New-York tribune., 1912-02-18
Gabby Street to Catch for
the Yankees This Year
Jack Knight Goes to Washington
Senators in Trade.
ST. LOUIS GETS ST0VAL
Manager of the Maps Last Sea.
son Exchanged for Lefty
George.

. JACK knight, OF tne 1ankees, TOT 'appN
Street, the star catcher OF the Washington
Senators. I'm an even trade, was the news
that Harry Wolverton brought back with
him yesterday when he returned 10 New
York from tho American League meeting
I'm Chicago. This deal has been hanging
fire for some time, the New York manager
having announced some time ago that he
was after catcher. and rumor declared
that Street vas the man. knight also was
named to figure I'm deal OF some kind. 50
that the announcement does not come rs a
complete surprise.
The trade is the first Of any importance
20 be made this winter between two major
league clubs although Stovall and Lefty
George were principals in a swap between
Cleveland and st. Louis yesterday. IL Is
also Clark Grifiith's first exchange In his
new managerial capacity. While the same
thing can be said OF Wolverton. yet Crit
ith's misfortune in trafficking in players In
the past will lend peculiar interest 10 his
newest attempt, and the result will he
watched with interest.
According 10 the critics. Street was about
the only man on the Washington catching
staff who could handle the sizzling curves
OF Walter Johnson. This task will now de-
volve on tho shoulders of two compare
lively young players. Ainsmith and Henry.
The former has had the more experience
of the two in the big leagues. Henry
Joined the Senators last year, after catch
ing brilliantly for the Amherst College
nine He was not a good hitter and did
bench duty much OF the time during tho
season. being tried out at first base for
time.
The Washington team needs first base
man badly, and in Knight It will get one
OF the best initial sack guardians in tho
league. With Hal Chase on hand, New
York had little use for knight. While
Jack played a spectacular game at short
stop In 1910 a bad arm contributed to his
downfall on the hilltop last season. when
II was proved that his place on the infeld
was at first.
Street has long been considered one OF
the star catchers Of the American League.
ranking with Sullivan Of the Chicago White
Sox, and both have earned the dstinc-
ton of catching a ball thrown off the top
of the Washington Monument He has been
playing baseball since 1903. having been In
the big leagues for the last four years.
Knight has never been the star as an In
fielder that Street has been as a catcher.
Knight was inviegled into fast company
by Connie Mack In 1907. The shrewd man.
ager OF the Athletics kept him with the
team for a whole season. but Knight could
not play a great deal on account of bad
arm. The following year the Yankees OBJ
tanned him from the Athletics after the
season had started Mack being convinced
.lxar a.. H. .t,,er
HIM In 1909 Knight played shortstop regu
larly for the Yankees. but was not much OF
a success The next year, when Russell
Ford made his debut, Knight blossomed
forth in brilliant style, leading the team in
hitting, with an average OF .3l2, and field
ing well. Last season he was again tried
at short, and later at second, but failed 10
live up TO his reputation. At first. while
for Chase. he appeared to much
better advantage. He fell off decidedly in
his stick work. batting at the rate OF .26S.
He is a younger man than. the Washington
catcher. and Griffith may profit by the deal
in developing n future pennant winner.
II was the general feeling among a num-
Der of baseball enthusiasts last night that
wolverton had made good trade. and
that with Street and big Ed Sweeney to
do the catching the Yankees will make a
bold bid for the pennant
Street has been dubbed "Gsbby'' by his
teammates and the Washington fans" be-
cause he rarely speaks, even in the heat of
a hard fought game
A berth has at last been found for George
Stoval. the former manager of the Cleveland
Maps. Word came from the West yester-
day that he has been sent TO the St Louis
Browns for Lefty" George. Unless the
Cleveland first baseman has slowed UP
great deal more than the fans have been
led TO believe, II. looks as though ST. Louis
was getting all the better Of the deal
Harry Davis. however, may have some in
side information on young George which