New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-14
Purchase of Tinker for a
Record Price BOlSterS
Up the Team.
EBBETS EXPLAINS HIS
REASON FOR BUYING
Calls Fans Across the Bridge the
Best and Most Loyal in
the Country.


in the Waldorf-Astoria on Friday after
noon have cast an odd light on the next
National League campaign and VIII
cause REIMBURSEMENT OF team values all
along the line.
With Joe Tinker at short for the ST.
perbas. for the record-breaking cost OF
So, 900: Konetchy at first for the Pitts
burgh Pirates. along with Bob Harmon
and Mike Mowrey. in other positions.
Charlie Herzog at the helm in Cincinnati
and Bob Bescher in the outfield of the
Giants, the task Of picking the next
pennant winner will be fraught with
more difficulty than ever
II takes only a glance 20 discern that
the Superbas and Pirates have been APP
probably strengthened-enouSh. in fact,
10 become formidable cOntenders for the
flag. The Giants will be far better on
with a star outfelder. The gain TO Gin
cinnati In Herzog and Hartley is prob
lematic while the nondescript lot, con-
ssting of Dolan. Wilson, Miller. Butler
and Robinson. which Miller Huggins har-
vested for the Cardinals, is OF doubtful
value. But in St Louis's case. any move
is bound to result in some good.
Charley Ebbets had not recovered yes
terday from the shock Of at last attach
ing Tinker to the payroll after all hope
Of making the deal had disappeared.
Toward the end Of an afternoon that had
found the corks popping merrily around
the convivial board Garry Hermann be-
came obsessed with the idea that Charley
Ebbets was bluffng when he made the
big offer for Tinker.
"Hc insisted on calling what he called
bluff" said Ebbets yesterday, and
what could | do? The whole thinG came
like thunder clap out Of a clear sky.
] tried TO get him away where we could
talk in private, but he would not have
il. and declared that the whole deal must
ne transacted before the eyes OF a hun
dred or more in the room. There was
nothing for me TO do but go through
with il.
II know that ,25 900 is big price TO
nay for any ball player. We figured that
Tinker was worth about $1,000 TO us. but
as We were hard up for a shortstop, were
willing TO make it $4,000 When the
chance came 10 get him we counted that
if II meant the difference between win
ming and losing.
There is 10 sentiment in baseball, and
the transaction was put through from
purely business point of view We nave
invested q lot Of money IN a new plant
and have the best and most loyal baseball ,
puUlic In the country.
we could afford to pay $4,000 with
the new field when the best we could oner
would be $4,000 with the old. The park
Is there 10 get the money from. we
figure that the extra 5000 will be re-
turned in the exhibition games in the
spring. five with the Yankees and TWO
with the Athletics. Tinker as drawing
card will bring in this amount OF money
over and above that which could be ordl-
narilv counted on.
The Suporbas are stronger now than
I'm wears. raubert. CutShaw. Tinker ana
Smith form the best infeld in the League
With good pitching we will finish In the
first division to a moral certainty, anu
will be in the thick OF the pennant race
throughout the wear with a strong pos
sibility OF capturing the fag
glow brightly with two Of the smartest
and brainiest players In the League az
short and first Daubert and Tinker po''
hard 300 htters. are team in theh-
selves. and Cutshaw is a youngster from
whom much will be heard next season
Smith has already proved his worth ana
turnod in batting average OF 20 last
summer. which with Dauberts $50 ana
Tinker's .3l7. makes an ntleld of offensive
strength approaching that Of the Attn
letics.
Mr. Ebbets said yesterday that he and
bis associates the Nckeever brothers.
vere still in the market for one hard nit
ting outfielder and a first class pitcher.
He added however that much was ex-
pected of the present pitching staff under
the direction OF Wilbert Robinson. az
the club had several good prospects
ready for development
Mr. Ebbets also said that he had made
an offer to August Hermann for Dick
Egan. the infelder, but that he did not
think It would he accepted.
The Giants will be much improved next
season. the outhed problem being part
~ solved by the addition OF BesCher
Burns will stick in his position, so that
either Snodgrass or Murray will be
shelved. Freds batting average OF .2Sl
last season. the best of the New York
outergardeners, commands much respect
Murray had only a .267. but made up for
weak stick work by fine defensive play
ing and base running IL Is hard TO say
which OF the two will be benched.
Fred Clarke with one fell swoop boil
stored IN his team in sterling fashion,
but after his now characteristic way at
tached a lot OF veteran players, who will
make the Pirates powerful for season
or two. but are really only temporary
makeshft.
For many years first base has been a
weak spot on the Pittsburgh team, and
the advent OF Konetchy will mean much.
Although he batted last year only four
points better than Jack Miller, who went
TO the Cardinals, the figures being 27s
and 90 he Is a better all around first
baseman. He does not bring much hit
ting strength, but his base running is
better
Mike Mowrey is a fair sort of third
baseman. He is a veteran of skill and a
great Improvement over "Cozey" Dolan.
but his hitting is nothing extra, the
figures for last season being go. The
Pittsburgh inheld. consisting Of Mowrey.