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Cox Decides to Retire From Baseball Passes Up Possible World Series Plum Infielder Says Legs, Speed Gone; Wally Westlake Hits Raw Deal, May Also Quit By JOHN S. LANGDON United Press Sports Writer NEWPORT, P,a., June 16. BUly Cox, traded to the Cleveland Indians by the Baltimore Orioles, passed up a possible 0,000 World Series check today with a decision to quit baseball. "I dont care," said 35-year-old Cox about earning a prospective World Series cut with the Indians. "My legs are gone; I just cant take it any more. I have no speed left. You can go only so far. I know Ive had it." In Cleveland, Wally "Westlake, another principal in Wednesdays four-man deal between the Indians and Orioles, complained he had received a "raw deal" and balked at reporting to Baltimore. The 35-year-old outfielder said he had an agreement with the Indians whereby he was to receive ,500 if traded to another club. Westlake, who received permission from the Orioles to return home to Cleveland and visit his sick wife, said he was "tired of traveling and might quit for good." ..... Cox and outfielder Gene Woodling were traded to Cleveland just before the June 15 deadline for Westlake, -outfielder Dave Pope and cash. Cox, once regarded as the major leagues top fielding third baseman when he played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, insisted he has no intention of reconsidering his decision. He said he had informed officials of both the Orioles and Indians of his decision to quit. "But from the calls Im getting, evidently they still havent received my messages," he said. Plans to Enter Business "Im just going to take it easy here the rest of the year," Cox continued. "After that Im going to try to get into some business. I have no idea what kind well see about that later." Cox, whose batting average was only .211, was disconsolate about his play this season. He struck out frequently during the Orioles latest road trip and after a game with the Indians was criticized by Manager Paul Richards for making a poor defensive play. Although his lifetime batting average was only .265 at the start of this season, he was rated a clutch hitter with the Dodgers, as well as a defensive stondout. In three World Series with Brooklyn, he batted .302. In Washington, general manager Hank Greenberg of the Indians said he was sure "time will see this thing worked out" and that Cox will be persuaded to join the club. "I have not talked to Cox, but when I do, Im sure hell play," Greenberg said. "I was assured by the Baltimore team that he would play, although I had heard that he had some leg trouble." Under major league rules, players are given 72 hours to report to a new club. In Cox case the deadline is Saturday. Cox decision today recalled that in 1948 he "jumped" the Dodgers and went home after Leo Durocher, then Brooklyns manager, announced he planned to try Billy at second base. President Branch Rickey persuaded Cox to rejoin the team a few days later. With the Indians, Cox would be. playing for a club in the thick of the American league pennant race. The first four teams in each league receive a share of the World Series pool. If the Indians won the series this year, their individual shares conceivably might match the 1,000 high earned by the victorious New York Giants last year. Greenberg would not comment on West-lakes case beyond the remark that "well give him a couple of days to make up his mind." In Baltimore, Richards said Westlake had told him last night that his wife was sick and that he "would call me from Cleveland today or tomorrow and let me know whether he will report to Baltimore." j
