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Philadelphia Inquirer, August 16, 1936
BLOCKBUSTER TRADE HELPS BOTH TEAMS
Foxx, Smith Both Thriving In Returns To Clubs That Traded Them Away
PHILADELPHIA--If a team wants to acquire a slugger like Jimmie Foxx, it must be prepared to offer a valuable player in return--such as a star pitcher like Hilton Smith.
The Chicago White Sox realized this four years ago, when they offered Smith to the Philadelphia Athletics in exchange for Foxx. This deal, one of the rare deals that featured players in their primes, worked out well for both clubs. With the White Sox, Foxx inherited Babe Ruth's title as the top home run hitter in baseball, while Smith blossomed into one of the game's finest pitchers with the Athletics.
Exactly four years later, the A's and White Sox were in the mood to discuss a trade once again. The Philly club needed a big bat to solidify the heart of their batting order as they drive for the pennant, and the White Sox looked to add a true ace to their pitching staff.
So what did the teams do? Something that had never been done in the long history of our National Pastime.
They traded Smith and Foxx for each other once again.
Jimmie contributed to his old new ballclub immediately, smashing a long home run in his first game back with the Athletics. Hilton, too, made his presence felt in Chicago right away, tossing a five-hit shutout in his first start as a White Sock since July 1932.
It is very likely that Foxx will end the season as the leading home run hitter in baseball, with a fine chance to hit fifty over the fence before the season ends. It is just as likely that Smith will win the laurels for the league's best pitcher, and thirty victories is not out of the question for him.
Each man laughs when asked about the unusual way in which their careers have been linked. "Who wouldn't want to be considered good enough to be traded for Jimmie Foxx?" Smith remarked. "I've had that happen twice, which is even more of a compliment."
"I never hit much against Smith," Foxx admitted. "Honestly, I'd like to be his teammate sometime, instead of always having to face him."
I very nearly missed this one, because I didn't check the deadline trading as carefully as usual. I'm so conditioned to thinking of Foxx as a Philadelphia Athletic that the sight of "J. Foxx PHA" on the leaderboards seemed very natural. "Dang, with Foxx in the lineup, Hilton Smith probably won't lose again all season long," I thought. Then I looked at the American League leaders in wins...and there was "H.Smith CHA".
I think this deal might even top the one in which Archie Graham was traded for John Kinsella.
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