Frazee got money out of Chicago—the home of Lasker, Austrian, Replogle and Grabiner—to put through his Boston deal. A bank loaned him a quarter of a million dollars—one of Frazee’s friends was a director of the bank. Frazee’s friend died and Frazee had difficulty with the bank about remaking the notes. He finally was enabled to pay $125,000. Frazee secured this money from the New York American Club by selling “Babe” Ruth. Thus the New York and the Boston clubs have become financially interwoven. Boston is referred to as “New York’s farm” in baseball circles.
In the meantime, the fans of Boston feel toward Frazee as the fans of Chicago feel toward Grabiner. The “class” of Boston no longer flows through the gates. The attendance at Boston park is smaller than at any other time in the last 15 years.
Now, it is unlikely that Judge Landis could tackle that question. Has he power, or lacking power, has he daring enough to assume power to drive the peril away from the ownership and fringes of baseball? It is probably not his field, but it pertains to the future character of baseball.
The Chicago American League Club is the most recent to attract the desire of Jewish capital. The Ascher brothers of that city have offered $1,500,000 for the club franchise. The Ascher brothers comprise a Jewish family, Max, Nathan and Harry, who conduct a string of motion picture theaters in Chicago. They have erected their own theatrical circuit. Like Frazee, they wish to add baseball to their string of “show businesses,” and are willing to pay the price. At the time of this writing, their offer has not been turned down.