The Washington herald., 1913-10-25
Should Play Baker
In Outfield'- '---Griff
Old Fox Thinks Connie Mack
Has Spoiled Fine Fly
Chaser by Making
Him Play Third.
OTHER SPORT COMMENT
By WILLIAM PEET.

IF I had Frank Baker, of the Ath-
Ietics," said Clark Grifith, during fan
ming bee yesterday, II would play him
in the outfield-that's where ne belongs
not on third base.
Baker is not a good third baseman.
He fights the ball and is SO awkward
that 1 often wonder how he ever tags
a base runner without getting his legs
cut on
According to the Old Fox a grievous
mistake has been made by Connie Mack
all these years, but as long as the
Trappe terror continues to wallop the ball
for 800 or better Mack will hardly bother
looking around for anc ther third sacker.
Understand me-" added Griff, 81 don't
say that Baker is not good ball player,
but Mack has spoiled a natural out1elder
by making him over into a third base
man. / only wish We had him in Wash
ington. 1 would stick him right out in
one of the garden patches. and I'll wager
all I've got that he would prove SEN
sation."
In discussing the Athletics, Grif al
ways has been a great admirer of Jack
Barry, the Mackmen's clever shortstop,
and considers Jack the best short fielder
in the American League next to George
Mcbride.
In trying to buy a veteran outfelder
from one of the National League clubs,
and Griffith admits that he has irons in
the fire for several days, he said: The
men am after are considered by many
experts to be ready for the minors and
1 believe that will be able to land one
of the bunch before the 1914 season
opens
"Of course, I will be taking a chance,
but If am lucky enough to pick up
player with one more year OF major
league baseball left in him, he will
strengthen my team while 1 am develop
ing young players. and, believe me, l
know the players I am after and what
they can do, for I have only been out
of the National League two years"
The Old Fox also admits that he
would be willing to take a chance with
Johnny Bates, of the Cincinnati Reds,
in case Garry Herrmman wants to get
rid of him, and the necessary waivers
can be obtained.
Griff has been criticised by Washington
fans and others for permitting Joe Con-
molly, the former Montreal outfielder, to
slip through his fingers and go to
the Boston National League club.
1t has been pointed out that Connolly
hit like a house afire in Beantown anG
was considered one of the most promis-
ing recruits of the past season.
In reply to all this, Griff has little to
say. Connolly is not my style, and I
did not want him." the Old Fox as
serted.
The following dispatch from Philadel-
phia should be of considerable interest
here:
Philadelphia. Oct. 2L-Connie Mack.
manager of the athletics, today branded
as absolutely false the lineup of an all
star baseball team alleged TO have been
picked by him as the greatest baseball
aggregation in the world.
With the alleged Mack lineup was
published the alleged picking of nine
other big league managers. Besides
branding the story untrue, Mack de-
Clared that, should he pick a team, he
would be forced TO give Ty Cobb a place
upon it. something that was not done
by the person who picked the aIl-star
team for Mack.
Il did not pick an all-star team, neither
did / give my consent for any one to
do it for me-" said Mack. Furthermore,
] would not pick such team ior publi-
cation, as 1 do not believe in stirring up
trouble among players. and I think pick
ing an all-star &eam is foolish business
The members of the Giants and Ath-
letics have set a record at money-max-
ing that should make old John D. and
others of his ilk turn a pale heliotrope
with envy. 1t has been estimated that
the Oil King makes something like 81. 10
every minute of the day awake or other
wise. During the worlds series the Ath-
letics, who knocked down the big end of
the receipts, were earning something
like S51.74 every minute of play. The
Giants didn't earn as large wages, of
course, but they did pretty well, making
$3449 a minute during the encounter.
The Athletics were handed SS.24 and
played just 627 minutes, and the Giants,
who played the same length of time, got
envelopes containing SIG. Figure it out
for yourself. Any ball. player should be
pleased with the honor of playing in the
worlds series.