and they right Perrin had
more time than Veeck but he was allowed to move
As Veeck sold out the owners praised
and blessed and the became the Baltimore Orioles
Later Of the AL turned honest 1T just wasn't
his moving to Baltimore. 1t was him."
Well Weeks back and If DefWebb Of the Yankees and
Tom Yawkey Of the Red Sox and others who objected
to Willie six years ago still opposed they monu-
mentally silent.
4