Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-30
LAJO|E IN TRADE,
IS BOSTON RUM0R
Famous Frenchman to Be
Traded to Boston for Catch
er Bill Carrigan.
HAS BEEN ONE OF GAMES
STARS FOR MANY YEARS
Joe CantiIIon Wants Majors
Stopped From Purchasing
Minor League Players.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

From Boston comes the report that a
deal is on whereby Larry I.ajoie may
join the Boston Red Sox. in exchange for
Catcher Carrigan of the Maps.
On the face of the proposition it
does not seem at all likely that such
a trade would be made, though rumor
has had 1T for some time that the Cleve-
land club was firing of paying Lajoie
an enormous salary in view of the fact
that his condition has been such that he
has been unable to play regularly. Fur
thermore, it is conceded that the Maps
are badly in need of a competent catcher
without which the team is not given a
chance in the next race.
LaJoie has been considered a fixture
with the Cleveland team. He has been
a member Of the Maps since 1902 and
during that time has been one of the
best hitters in the game. OF late years
he has been unfortunate in being out OF
the game good deal with injuries and
on losing team. 1t is known that Jim
McAleer considers Lajoie the greatest
player in base ball and he would, OF
course. welcome him into his fold, but
It is but natural to suppose that the
cleveland club would insist on something
more than catcher like Carrigan before
1t would part with it's star player and
only attraction.
AS necessity is the mother of invention,
so Joe Cantillon is father of a scheme,
which he believes. if adopted by the
american Association, would mean a
higher and better grade of ball for the
1ans OF the Chivington circuit
The plan in a nutshell is nothing more
or less than the adoption of a rule by the
league which would prohibit the sale of
any player or players to a major league
club. The earl of the crimson waistcoat
mas preached the subject at A. A. meet
1ngs in the past. and he says he has not
given up hope of having the league even
tually take his idea to it's arms
1.-THE American Association is a big and
powerful base ball organizations, said
Joe, recently. at can pay it's ball players
big salaries, almost as big, in fact, as the
average PLAYER gets in the major leagues.
Why. then, when We get a player of
real ability-a star-should we put him on
the market and let some major league
get the returns and results for something
we developed? Prohibit the sale of
players to the majors and in three or four
years we would have league that ranked
almost as high in playing class as the big
fellows. Nowadays there is a constant
shifting of line-ups in the A. A., not only
on tailenders, but on the clubs up in the
first division.
Probably the winning ability of the
club depends on two star players The
owner knows this, but he cannot wait
until he gets the majors bidding for the
men, though he knows the disposal of the
pair may cause his team to drop to the
second division the following season.
Prohibit the sale Of players and we will
have better ball. and the higher the grade
the bigger the gate receipts
No. this rule would not be an injustice
to the player" continued Joe, after some
one had asked him whether the player
woundn't suffer under this arrangement.
The draft will stand. of course, and If
any player is entitled to go up he will
surely be drawn in the draft
The Phillies are at present the mystery
of the race. Doom is chock-full of en-