New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-23
GIANTS GIVE THREE
FOR ONE IN BIC DEAL
MCGraW Trades Devore, Ames
and Groh to Cincinnati
for a Pitcher.
ARTHUR FROMME THE MAN
Little Napoleon Decides to
Strengthen His Pitching
Staff No Matter What
the Sacrifice.

Realizing that the case OF the Giants
was a serious one. John j. McGraw made
a radical move to strengthen his team
yesterday by sending Leon Ames. Josh
Devore and Heinie Groh to the Cincin-
natl Reds in a trade for Arthur Fromme,
veteran pitcher of much experience.
The deal. which had been rumored be-
fore. was announced when a shower in
terrupted the game between the st. Louis
Cardinals and the Giants at the Polo
Grounds yesterday. after one inning had
been played. Fromme will join the team
this afternoon.
The transfer. heroic treatment for the
champions. indicates how shaky the
Little Napoleon believes his pennant
chances are. With Marquard uncertain.
Tesreau backward. so far as winning $
concerned. and Demaree laid up with 4
lame back, the need of first class pitch
er at almost any cost was painfully mani
fest. and Fromme was the answer.
The price paid for him was big one.
II would be just about an even thing
between Ames and Fromme, hut with
Josh Devore thrown In any manager
ought 10 be satisfied with the deal. Joe
Tinker. however, was evidently in posi-
ton 70 apply the screws. and McGraw
was forced to give up Groh. young In
fielder of the highest promise.
Fromme has been with the Cincinnati
Reds four or five years and is in his
prime now. if not a little past 1t. He
has always been considered a good pitch
er. although throughout hts career in the
big leagues he has broken just about
even on games won and lost some years
being above .5o0 and other years below.
He is older in the game than Suggs, VINO
has maintained a much better record over
the last five seasons while working for
the same team
II is felt that with strong support
Fromme will shine and come into his own
as a star twirler. but he is one Of those
men who seem 10 be pursued by hard
luck. after the fashion Of Leon Amcs.
Many Of his best pitched games have
been lost by an accidental home run or a
misplaced error In one game al the Polo
Grounds last season he held New York
10 three hits. but each was circuit cloUt
and gave the Giants the victory He
pitched a one-hit game this year, but
lost.
Fromme hopes to leave the ink with
Cincinnati He won sixteen and lost
nineteen games with the Reds last season.
taking part in forty-three contests and
twirling twenty-three complete games
He was twenty-rinth or the list in this
manner of reckoning. but under the new
system he jumped up 20 twelfth place,
with an average OF 2.74 earned runs a
game
Ames has been with the Giants for eight
or nine years and has done some brill
liant work in spots. At one time Johnny
King declared Leon was the best pitcher
in the National League. His great speed
and wide curve ball made him extremely
effective. but lack Of control undid lot
Of his good work. When he was in his
best form he was almost unbeatable, but
he has been erratic and unreliable except
for one or two winning streaks. One OF
his best runs came in 1908. when he
teamed up with Mathewson and carried
the Giants up 10 within a game OF the
Cubs. making possible the famous Merkle
incident
In the last two pennant winning years
Ames has not done a great deal Of work.
In 1911 he won eleven games and lost ten,
and last year won eleven and lost five.
He was a twirler who pitched many a
good battle but was beaten because of
moor support or weak hitting on the part
Of his teammates He was essentially a
had the task Of opening the season, los
ing each year. His greatest performance
came in 1909, when he held the Brooklyn
superbas TO no hits in nine innings and
lost the game in the thirteenth.
Josh Devore blossomed out as a regular
in the season Of 1910 after short eX-
perience on the bench. He Immediately
Jumped into popularity with the fans"
and did much 10 deserve it.. He Is right
at his prime now. and is one Of the fast
est and best base runners in the league.
He is a good fielder, with fine arm but
a light hitter. although formidable in the
pinches. II Josh. left handed batsman,
could hit southpaws as easily as right
handlers his batting average would be up
around 500.
DeNOTt eyes brSdil W CNN"iN ''''''
season, and he put the blame on the sun
field al the Polo Grounds. lie complained
10 McGraw and asked TO be shifted.
Burns was consigned TO left this season
and a fight was on between Devore ana
Snodgrass for centre until Shafer was
exiled there and settled the dispute once
and for all
Devore had a batting average OF .S1o
last season in 1O6 games. He is the type
of man who would rather be playing regu-
larly on a team in the cellar than sitting
on the bench with the Giants, so he ought
10 be we'll pleased with the deal.
The slipping away Of Heinie Groh VIII
be keen disappointment to many fans"
who are convinced Of a brilliant future
for the youngster. He has been training
in the McGraw school for two years sub
stituting for a while last year In Few
games and turning in a batting average
Of .27l McGraw wanted 70 keep Groh,
but Joe Tinker forced him 10 give some
thing besides used material.
The youngster has long been ripe for