The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-12-02
Lelivelt Is Released;
Ask WAIVERS on GRAY
Outfielder Goes to Rochester, and viii Likely b
accompanied by Southpaw TwrIer-Groom
VIII Be Retained-Other GOSSIP
By WILLIAM PEET.

JACK LellNellp LOT int past lLISS SSo-
sons a member of the Washington base
bill club, has been released to the Rooh-
ester team of the Eastern League.
John Cancel the Rochester manager.
was in the Capital yesterday and had a
long conference with Clark Griffith, the
result being that the Eastern League
mogul left town with the necessary pa
pers giving him the right to Lelivelt's
future services.
1t will be recalled that last summer
when Scout Mike Kahoe and Jimmy Nc
Aleer closed the deal whereby the Ma
tionals were to get Outfielder Moeller
and Infelders Foster and Spencer from
Rochester, a certain sum in money was
to be paid the Rochester management
and in addition the Eastern League club
was to have its pick of, six Washington
players, a list being submitted.
Cancel demanded Outfielder Lelivelt
and Pitcher Bob Groom. Manager Grit
fifth was able to obtain waivers on Leli-
welt, but found that several other clubs
IN the American League wanted Groom,
consequently he decided to turn over
Lelivelt and hold onto Groom, who will
be with the Nationals next year.
AS a matter of fact, Griffith was OPP
posed to letting Jack Lelivelt slip away
from him before getting a chance to see
the player in action, but had no alterna-
tive, as the original agreement called for
the release of Lelivelt and Groom to
Rochester, # the other seven American
League clubs waived claim to their serv-
ices.
In order to make good with Rochester,
the Washington club will in all proba-
bility release Pitcher Dolly Gray to the
Eastern Leaguers, providing, of course,
the necessary waivers are forthcoming.
Lelivelt was signed by the Washington
club three years ago, during the flag of
the season. Mike KahOe discovered him
in the Tri-State League, where Jack had
been smashing down the fences with
his long drives.
Last year Lelivelt played left field
during most Of the season, and while
he showed considerable hitting ability he
was fearfuIly weak on ground balls and
displayed a poor whip. 1t was easy for
a batter to reach second and sometimes
third on hard-hit grOunders to deep left.
Lelivelts hitting alone kept him in the
game, but at that he was hopeless before
a good southpaw twirler, and McAleer
frequently kept him on the bench when
the opposing team presented a left-hand
finger.
During the season just closed Leiivelt
got into but few games, as he was both
cred with rheumatism. In justice to the
player, ii must be said that he hit hard
and 0nlSleQ the season ABOVE lLle NV
mark. Lelivelt should he more than able
to hold his own IN the Eastern League.
While the Nationals were down in At
lanta last spring Manager McAleer tried
to make a first baseman out of LeliVelt
but the big fellow could not handle low
thrown balls and he was soon shifted
to the outfeld.
1t is safe betting that Dolly Gray will
not be a member of the Washington club
next season. Gray has been with the
Nationals since 1909 and frequently
showed form enough u warrant carrying
him on the pay roll He reported in
splendid shape last spring, and banner
season was predicted, but for some rea-
son or other he failed to deliver the
goods, and rounded out the poorest year
of his career in the Big show.
There should be little difficulty in OBJ
tanning wavers on Gray.
While numerous Ievel-headed football
men favor changes in the rules which
will permit more scoring and make the
game less of a hodgepodge, make it less
suggestive OF two hilIardists playing
safety" there are widely different
opinions as to how to bring about the
changes. There doubtless will be the
usual flood Of suggestions; in fact, they
already are coming in, many impracti-
cable A reduction Of the distance to be
gained in three downs would strengthen
the offense, but it will require careful
and farseeing changing of the code not
to go to the other extreme and make the
offense too strong. How to strike the
proper balance of offense and defense,
how to get the right proportion of each
that's the big point
Listen to this from the st. Louis Post
fe-AI
success of the Washington management
He has the whole United States Treasury
behind him-whenever he takes his team
on the road. Judging from some Of
Clark's swaps he'll need it, and perhaps
a new bond issue besides.
Here is another Of Umpire Billy Evans
worlds series stories: Before the series
Hugh Jennings was quoted as saying
Baker was the Athletics weak spot.
Some others thought the same. It was
charged Jennings told McGraw all he
knew OF the weakness of the Mackmen.
when Baker made his home run of
MarQuard, Jennings was twitted. When
Baker repeated on Matty, with the game
all but won for the Giants, a wag with a
voice silk" o'Loughlin might envy,
shouted:
d" Say, Hughey, either you mixed your
signals or you're double-crossing Nc
Graw.'
Even Jennings Joined in the laugh"
The New York Globe sizes up the man.
agerial situation of the HighIanders next
year In the following:
Where baseball is talked these days,
the question of who will be the next
manager of the Yankees Is continually
asked. There Is nothing new, and there
isn't likely to be until the big leagues
meet next month. President Farrell
hasn't dropped a hint as to who the new
man will be.
Many reports have It that Harry
Wolverton will be the man, wolyerton
is the favorite Of the many candidates
mentioned.
Ball players who have worked under