The Detroit times., 1909-12-23
MINOR LEAG j { R s
WOULD LIKE To
GET 7. JONES
Owner of the Franchise in Scanton
Conierring With Hughie Jen-
nings. Who Makes Con-
ditional Promise.
Management of the Club Said To
Rest Between Tigers First-Sacker
and Old Monte Cross.

Ii the Detroit Baseball club makes
up its mind that IL doesn't care 10
have Tom Jones report for spring
work, preferring TO entrust the first.
base position to Lister or Ness. with
sam Crawford in reserve IL neither
of the youngsters show ability TO fill
the BILL there is fine JOB waiting for
rom, az manager of team in 4
corking good minor league
According To dispatch from SCrau-
ton, Pa, where Hughie jennings.
manager OF the Tigers IS rusticating &
with young law practice and new
automobile. +. j. Coleman. owner OF
the local team In the New York
State league. is there in conference
with Hughie. whom ne is endeavoring
10 pursuade 10 grant Tom his release.
IN order that the sterling flrstsacker
may come 10 Scranton and man
age the team. The dispatch goes on
To state that Jennings virtually prom.
ised that, in the event of Jones
selection. as next seasons Scranton
manager. that Scranton would be
selected as the team farm for the De
troit club"
+ Fans Would BE Astounded.
To many the release OF Jones would
be a startling development In fact.
il would be conditional on the filing Of
waivers oil claim by all the other
American league clubs and II is very
doubtful If such waivers could be So
cured In addition. Jones did his part
i'm the closing weeks of the 1909 cam
paign with such efficiency that II Is
virtually certain that he would be the
favorite i'm the three-cornered race for
his position in 1910, in spite OF the
fact that. in Lister and Ness the club
has picked up the two best colt first
sackers in 1909 miuor-lcaguc captiv'
ity.
The possibility that Jones may he
niaced I'm a nice berth in the minors.
however. does not necessarily throw
the entire first -basing burden IN pros
pect on the shoulders OF Lister aul
Ness.
The Detroit club always has Sam
Crawford in reserve and there are
many who doubt IL the league posses
ses a better man at the position. The
memory OF the bugs is still fresh on
Crawford's astounding feat in the last
worlds series when. after Jones was
hurt. big Sam came in, donncd the
hig mitt and. right In tho middle OF n
PIttsburg batting rally. at time when
the pirates needed but one hit TO
settle the championship duel. made
swell stop and q lightning throw 10
tho Mate which enabled Mullin to get
his head above water and weather
the storm.
Good OutfeId Without Sam.
II is no secret 10 baseballs inner
circles locally that the Detroit cluo
has been planning for some time on
attine crawford for a position whlch
NAV conserve his batting ability,
without sacrificing any OF the clubs
defensi,e speed. sam has been In
baseball for II years and. while still
as good as ever. must be nearing inc
time when he will begin TO slow up.
Ills ability To play first base VIII en-
able tho club 20 use him there Tor
many years after his ability 10 pull
down the long flies is gone.
This wear the club has added three
outfcIdcrs 20 its list. Without Craw'
ford in tho outfeld It would still have
"A veteran tpio TO draw from and wheh
those are ftiuforccd by Drake, Sim
mons and Ball. all " whom will be
taken south. the. club IS seen TO be
well fortified.
Navin Doubts Truth.
President Navin ~ the Detroit club
was strongly inclincdl 10 doubt the
truth of the Scranton rumor. Said
he:
1T will take lot of conierring, |
guess. To get Hughie 10 state where
ne will dispose ~ Jones at this
iuncture. Tom is corking good bah
PLAYER and don't think he Is through
I'm the big leagues just yet.
president Iynch 81 the National League
has written the 1908 umplrts asking
whether their troubles came from tho
bench. coaching lines or plaNers a.
tfNcIy engaged in the game. Rule re-
vision is hintcd At