Paul Giel Signs with N. Y. Giants: Gopher Star Picks Diamond Career over Football; Gets 0,000 plus Bonus Check, Daily Racing Form, 1954-06-10

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Paul Giel Signs With N.Y. Giants Gopher Star Picks Diamond Career Oyer Football; Gets 0,000 Plus Bonus Check MILWAUKEE, Wis., June 9 UP.-;-Paul Giel, University of Minnesota fqotball and baseball star, today signed a professional baseball contract with the New York Giants for a bonus in excess of 0,000. There had been some conjecture that Giel might choose professional football for a career, or might combine both football and baseball. He was an All-America football player at Minnesota and an outstanding pitcher in Big 10 competition. Giel, however, said "I was planning baseball all the time." He admitted he had talked to "people in Canada" because they approached him to play professional football in the Dominion and "made me such a good offer I had to consider it." He said the clubs he had talked to were Winnipeg and Toronto. But he said that after he had considered the Canadian offers, he decided on baseball. He said he had talked to representatives of "six or seven" major league clubs, including the New York Yankees. Cant Play Both "Im through with football," he said, "I dont believe there is a way you can play both." He said he had no regrets at giving up the grid; sport. Representatives of the Giants said they were highly pleased with Giels signing. Rosy Ryan, general manager of the Minneapolis Millers, a Giants farm club, said "I dont think well ever see him in Minneapolis." "Hes a big league pitcher," said Ryan. "Ive seen him since high school, and the Giants told me to sign him at any cost." Giel was the second player signed by the Giants under the new bonus rule. The first was Joe Amalfitano, former infielder at Loyola of Los Angeles. The Giants latest acquisition is not a graduate of the University of Minnesota. He will complete his academic work there next March after attending the fall and winter classes. If he gets his commission as expected in R. O. T. C. it will be received this winter. He then could be expected to go into the Armed Forces in October, 1955. If he does not receive a commission, he would be subject to immediate call into the military services.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1954061001/drf1954061001_2_5
Local Identifier: drf1954061001_2_5
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800