Chicago Signs Ford
Ex-Yankee Phenom Joins Last Place Colts
CHICAGO (Feb. 26) - Chicago Colts GM Lance Mueller tapped his States League roots and nabbed Empire State ace Whitey Ford with the first overall Reentry pick. Mueller, whose coveted draft position was at the center of the draft lottery controversy, walked away with both #1 picks, and seemed poised to add Whitey Ford and Al Kaline to his 1953 roster. Earlier speculation centered on Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks, as the likely #1 pick in the Rookie Draft. But with Pee Wee Reese still scoring 90 runs a year and the outfield thinned out by the loss of Bobby Thomson this season, the consensus seems to have shifted to an Al Kaline selection. Kaline, a tall, gangly Baltimore native, appears to be a 'four-tool' player, with good hitting, power, speed, and defense. His only apparent weakness seems to be a below-average arm, but even at the tender age of 18, Kaline may be ready to hit the big time.
   Banks, 22, from Dallas, Tex., is expected to be a power-hitting shortstop with good range, and would be a good fit with Brooklyn, in the event Louisville opts for pitching prospects.

Draft Order Goes According to Form
No Surprises for Chicago, Louisville, Brooklyn
NEW YORK (Feb. 2) -- After the bruhaha over proposed changes to the UL draft lottery blew over, and the dust cleared, the order of selection for both 1953 drafts was exactly according to last year's finishes, with the last place Chicago Colts getting the pick of the lot from both draft pools. Louisville actually has the second and fourth picks of the Reentry Draft, having acquired Boston's first round pick by trade. Likewise, Brooklyn will have the third pick and seventh pick (from St. Louis).
   The pick of the Reentry class is former Yankee phenom Whitey Ford, who was 9-1 with the Pinstripes in 1950 before missing two years to military service. As expected, the Reentry Pool is disproportionately geriatric. Clubs may try their luck on still-good oldsters like Luke Easter, 36; Phil Cavarretta, 35; Dizzy Trout, 36; and Joe Ostrowski, 35. Cost will be a factor for all such signings, as all players over 30 are entitled to a three-year minimum contract, which is a long commitment to players nearing the twilight of their careers. On the other hand, there are several appealing youngsters in the Reentry class, mostly returnees from Korea, including catcher Del Crandall, 22; and right fielder Dick Kokos, 24.

New Ballpark for Brooklyn 
BROOKYLN (Jan. 15) -- The Brooklyn Superbas reached an agreement with the Brooklyn Stadium Authority to break ground on a new ballpark in the borough this year. The new venue will replace the aging and increasingly 'sketchy' Ebbets Field. New owner Glen Reed expressed his dissatisfaction with Ebbets almost immediately after taking control of the team last July. Reed flirted with the idea of relocating to club to 70,000-seat Memorial Stadium in Cleveland, but in the end, the club welcomed the opportunity to keep the team in Brooklyn in a custom-built, state-of-the-art facility.
   The new park, to be named Frank Thomas Memorial Stadium, after the Superbas founder, will be located in the Red Hook district of Brooklyn, on the shores of Upper New York Bay in the shadows of the Brooklyn Bridge. The 40,000-seat stadium will feature upgraded transit links and a stunning view of the lower Manhattan skyline. By locating the park closer to Manhattan, the Superbas hope to tap into the larger fan base of the crosstown Gothams. A design competition is underway, and construction will begin this summer on the $80 million project. "The Frank" will host its first Superba game on Opening Day 1955. 

Ashburn's Homecoming Turned Connecting Flight
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Feb. 26) -- Louisville's Richie Ashburn became the third center fielder to change places of employment this month. As the former Phillie touched down at Louisville Airport, he was met by club officials, who gave Whitey a handshake and a ticket to New York. Ashburn was traded to Brooklyn in exchange for the Superbas' top pitching prospects Bill Donovan, and the just-drafted Johnny Antonelli, begging the question, if Louisville wanted Antonelli, why didn't it just draft him with the second pick? The Colonels do unload Ashburn's $6 million contract in the deal, and raise speculation that they may be targeting rookie outfielder Al Kaline. The Colonels draft second behind Chicago in the rookie draft, and the Colts are believed to be deliberating between Kaline and slugging shortstop Ernie Banks. In 1951, Ashburn, 25, batted .293, swiped 49 bases, and led the league with 190 hits. His contract runs through 1954.
  Earlier in the day, St. Louis and Boston swapped aging center fielders, with Sam "Jet" Jethroe, 35, moving to Beantown, and Dom "Little Professor" DiMaggio, 36, moving into the shadows of the (proposed) Gateway Arch.

AROUND THE HORN

TOTAL ATTENDANCE

TOTAL REVENUE

1952

Change

1952 ($ million)

Change

2,272,852
2,240,759
1,842,324
1,729,996
1,687,326
1,305,141
1,190,700
   949,970
13,219,068
1,513,384

445,825
460,825
514,190
(252,540)
(171,398)
(71,246)
110,144
75,981
1,111,996
9.2%

66.19
63.80
60.67
60.32
59.94
55.07
54.96
53.75
474.70
59.34

7.72
3.13
3.68
(4.30)
(3.54)
(2.37)
(0.90)
(0.59)
2.86
0.7%

PAYROLL

TOTAL +/-

1952 ($ million)

Change

1952 ($ million)

Change

60.40
57.12
54.09
54.03
54.00
52.91
52.76
47.55
432.86
54.11

7.40
7.02
2.84
4.28
4.25
3.46
1.51
(3.70)
27.02
6.7%

11.41
4.73
4.29
4.17
4.11
2.62
(0.08)
(3.10)
28.15
3.52

2.27
(1.69)
(10.75)
(9.97)
(5.02)
(1.25)
(7.23)
(9.23)
(42.87)
(60.4%)