Sport: Red Buyer

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At Manhattan's Waldorf-Astoria last week gathered baseball club owners and managers for a meeting of the National League. Under sharp scrutiny was a tall, thin young man with good clothes and an earnest, slightly bewildered expression. His manners were pleasant. But he was a curio. Week before he had bought the Cincinnati Reds. Boldly one newshawk marched up to him, gravely shook his hand, said: "Mr. Crosley, my deepest sympathy!" The Reds have won only one pennant in 49 years, have finished in last or next-to-last place for the last five years. Mr. Crosley is Powel Crosley Jr., radio manufacturer, broadcaster, polo player, aviator. He and a few associates including Ohio's Lieut. -Governor Charles L. Sawyer bought the club from Cincinnati's Central Trust Co., which had held title since its former owner went bankrupt. Mr. Crosley readily admitted he had been talked into buying the club by its noisy, energetic manager Larry MacPhail. Now that it had money, the Reds next needed new players. Manager MacPhail began his team-building by buying famed Pitcher Dazzy Vance from the St. Louis Cardinals.