Vol. 56-No. 17 Philadelphia, December 31, 1910 Price 5 Cents SHIFTS The Transfer of the Controlling Interest in the St. Louis American League Club Successfully Accomplished, With the Consent of the League Committee; and Reorganization to Be Effected in January. SPECIAL TO "SPORTING LIFE." class who wtll cemtinsie my policy of naming T. LOUIS, MO., December 26. The the game on a high plane. Furthermore, if new owners of the St. Louis a pennant winner is to be obtained for this Browns met on December 20 at city they will come as close as anyone to the Racquet Club here with Ban getting it. As to Johnson and Charles Comiskey, of THE N1TW OWNERS, the American League committee, they should make good profits from their in Mr. Farrell, of New York, not ap vestment. Base ball is coming right ahmg pearing. The committee unanimously approved and the attendance is increasing every year. the sale of the club to the St. Louis syndicate. Clubs are building big stands in both, leagues Outside of formally passing on this subject and this will increase the attendance still there was little other business of importance further. So, even with the average run of to be transacted. President Ban Johnson of luck, the new owners have fine prospects. fered considerable advice, to the wealthy Now that I am practically out of the clnb young magnates, and before taking a train here, and therefore, cannot be said to be for Chicago the American League chief ex talking for financial purposes, I want to pressed himself as entirely satisfied with the give the St. Louis followers of base ball what situation. A new member of the purchasing is their due. From personal knowledge I syndicate was announced in the person of know there is no better base b»H city in Selwyn C. Edgar, Jr., an insurance broker. this country. Any city will support a -win Hedges will continue as president of the ning base ball club, but ifc takes genuine en club until a meeting, to be held in January, thusiasm to support a losing one, and this at which a new set of officers will be elected is what St. Louis has been doing. While I and a manager chosen. The resignations of have not given them a pennant winner, I have Adkins and J. C. Ohio, of the old Board of provided * Directors, were announced. This was done in order that the new majority of stock own ONE OF THE BEST PARKS ers may have, control of the Board, though Ad- in the country for their comfort, and accom kins and Ghio retain their holdings. modation, and have done my best in the present deal to place the club in the best VICE-PRESIDENT BEN ADKINS, hands I could find. This will h»ve to serve acting as spokesman for the new owners, to show the fans my appreciation of their said after the meeting: "One of our first fair treatment while owner of the Browns. steps will be to issue pass-cut checks. This There were quite a number of reasons which will prove popular with the boys who care all contributed to my getting out pf the game. to run out between innings for exercise. The The worry of running the club was injuring bar will not be put back in the park. An my health, and my wrfe- desired me to give other innovation will be in the handing out up, owing to this. Then everything hap of score cards free, of charge. President pened to come just right for my letting go Ban Johnson insisted that we must select of the club under circumstances which were a man of integrity for manager. We want a to my liking. There was no friction what man of integrity, but we went one point ever between myaelf and any of the Ameri farther and insisted that he must also be of can League magnates, and nothing of this social standing. You know there have been kind had anything to do with my selling the managers who perhaps have been good in club.©© a way, but when it came to any social promi LAKE TO MANAGE. nence they wouldn©t do at all. Just who It is generally believed here, and also prac the next manager will be I do not know, nor tically admitted by those close to the new does anyone else here today. We talked over throne, that Fred Lake will manage the St. the Louis Browns next season, the man who PROPOSITION OF A MANAGER used to work for John I. Taylor and for John at some length, but I hardly think he will be S. C. Dovey in Boston being the choice of the selected, or rather named, for some time to new owners of the local team to tasfce hold of come. The name.s of Fred Lake and Bobby the task that proved too much for Jack Wallace were both mentioned in the list of O©Connor. Lake©s appointment as manager of leaders for next year. Jack O©Connor will be the club will be made at the meeting of the paid in full. I believe O©Connor has too new owners next month, at which time Bob large a following in North St. Louis not to Hedges will retire from all participation in have him on our side. I think O©Connor was the affairs of the Browns. The selection of dealt with too severely. President Ban John Lake as O©Connor©s successor gives general son said he thought it would be best for us (satisfaction to the fans, who know how able to settle O©Connor©s claim as best we could. he is as a reconstructor and as a manager. We intend to pay O©Connor in full and Jack LAKE IN FAVOR. will be in our employ ne.xt year. What po President Ban Johnson, of the American sition he will hold I do not know at the JOSEPH WOOD, League, when here said that© the junior or present time. The gentlemen who are about Pitcher of the Boston American League Club. ganization had nothing against Lake re- to buy the club insisted that three of the entering its ranks, and paid a high tribute old directors resign to give the new owners This crack young pitcher of the Boston Americans, was born In Kansas City, Mo., to the ability of the man the Ewings and a majority vote. This was readily agreed October 25, 1889. He afterward lived in Chicago and in Ouray, Colo., finally returning to their associates have had in mind to assume to. Hedges sold out and is no longer a Kansas City to make his home in that city. He obtained his base ball schooling at the the position of manager of the St. Louis club. director. Myself and Ghio resigned. By Ouray High School team and played the infield and outfield with the ball club of that institu tion. When but 17 he played with the Hutchinson, Kan,, team, of the Western Association, Bobby Wallace will be overjoyed to learn resigning I have not relinquished my holdings which finished third in the race. He played with the Kansas City team In 1907 and 1908 that Lake is to be manager of the Browns, as in the club, nor has Mr. Ghio. Bruce and and was purchased in July, 1908, by the Boston American Club, and from the first did verj* the little Scot, to whom the leadership was McDiarmid, of Cincinnati, are the non-resident remarkable work. He stands 5 feet 11% inches and weighs 175 pounds. offered, did not desire the position and would stockholders. I believe the scouting system have accepted it only out of friendship for now employed is not for the best. I have a John E. Bruce, one of the minority stockhold new scheme, but I cannot give out the de ers. The Browns, thousrh they finished a bad tails.© © eighth last season, made $20,000, and if the A SAD FAREWELL. Hedges excused himself and hied away to in general and the St. Louis Club in particu new owners ever get a pennant winner here "It©s just like breaking up a family," another part of the Racquet Club. He was there is no telling h/>w great will be their lar. Said he, while discussing the sale of financial reward. In the opinion of the St. was Colonel Robert Lee Hedges© only com really sad and sorry. Had Ban Johnson the club yesterday: "What I feel the most ment after Ben Adkins had announced that ruled that Messrs. Adkins, Ewing, Hodgman,, Louis fans, they have made a good beginning the sale of the St. Louis Browns had beern Hall et al. were ineligible, the Colonel would satisfaction with in regard to the deal is that by deciding to hire Lake as manager of the ratified by Ban Johnson and Charles Com probably have been just as well pleased. I think I have treated both the St. Louis Browns. iskey. exalted rulers of the American League. public and the new owners right. I could » There was a break in the Colonel©s .voicei MR. HEDGES© VIEWS. have sold the club to at least half a A Regular Jumbo. as he spokr. He flipped the end of a per- While Mr. Hedges is naturally pleased with dozen individuals or syndicates and probably fecto and looked at the floor. Then there putting through a deal which he says him have obtained more money for it than I did.