New-York tribune., 1912-04-16
TIMELY BITS Of SPORT
Fred MerkIe, First Baseman OF
Giants, Not a "HoId-0ut."
JOINS TEAM IN BOSTON
Trouble Came Over His Failure
to Turn In Contract to
the Club.

the Club.
Fred Merkle first baseman OF the Giants
who caused something Of sensation yes
terday by not reporting for the game IN
Boston, is not "hold-out." His signed
contract now reposes in the safe OF the
New York club along with those OF the
other players. Merkle will take UP DIS
duties at first base again to-day
TT is'a hard and fast rule OF tho New
York club" said Joe O'Brien, secretary OF
the Giants, last night, in speaking OF the
Merkle affair, that the signed contract
of every player shall be in the hands OF
the secretary five days after the season
opens. Through some oversight Merkle
neglected to turn in his contract. and IN
looking over the documents the other hisht
I found Il missing. l consequently gave
orders to Eddie Brannick. my assistant
not TO allow Merkle to go to Boston Win
the team unless he brought his contract
with him to the train. AS Merkle did not
have II IN his pocket the team departed
for Boston without him. Fred remained III
the city overnight and brought the con-
tract down to the Office this morning. lie
left here on the o'clock train this AFTER
noon, and will appear in the lineup as
usual tomorrow"
Harry Wolverton is slowly wedding out
tho Yankees. Three more players went py
the boards yesterday. Benny Kauf. the
outnelder. was released to Atlanta OF the
Southern League: Bergen, the catcher, 70
and E,rhart, an infelder, Internationally.
Erhard was developed in this city. where
his batting brought him into prominence
on tho High School Of Commerce team
Later he went to the University or VIZ
ginia. and finally entered Columbia, but
turned professional before making the
team.
II may be noted that the four teams In
the National League most generally pickeu
10 finish in the first division are holding
down places In the second division while
the teams which usually are being kicked
aroun'" are sailing out In front
According 10 Charley Doom, manager Oh
the Phillies, Magee and Walsh. who have
broken bones, will be out OF the game lor
az least two months. Killifer for ono month
and Iobert and Chalmers for two weeks
mr. more. The ink of the team has been
working overtime.
Tho anniversary OF the opening OF tho
thoroughbred racing season IN TINS STATE
Yesterday. did not pass without many Keen
regrets being expressed that the sound u
the bugle was not heard.
plans were developed yesterday AT
Meeting Of the American Olympic COM
mIttee for a countrywide campaign IN
order 70 arouse more interest in the fund
beinR raised 70 send team TO the games
at Stockholm, Sweden, next july Inc
final payment on the steamship flhlahu'
which has been chartered for the athletes
and their friends, must be mahe on june
1, and subscriptions at the rate OF N.VV per
day must be received In order 70 meet 'n!s
obligation.
Urp to this time the bulk OF the money
received has come from four or hve OF
the larger cities. The purpose now Is TO
interest. II possible, other points In the
United States, as even $50 from hundred
odd cities would mean easy sailing.
Julien w. Curtis reported yesterday that
another check for $1,000 had been received
from the Chicago Athletic Association
while other subscriptions yesterday were
as follows: New York Athletic Club, 500;
Lewisohn Brothers, 500; American Metal
Company, $50: c. II. Wilcox. SIS; Caspar
whitney. so; National Sporting Goods
Dealers Association, S2; o. j. GUIDE. $40:
Henry a. Smith. $40: McCaddin Lyceum,
$40; Rodger Is. Wood, s..
It was said on good authority last night
that James ]. Corbett, former heavy
weight champion, would be selected as
referee of the bouts to be held In the newly
organized Garden Athletic Club. Corbett
has not applied to the state Athletic Com
mission for a license, but It is understood
that II he IS selected he will readily ac-
cent and the other details will be speedily
completed. Jack McGuigan, referee OF the
National Athletic Club. OF Philadelphia,
also was under consideration.
Tim Hurst, matchmaker OF the Garden
Athletic Club, has arranged a ten-round
bout between Frank Klaus. ono OF the
seIf-styled middlewelght champions OF the
world, and Jack Dillon. of Indianapolis. 10
take place in Madison Square Garden on
the night Of May 3. The men will weigh
1853 pounds at the ringside. Klaus earned
a referees decision in twenty rounds at
San Francisco last month after hard
fight. For part OF the way Dillon out
pointed the Pittsburgh man, but at the
end Klauss strength wore him down.
Hurst has assigned Eddie McGoorty, OF
Oshkosh to meet the winner, but no date
has been fixed. Klaus says he will box
McGoorty If he beats Dillon. tho weight TO
be l5s pounds at o'clock.
The match between KNOCK Out" Brown
and young" McDonough has been de-
cared off The men were TO meet in Man
chester in twelve-round bout. Morgan
demanded that no decision other than a
newspaper verdict be rendered, and tho
New England men then called everything
off.
Three boxing clubs will conduct bouts
tonight. There will be an amateur tourna-
ment at the Fairmont Athletic Club, while
at Browns Gymnasium young Cohen
,,,it Fooa s~Younps' Ghuoro The RrookIvn