The Washington herald., 1913-01-09
Chance Signs Up
For $4,000 a Year
Peerless Leader to Manage the
Yankees for Three Seasons
at Record Price.
FRANK FARRELL SATISFIED

worry. Frank Chance to-day fell on the
fence on the New York side and signed
three-year contract to manage the
Yankees at a,hgure that makes each in
dividuaI orange look like the proverbial
grain of mustard seed.
Inquiries regarding this figure failed
to develop anything tangible. When
asked about II. Frank Farrell. owner of
the Yanks. passed the buck up to Chance
and Chance passed il hack to Mr.. Far
rell. There was no opportunity afford
ed to sneak a glance at the contract
itself. so we are in the dark regarding
certain things il contained.
It is safe to say that the P. L. will
draw more money than was ever given
a baseball manager before. There were
several guesses' at the amount and the
most conservative was SIS 900 per annum
and per cent share N the profits.
From that the estimates ran all the
way up to $4,000 year and a per cent
slice.
Pen and Ink Used.
Whatever the stipend, the mention Of
1t to-day by President Farrell caused
Chance to change his mind in a hurry,
give up the idea of staying out of base
ball for a year, and ask for pen and ink.
The second conference between the
New York magnate and the p. L. started
about noon to-day. 1t wound up in Ban
Johnson's office in the Fisher Building
at half past two. Ban himself arose
from a sick bed to be in at the finish.
Newspaper men had been notified there
would be something doing at 30. When
the scribes congregated in Mr.. Johnson's
outer Office President Farrell escorted
Chance from the room and said. In vi
brate tones: Boys, l present to you the
new manager OF the Yanks.'
The boys remembered the new man
ayers face and finally recalled his name.
Then the bunch went down stairs for
refreshments. Later Mr.. Farrell sub
mitted to the following interview:
Where are the Yanks going TO train?''
ASK the manager
Who is going to be your shortstop?"
Ask Chance"
rs your outfeld to be the same as
last year, before the cyclone struck it?'
Confer with the Peerless Leader"
Question the p l..
AS a matter OF fact, President Farrell
was smiling so broadly he could not
compose his mouth for a long sentence.
So the questions and some more were
hurled at the P L.
Well" said Chance. I'VE are going to
train in Bermuda. It's a fourty-two hour
ride from New York by boat. We will
leave New York about the twenty-seventh
of February. We viii remain in Bermuda
until the first week in April and then will
60 directly back to New York by boat
Il am going back home Saturday, but
will pack UP in a little while and plan
to arrive in New York in time for the
american League meeting. which is to
be held on February II.
IN stay in the big town from that
time until We start South.
Mr.. Farrell has given me the clubs
reserve list, and that's about all ] know
concerning the players. except what I
have learned from hearsay.
Mr.. Farrell and the other American
Leaguers have treated me royalty. and
will give them the best I have"
Here a scribe interposed:
You're going to see lot OF Ed Walsh
this year.
Don't talk about it." replied Chance
I've already seen enough of him to put
a hundred gray hairs in my head. and I
don't know what will happen to me IL
have to think about him in twenty-five
games per season."
Another scribe spoke up:
Have you ever seen Joe Wood or
Walter Johnson"
What do you want to do? Discourage
me right at the START"
So some one dropped a consoling word
about Russell Ford and Hal Chase.
Chase Can Play Second.
I've Seen Chase play second base on
the Coast" said the peerless leader, land
he looked good in that position. He may
play there, too" he added. smiling, "as
I'm not at all convinced that can't play
first base myself
President Farrell finally managed to
say: I'm happier now than have been
since breaking into baseball. think We
have the greatest manager in the coun-
try, and ! know hey will put the neces-
sary fighting spirit iuto our club. And
when we come out here in Nav We are
going I o lick your White Sox four
straight
l resident johnson spoke as follows:
I've always considered Chance one of
the greatest of baseball men, and I'm de-
lighted to have him in our league. All
the other managers in the league will
welcome him, and the hotter he makes |
the fight the better
Good Move for League.
President Comiskey. of the sox. who
arrived on the scene late, said: This
is the greatest move the American |
Laggue ever made. don't think
Chance will heat us four straight on the !
first trip. but I'd rather lose four to |
him than to any one l know" |
Mike Sexton, Mordecai Brown, Joe Tin
ker, and other baseball celebrities con-
gratulated Mr.. Farrell on landing |
Chance.
President Farrell will leave for New
York on the Twentieth Century to-mor- |
row. He is perfectly satisfied with the |
result of his two days labors here
The Yanks will have a series Of four
games in Chicago the first week in May |
President Comisley is already making |
to accommodate a crowd |