Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 215, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1917 — WORTH MORE THAN GOLD TO THEIR TEAMS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WORTH MORE THAN GOLD TO THEIR TEAMS

*lf a wise fan you would be, make a couple of mental reservations and grin broadly when"you hear a report of the sale of Walter Johnson, Ty Cobb, Grover Alexander or George Sisler. The idea comes from a report that Washington was about to sell Johnson. Fact is, these four men are unbuyable. Even at the present monumental prices for good ball players, practically all figures would be too small to remove one of these men from the club with which he is affiliated. This is not alone on account of their wonderful playing, but more, perhaps, on account of their drawing power. Cobb's Drawing Power. When Detroit Is playing anywhere around the circuit the fan goes primarily to see Cobb in action, secondly to see the game. In Detroit Cobb’s drawing power is inestimable. For that reason Cobb probably will never be put on the market, even though he should slip badly, for so long as he is able to put on a uniform and appear on the field he will be a drawing card. The same holds with Johnson, Alexander and Sisler.

Washington Is a poor drawing club, but receipts are boosted about 100 per cent when Johnson is slated to pitch. It is not likely Johnson would be sold when he draws as much as the rest of the club combined. Other Stars. There have been few in baseball in this category. Mathewson was long as Matty could toe the slab there was no chance of his being sold at any figure. The status of the club makes a great deal of difference In cases of this kind. For instance, Speaker was sold by the Boston Red Box. While Speaker was undoubtedly the star of the club, there were several others not far behind him and the club could afford to take a chance on selling him for the price paid and depend on other stars to make the fans forget The breaking up of the Athletics was another example. Never a popular team, Mack found his attendance slipping to,a point where he could better afford to dispense with his high-sal-aried players and build up a new organization.

FOUR STAR PLAYERS NOT FOR SALE.