The St. Louis Star and Times from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 24

ST.LOUIS WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 23, 1938. LANDIS MAKES FREE AGENTS OF 100 IN CARDS' 'CHAIN -STORECAyt SID KEENER'S COLUMN New Brownie Players at Ease in Texas as disagreefstances that reeled her part BROWNS TO KEEP JULIO BONETTI AS A RELIEF HURLER him. I never the She knows when the Cardinals have won-by Frankie's gentle knock oTtoe door-and when they have lost I'm at my best when the team PLAYERS INVOLVED IN CEDAR RAPIDS' DEALS SINCE 1936 AFFECTED Fines to Be Levied on Several Clubs, Including Springfield, Mo Branch Rickey Has Nothing to Say. BELLEAIR. FLA, March 23.

(U. Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, high commissioner of baseball, today destroyed the tie-up between the St. Louis Cardinals and some of Its minor league baseball 1D6 Landis made free of all but one player on the Cedar Rapids, la. club in the Three-Eye League, twenty in all, and all players involved in deaLi between the St. Louis National Leaguers and Cedar Rapids and affiliate clubs since January 1, 1936, about eighty making avtotal of 100 in all.

The decision was given out by with him, "I knew Frankie disposition before we were married. I realized he was in a nerve-wracking profession, and I felt it was my duty to soothe him. I am not an expert on baseball, although I know the game. ITn the one who should keep him good spirits, especially after the umpires always nag him as he says. Mrs.

Frisch laughed at that one the umpires. "You've asked me about my We with a husband in this profession," picked up Mrs. Frisch. "It has been ideal. It has been love-iv All because I understand my has been beaten," retail Frisch "I must sympathize with him, and admit all he says about the umpires.

"I do not attend the games regularly, because if I became too much of a fan I'm afraid I would be like Frankie grumbling at those umpires. Anyway, my place is at home, to await his return, to humor him and to listen to his moaning. He says the umpires refuse to listen to him. so I become his audience every night." dis. Landis was not available for Grayson's Story in Star-Times Forecast Decision of Landis comment.

The decision said that fines were to be levied on several clubs $568 against Cedar Rapids; $580 against Sacramento in the Pacific Coast League, and $1,000 against the Springfield, club. The exact reason these fines were levied was not given. Rickey Remains Silent. Branch Rickey, head of the St. Louis organization, was reached by telephone In St.

Petersburg, but he had nothing to say. "I have not been advised of the Judge's decision, and when I have r-TTv' 23. The Frisch family Frankie, the husband; Ada. the wife, and Mrs. Ada Lucy, mother of Mrs.

Frisch had just been seated for dinner when the Cardinals' manager started his verbal firing. -How about it how about it?" shouted Frankie as he leaned toward his wife. "Did you see that blind umpire today? Summers Summers is the guy I mean." Summers had failed to call an interference play against Jimmy Foxx of the Boston Red Sox. ignoring Frisch's protest on the decision. "Yes, I did," replied Mrs.

Frisch, "I think he was terrible." Mrs. Frisch, however, did not attend the ball game. "Terrible? That aint the word," snapped back the Flash. "II Mother wasn't around I'd tell you what I think about that mug." "Don't mind me, son," said Mrs. "Why do those umpires call everything wxong against my ball club, Ada?" "I've been trying to solve that, myself, for these many years," rji-swered Mrs.

Frisch. Frisch rambled on end on throughout the dinner, with Mrs. Frisch nodding "yes" and agreeing to everything. Later in the evening Mrs. Frisch was seated alone in the hotel lobby, Frankie was in a huddle on the porch with his two lieutenants, Coaches Mike Gonzalez and Clyde Wares.

Would Mrs. Frisch tell about her life with a ballplayer in this instance, however, the wife of a major-league manager? The Frisch union is called the "perfect marriage in baseball" because Ada, the fond and loving wife, understands her husband the trials and tribulations of the game, and the nervous strain under which it is played and managed by her Frankie. It was a school-day romance. They were youngsters in the same neighborhood in upper Manhattan in New York. Frankie carried Ada's books to school, and Ada, the little dark-haired girl, thought Frankie was just wonderful, and the greatest football player that ever carried a pigskin for Fordham University.

And, so. they were married in New York on November 8, 1923. Thus, Ada E. Lucy became the wife of Frankie Frisch, captain and second baseman of the New York Giants, and one of Manhattan's mast admired ball players. Mrs.

Frisch, the Soothing Wife. "You heard Frankie at the dinner table this evening," started Mrs. Frisch. "Well, it has been that way throughout our married life. But.

I received full particulars I probably will have a statement," Rickey said. In acting against the Cardinals and their far-flung farm system TV." S. -r-A y- known in baseball circles as the "St Following is the main part of the story regarding Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis' investigation into the Cardinals' "chain-store" system which appeared exclusively in St. Louis in the Star-Times last Thursday It was written by Harry Grayson, sports editor of the Newspaper Enterprise Association, and forecast that at least 100 players would be declared free agents by Landis. The most important decision in the history of baseball is about to be made here.

Within the next several days, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the game's supreme dictator, may declare at least 100 ball players free agents. If Landis goes through with this declaration, it means that the 100 or more players will be able to sign with whatever clubs they please. Leslie M. O'Connor, secretary-treasurer of baseball, as Judge Landis is pleased to call his office, says that the number of athletes involved will be closer to 500 than 100. O'Connor personally conducted the Investigation for Landis, working on it for two years.

There are 500 pages of evidence. Louis chain-gang" Landis said, in boy. "Remember the time the Giants traded Frankie to the Cardinals back In 1926? He was downtown the night he received the news. When he returned home I knew something unusual had happened. "He opened the door with a bang, and skipped up the steps.

I didn't say a word. I put some more logs hi the fireplace and waited for him." Mrs. Frisch stated she considered the events of that night the most important of their lives. "Waiting for Frankie, I kept saying to myself: 'Be carefu how you handle this boy explained Mrs. Frisch.

"He entered the room, put his arms around me, kissed me, and said: "'Honey bunch, how would you like to move out to St. scented the entire affair. I knew what had happened he had been traded to the Cardinals. "I told him 'nothing would please me more than to live in St. Louis." I had to do some acting to help him.

He had played with tne Giants all his life, and now he was making an important step in his career. 'Why, precious, do you know I've felt we've been in New York too long, I said. 'We should get out and see other parts of this country. St. Louis? I'd love to live there.

"Frankie hopped around the room. 'Ada, my dear, you're a jewel, he told me. 'I've been traded to the "'That's the best news j'ou've brought home in years, I added." Frank, the Grumbling Husband. Frisch stepped into one of the toughest jobs in baseball replacing Rog Hornsby at second base for the Cardinals in 1927 after the Rajah had won St. Louis' first pennant since 1888.

Inspired by his wife, however, who said: "I'd love to live in St. Louis!" Frankie had the most brilliant season of his entire career in 1927. Mrs. Frisch unfolded other in- part, in a nine-page decision: Street Impressed With Youngster's Showing as Club Wins Fifth Game in Row. BY RAY J.

GILLESPIE. Of the Star-Times Sports Staff. LAREDO, TEX, March 23. A tropical heat wave in this Mexican border town yesterday (it was 96 degrees in the shade with very little shade) enabled Manager Gabby Street of the Browns to pull the blanket off Julio Bonetti and give his young Italian pitcher his first real trial of the new season and he came through with flying colors. The young man who lost most of his 1937 games in the late innings, hurled more consecutive innings against the St.

Louisans' San Antonio cousins yesterday than any other St. Louis hurler had been asked to twirl to date. And after Julio had set the Texas Leaguers down with no runs and four scattered hits for five frames, the Brownie boss "Bonetti has proved to me that he's the man I want for my relief work this summer. Therefore, 1 plan to retain him for exclusive use in relief roles. He showed me that he had a lot of stuff on the ball and that he was hard to hit during the five innings he worked.

Now with that matter out of the way, we can turn our attention to the structure of the regular starting staff." On the other hand, Ed (Ole King) Cole, who hurled four innings of yesterday's contest, gave a miserable exhibition. After fanning two of the men who faced him in the sixth frame, Cole was unable to hold the 4-0 lead that Bonetti gave him and only spectacular fielding by Center-fielder Mel Mazzera enabled the Browns to escape with a 4-2 triumph over the Missions for their fifth straight training camp victory. The Missions whacked Ole King Cole for six hits two in each of the last three frames but scored only in the seventh when a single, a pass and a long double by Pitcher Manuel Perez, scion of an old Mexican family, drove in two runs. In the other two innings, Mazzera practically climbed the center field fence continually and pulled down whistling liners. The Browns scored twice in the second inning when Beau Bell was hit by a pitched ball, rambled home on Sam West's triple, and Sambo, in turn, scored on Roy Hughes' long fly.

In the fourth, Senor Perez filled the bases on two passes and a single and George McQuinn drove in one run on a long fly, while another was scored on Shortstop Ralph Rhein's poor relay of the return throw. Our old friend and comrade, Emil Bildilli, who did a pitching stretch for the Browns last summer, bobbed up in a San Antonio uniform and took great delight in letting his old pals down with one scratch hit during the last three frames. "The fundamental Indispensable basis in every team's operation, both Mrs. Frisch knows her Frankie. Another highlight occurred in St.

Louis back in mid-August, 1936. involving the decision rendered by Umpire Bill Stewart in a game with the Cubs, with first place at stake. Stewart cost the Cardinals the winning run in the ninth inning by calling a double play via Pitcher Bill Lee to Shortstop Bill Jurges to First Baseman Phil Cavarretta. although Jurges. the middle man, failed to touch the bag.

"Let me recite that one," continued Mrs. Frisch. "Frankie has raved for these past fifteen years, but I've never seen him so wild as when he returned to the hotel. He explained the technical part of the play in detail, cussed Umpire Stewart und kicked the furniture in the room. "'I'm through with baseball after this shouted Frankie.

'I've had enough of it. Ada. and I can't stand it any longer. Those umpires are driving me crazy. "I couldn't tell him to calm down and to forget about losing that tough game.

I agreed with him about retiring. "'You've worked long enough. Frankie, I reminded him. 'and I think we should retire. Well sell our home at New Rochelle, buy a farm, and forget about umpires and "We did not retire, youH note.

How many do? Not as long as they can play or manage. "That was a long winter for me after Umpire Stewart's decision, and I heard about it every day morning, noon and night. It's always a long winter back in New Rochelle when Frankie doesn't win the pennant. "The summers are not exactly full of joy, either, with these umpires picking on Frankie every day as Continued on Next Page. major and minor, is the unques Here is Louis Norman "Buck" Newsom, who is expected to be one of the mainstays of the Browns' pitching staff this year, with his young son, Louis, Jr.

"Buck," who came to the Browns in a mid-winter trade with the Boston Red Sox, has been showing fine form during the club's training activities at San Antonio, Tex. tionable integrity to competition within the league. Obviously doubt of that mast arise if players of two or more clubs competing in the same league are controlled by the League: Crook ton, Northern League; Mitchell, Nebraska League and Fay-etteville, Northeastern Arkansas League. The Apparent Tie-op. Cedar Rapids Is said to have had working agreements with those clubs one organization or the power exists thereby to regulate and control competition of those clubs." Opposed to System.

Baseball men believe the Cardinals have a working agreement with Cedar Rapids, whereby the Cards control players in many minor leagues. Landis, after a sweeping investigation, has tried to break up that purported combine. It is no secret that Landis long has been opposed to the Cardinal system. James P. Howard was the only Cedar Rapids player not declared a free agent.

In view of the fact that the baseball season opens in a few weeks "the commissioner desires that Cedar Rapids continue to operate if it so desires," Landis said. He said that Cedar Rapids players could sign with that team for 1938 if they desired. Landis did not say how many players in five minor leagues the Three Eye League, the Missouri-Arkansas League, the Northern League, the Nebraska State League, and the Northeastern Arkansas League were affected. He said a full list of those who will be made free agents would be published soon. The teams involved, in addition to Cedar Rapids, are Newport in the Arkansas-Missouri but was reported to have cancelled them because the Cardinals also had agreements with other teams in those leagues.

That apparently was the tie-up Landis struck at. Landis said that Cedar Rapids I WW from now on would not be permitted to make working agreements with St. Louis or its affiliates or in any league where St. Louis has a club. "The players covered up by this process," Landis said, "are entitled to and must have free agency because of a violation of their rights and because the St.

Louis-Cedar WHEN ITS GUSTY AND SHARP Rapids combination cannot profit from their illegal conduct." I i Balls and Strikes. First Baseman McQuinn turned the fielding gem of the day When he made a diving stop of Pitcher Perez' bid for a base hit in the fifth inning and started a fast double play General Manager Bill DeWitt, President Don Barnes, Manager Gabby Street and all the minor league pilots in the Brownie chain held a council of war last night. And several Brownie rookies were shaking in their boots, awaiting the fall of the ax that will send them thither and yon. First Baseman "Buck" Stanton of the Missions was accidentally spiked on the right hand by Third Baseman Don Heffner as the Brownie raced into first base in the sixth inning The teams will play here again today Mexican poens, who filled the small grandstand, mistook Bonetti for a resi Tm Afraid He Is Through as Rickey Says of P. Dean DY SID C.

KEENER, Star-Times Sports Editor. ST. PETERSBURG, March 23. The next time a neighbor, a chummy fan in the grandstand, a club official or a player starts spouting off about baseball being a great builder-upper for all who play the game, tell them the story about Paul Dean. ItH knock 'em cold, for it's a story filled with tragedy, pathos, sobs and heartaches.

Coach and Second Baseman Oscar Melillo, left, plays Charley McCarthy on the right knee of Big Jim Weaver, the Browns' giant pitcher. Melillo, who is using a half dollar for a monocle, came to the St. Louis American Leaguers from Boston, while Weaver was purchased from the Pittsburgh Pirates. You Could Almost Feel P. Dean Worry Every Time He Prepared To Throw Ball, McLemore Says BY HENRY McLEMORE, United Press Staff Correspondent.

BRADENTON, March 23. It was a mighty pretty setting for a comeback. The sun was big and warm. The sky was a dazzling blue, and thousands of the folk who knew and liked him and were pulling for him, filled the friendly little stands and spilled out into the playing field. Only one thing was missing to make it a perfect day for Paul (Daffy) Dean, and that was that Paul (Dafty) Dean didn't have anything to make a comeback with.

It's swell to be on top. Everyone? tne ms- Gene Moore followed. Is willing to shake the hand of a dent from below the Rio Grande and cheered his every move At that, Julio has been so tanned by the tropical sun that he looks more than the Mexicans themselves. The box score: Browns. San Antonio.

AB.H.O.A. AB.H.O A. B. Mills, If. 5 1 1 A Bvrnes.

cf. 2 0 2 0 Even those first two innings, whenslumped down on the bench in front Sullivan, c. 3 Kress, 4 Bell, rf 2 West. 2 Hughes, 2b. 4 Heffner.

3b 2 Quinn.lb 3 Bonetti, p. 3 Heath, 1 Cole, 1 Mazzera, cf 1 13 1 2 0 11 12 6 Criscola. cf 4 0 6 0 0 11 man, If, lb 3 2 6 0 110 Stanton, lb 2 1 3 0 2 2 0 Rhein. 3 13 1 0 2 1 Ber'dino, 2b 4 1 2 0 0 8 1 Hornsby, c. 3 2 4 1 0 0 1 Olsen.

0 0 0 0 0 3 0 xCaballero. 10 0 0 0 0 2 Piet, 2 1 0 0 0 4 0 Perez, 0 0 0 1 of his locker. igfe zBarnhart. 0 0 0 0 Totals ..31 6 27 13 Kovach, 2 0 0 0 Bildilli, 1 1 0 3 Bliss ....110 0 Totals ..30 10 27 7 xBatted for Olsen in tiiirc. zRan for Hornby in ninth.

j-Batted for Bildilli in ninth. Rims Bell. West 2. Berardino, Barnhart. Errors Eharein.

Piet. Innings 123456789 San Antonio 00000020 0 2 Browns 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 Two-base hits Sullivan, Stanton. Bildilli, Hornsby. Three-base hits West. Runs batted in West, Bildilli 2, McQuinn, Hughes.

Double plays McQuinn to Kress. Kress to McQuinn. Base on balls Off Bonetti 2. off Cole 2. off Olsen 1.

off Perez 4. Struck out Bv Bonetti 3. by Bildilli 1, by Perez 2. by Cole 2. Pitching record Off Bonetti, 4 hits, no runs in 5 innings; off Cole.

6 hits. 2 runs in 4 innings. Left on bases Browns 6. San Antonio 8. Winning pitcher Bonettrt feii ImI beer-gfrinlters mh far STAG the Boston Bees didn't get a run off him, didn't fool anyone.

Paul wasn't the same Paul who came bounding up from the bushes in 1934 to win nineteen games and then "fog" the ball past the Detroit Tigers for two victories in the World Series. His fast ball, a smoker, was his money ball then, just as it was in 1935, when he won nineteen more. He hadn't made more than three or four throws yesterday when it became obvious that his arm injury had cost him his pay pitch. All he had was a slow side-arm curve, and it was delivered with timidity. You could almost feel him worry every time he wound up and let the ball go.

Not a Single Hard One. But it was the third inning that revealed his helplessness. The Bees butchered him then, hitting everything he threw up to the plate for nine runs. He had little or nothing on the ball. In the old days, before his arm went lame, he met troubles by rearing back and throwing it past the batters.

He didn't throw a single hard one against the Bees. When the side finally was retired I slipped out of the press box and followed him to the clubhouse. It was empty when we reached it and Paul, sort of sagging all over, "Pick out a good one and give 'er a long ride," yelled Stengel and his Bees. Moore doubled, scoring Cuccinello with the fifth run of the inning. Brother Paul stopped the game for a moment.

He looked at the clear sky above. Life was a bowl of ch -ries for some people but for Paul. Well, he was seen rubbing his right hand around his cheeks. "Are those tears?" inquired a member of the press box. No, it was Paul's rubbing way.

Vincent DiMaggio wheeled up to the plate. He tripled far over Joe Medwick's head. West. Mueller and Lanning followed with singles. When the inning closed the Bees had scored nine runs on nine hits against Paul Dean.

"I looked pretty good out there in spots, didn't I. Frankie?" Paul said to Manager Frisrh on the bench at the end of the inning. I gave my fast ball, and it was as fast as the 'smoker that fanned Hank Greenberg and some of those Detroit Tigers back in the 1934 World Series?" "Ch-huh," replied Frisch looking out into thin space. He didn't have the heart to tell Paul that he was through as a major league pitcher. To add to the sad story.

Brother Dizzy replaced Paul. Dizzy witnessed that tragedy on the ball field. He couldn't pitch with his old heart because he realized what had happened to his kid brother. Bees Finally Win. Dizzy allowed two runs in the fourth inning.

Shucks, he couldn't give his best after Paul's exhibition, and the Bees finally won. 13 to 9. Vice President Branch Rickey, who witnessed Paul's performance and The man who will decide whether Paul is to be given another chance or his unconditional release, simply said: "Give me time to think it over. He didn't show me a thing in yesterday's game against Boston. A pitcher needs a fast ball to get in the major league and Paul larked his old time speed.

I am afraid he is through as a member of the Cardinals.1 The Boston Bees? Well, they could have popped out. struck out and allowed Paul to make a good showing in his comeback. But that's not baseball, and Paul and others must take the bitter with the sweet, and for young Dean it is probably farewell to major league baseball- cruel, but a fact, nevertheless. He sat for a moment and then started taking off his dirty uniform, very slowly, like a man dead tired after a day of hunting. Watching him, I remembered his big days.

When it was Daffy and Dizzy this, and Daffy and Dizzy that. When every kid wanted his autograph. When he could and did hold out for fat contracts. When the pay checks zipped in like his fast one, and everything was bright and rosy. Now there he sat on a bench.

His comeback a failure. No contract of any kind. Through for good, perhaps, at 26, just when he should be coming to his peak. Just a big country boy from Texas, who never was daffy, but got called that just because we sports writers had to have something alliterative for Dizzy. Never did anything daffy in his life.

Just a quiet plodding fellow who liked tc be left alone. Paul Breaks Silence. It was Paul who broke the silence. Ke looked up. and remembering me from last spring when I "tried out" with the Cards, said: "Durn I'm tired." I asked him if his arm hurt him if the bothersome kink came back.

"No it just got tired. Awfully plum tired. I couldn't hardly wind it up. it was so worn out." Did he think the strength would come back? "Don't know. Can't tell.

Sho' wish it would, though." Copyright. champion and a winner, and for Paul Dean there were those days back in the fall of 1934 when he was riding through the streets of St. Louis and being toasted as one of the big heroes of the Cardnals' World Series triumph over the Detroit Tigers. Young Paul, he was only 22 years of age that autumn, had pitched a no-hitter in his first season as a major leaguer. He was the junior member of a sensational pitching family Dizzy was the senior member.

But that's all over. Paul hurt his right arm two years ago. Expert medicos and surgeons treated the in-Jury. They had hoped to cure th ailment and permit him to carry on in baseball and earn at least $10,000 per summer. He was only a so-so hurler in 1936 and early in the 1937 season he retired from baseball, hoping a rest would enable him to come back later.

Comes the Test. Still on the voluntarily retired list, Paul rejoined the Cardinals at their spring training base here this spring. Then came the test yesterday afternoon at Bradenton, In an exhibition game with the Boston Bees. Nothing was at stake in the combat only brother Paul's future. Success or failure hinged on his showing.

His young wife and baby back home in Mississippi eagerly awaited the results. They had been advised by Paul: "I'm going to pitch in Tuesday's game against the Bees. Pray for me. Root for me. I gotta come back." Paul Dean pitched two scoreless innings against the Bees.

The third came on. During the fhort space of five minutes, no more, one of baseball's most tragic scenes was enacted. Paul stood on that rubber 60 feet from the batter, pitching for his wife and his baby. The Bees filled the bases with one out. The Cardinals were leading, 3 to 0.

Paul was in front. Roy Johnson was the batter. "Hit er out of the lot!" shouted Manager Casey Stengel and all of the Bostons. Johnson responded with a single that scored three runs. Al Cuccinello was the next man.

"Get a toehold and rifle that old apple!" pleaded the Bees. Triple Clears Bases. Cuccinello tripled to right, clear- ADVERTISEMENT mm mm "I netcr sate anything to beat the ay folks go jot Stag on these nippy spring days," says Mr. Bernard Schim-mel. Resident Manager cf the Hotel Custer.

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tia of Prise Albert several weeks of effort by Kearns. representing the Oiympia interests. Worth Running For. NEW YORK, March 21. Glenn Cunningham has plenty to show for his track efforts.

The king of the world's milers has four trunks and a packing case filled with medals, plaques, statues, cups and assortea silverware and gold, which he won in his eight years of running. The total value is estimated at $30,000. mm Armstrong to Meet Zivic. DETROIT. March (U.

Henry Armstrong, world featherweight boxing champion, and Eddie Zivic. Pittsburgh lightweight, will meet in a ten-round non-title bout Thursday at Oiympia. Promoter Jack Kearns announced. Negotiations for the match were completed after 'CD CUidXl fCH?.