New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-12
TIMELY BITS OF SPORT
Jimmy Austin, Of Yankees, Trad
ed for HartzelI, of Browns.
LAP0RTE SOLD OUTRIGHT
Jack Knight, the Brilliant Short
stop, Signs Contract for
Three Years.

can League has at last secured them for
the Browns. Such was the announcement
made at the headquarters Of the club yes
terday. after a message from Hal Chase,
the manager In return for Austin the
Yankees occurred Roy Hartzell. the third
bGseman Of the Browns Laporte was sold /
outright for cash consideration. which.
although not given out, was said to be
thoroughly satisfactory to President Frank
Farrell. who will be able to make good use
of the money in buying other players.
AS though this were not enough news for
one day, Jack knight, the heavy hitting
shortstop sent I'm q signed contract for |
three years knight was one OF the play |
ers whom ID. A. Fletcher was after, and he
has delayed signing a contract until the
plans OF the third major league organizer
were thoroughly known. AS Fletcher has
not communicated with the players Win
whom he signed tentative agreements, ana
these agreements have expired. the men
are now free to do as they please.
Farrell has taken good care not to nun
! another chance OF losing one OF his stars,
and he has now secured the services OF
Knight for three seasons. 1t would not he
at all surprising If such an arrangement
were made with Russell Ford. providing IL
is agreeable TO the star twirer. FarrelPs
course in the matter will be heartily APP
proved by the "fans." as knight has de-
yeloped into a sterling player.
After being turned loose by Connie MACK
Jack was finally snapped up by the
| Yankees and his work was sensational AT
| times last year. Besides being brilliant
shortstop. knight showed that he was a
capable substitute for Hal Chase at first
base. His greatest value. however lies in
his hitting. which is the open sesame" to
the major leagues. Knight was the ninth
hitter in the American League last season.
| moving in the select ranks Of the three
hundred batsmen with an average Of .2l2
| He was the big "clean-up' hitter OF the
team. making twenty-five doubles, four
triples and three home runs.
| Chase is evidently planning to develop
| couple OF infeld stars from the crowd or
| brilliant recruits secured by Arthur irwin,
| the teams scout. Otherwise he would have
been 10th to let Jimmy Austin and Laporte
go In communicating with President Far
rell. however. Chase agreed TO the trade
and sale. So far as playing worth goes,
neither team seems TO have profted great
~ by the trade. Both Austin and Hartzell
arc light hitters. both having a batting
average OF .21S for last season. Austin
proved to he the more consistent fielder,
with an average Of a!2, compared with 929
for Hartzel
Hal may have an idea that Hartzell can
he developed into good hitter With SUI
| fcent coaching and in that case the
Yankees will profit by the deal The gin
! gery little Jimmy, however, will be missed
among the Yankees Whenever a subst-
| tute coach was wanted on the side lines II
was Austin who undertook to instil little
spirit into the players, and his continual
flow OF fiery talk kept the men keyed up.
| His favortte phrase Come on. felers,
! little more pep" earned him the name OF
Pep" Austin, and he was well named, for
he was lively guardian OF the third sack.
He can do good missionary work among
the Browns by instilling little ginger into
the playing Of the taii-enders, as they ap
peared 70 need this more than anything
else last year.
The loss of IAporte will not be felt so
keenly. Although he could be depended
on for timely hit now and then. he
| filed in principally utility man. play
| ing third, second and In the outfield at
various times during the ason. He was
always more or less reliable. but did not
show particular ability in any one position,
while his hitting WIS not exceptionally con-
sistent.
| In case Chase does not find a capable
third baserhan among his recruits, Hartzell
probably will be used at that important
sack. Otherwise, the latter will be a sub
| stitute infielder. The lineup OF the infleld
is likely to be: Chase at first knight at
| second, Johnson at short and Elliott at
third. The two recruits. Johnson and Ell
| lott while brilliant fielders, will have 10
show something In the way Of hitting in
order to earn a permanent oerth on the
| team.
| Connie Mack, the astute manager OF the
Philadelphia Athletics, champions Of the
American League, also of the world, is
quoted as saying that the New York Yam
KEGS look more dangerous to him than any
other team In the league. The fans" about
this town are hoping Connie Mack Is right
| The baseball season. so far as exhibition
games are concerned, will be opened to-
day at Hot Springs Ark, when picked
teams from the growing colony OF major
ieaguers will be selected for the opening
| fray. The squads Will be designated here
| as the All-Americans and All-Nationals.
Old Cy Young will be In the lineup, &C
cording to announcement. So will Addie
Joss and Grover Land, OF the Cleveland
Americans. "Jiggs' Donohue. who is here,
will get back into the game, together with
Wild Conroy, Eddie Clark. jim Delehanty
| and Germany" Schaefer
| Official scoring in the American League
| In all probability will be done In the open
this year, the same as before. President
Johnson said yesterday In Chicago that
protests from other cities had been re-
ceived pointing out disadvantages In the
scheme to keep secret the identities OF Of
foial scorers. and he thought the PROPOSE
tlon had little chance TO find favor In
the sySs Of the club owners that he would
not prvssut It ~ the schedule meeting on
Tuesday.
Tho objections were based chiefly on the
ground that there would be more oppor-
tunity for cheating than II the full glare
Of publicity is thrown about the scoring
At all times
Private cable advices received IN Newark
yesterday announced that the worlds
championship professional bicycle races
will be held in that city at the new Velo
drome track this year Application for the
contests was made TO the United Cyclists
international Association at Paris. and the
award was made this afternoon Last wear