Seventy years ago this month, our 92-year old SABR member of the Larry Dierker Chapter and national baseball history treasure, Larry Miggins, was a kid struggling to catch on with a major league club during the reserve clause era days. Given the experience he had with the old waiver rules of that time, Larry more than likely had to check the newspapers daily to know where he would be playing in the afternoon. Here’s how writer Jerry Liska reported the meanderings of Mr. Miggins over that short period. — Glad you made, Larry! — The Pecan Park Eagle.
Rookie Given Dizzy Ride
By Jerry Liska
Chicago -(AP)- The complexities of baseball’s waiver rule have rookie outfielder Larry Miggins of the St. Louis Cardinals (for the moment) on a wild merry-go-round.
Within a week, 22-year old Miggins — a fine Irish husky from New York’s Bronx — was waived by the Cardinals, claimed by the Chicago Cubs, waived by the Cubs and claimed by the Cardinals.
All of this maneuvering was an attempt by both the Cards and the Cubs to shake Miggins loose for further minor league seasoning.
He was drafted by St. Louis last fall from Minneapolis of the American Association. As a drafted player, he must be waived out of the majors for minor league assignment.
The Cards still want to farm him out and the Cubs are ineligible for future claim.
H was claimed by the Cubs for the $10,000 waiver price last Saturday, and joined them at Pittsburgh. Friday he was summoned to the Cub office and informed the team had waived him and the Cards had reclaimed him.
So Friday afternoon, Larry was back on the Cardinals bench, recalling a more peaceful 1947 season when he batted .289 for Sioux City of the Western League and .233 for the Minneapolis Millers.
Manager Eddie Dyer of the Cards, who gave Miggins a whirl in spring training, says he has fine speed and a splendid throwing arm. If he can learn to hit better, he’s a good major league prospect.
— Dubuque (IA) Telegraph Herald, Page 20, April 25, 1948.
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Bill McCurdy
Principal Writer, Editor, Publisher
The Pecan Park Eagle
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