The Washington times., 1913-04-17
GRIFFITHDE
EGAN Is RELEASED
"Od Fox Insists That He Has Not Yet Let Go His String on
Young Catcher, and That Connie Mack Has
:. Not Sent Him to Baltimore.
By SENATOR"


NEW YORK. April 1.-THE report
from Philadelphia that Connie Mack
has released Ben Egan to the Baltimore
club is incorrect said Manager Grif-
fifth this morning. II have yet to waive
claim to this player. He is not going
TO get away from me while 1 think /
may need him to help out my ball club.
They must have, put 1t over on me
while 1 was asleep, If they got Egan
out of this league. That story is
wrong"
Jack Dunn, manager of the Balti-
more Orioles, has been trying to get
Egan for his team. Last week he paid
a visit to Washington for a talk with
Manager Griffith, trying to get his per-
mission to let the player out of the
American League. However, in the
present condition of the Climbers
catching staff, Griffith declined 70
waive.
The strength or weakness of the
Climbers behind the bat this season Will
be shown conclusively within few
days. Today John Henry, who has been
on the hospital list since last season, Is
expected to get a thorough trial In
regular game, catching his old side
partner Bob Groom. II Henry goes
through today's test successfully, Mana
ger Griffith will then think about letting
Egan leave this league.
Before leaving the Capital Manager
Griffith presented his ten days notice
of release to Jack Egan,s the semi-pro
backstop. and to Bob Austin, the Wes-
leyan College southpaw twirler, both of
whom were. given trials with the Climb
ors this spring. Griffith has been try
ing to land berths for both these young
players but has failed.
All New York, from the nethsrmost
ends of Brooklyn to thespurlieus Of far
away Bronx, is prepared today to give
Frank Leroy Chance. Peerless Leader,
a welcome to live long in the memory
OF all fortunate enough to be within the
spacious confines of the Polo Grounds
Long detested villain in the minds OK
the New Yorker, Chance has become
hero merely by shifting his allegiance
from Chicago to the greatest city in the
Western Hemisphere-little old New
York
Gotham yearns for a winner. Hal
Chase, given the nucleus of a good team
by George StaIlings, tried and failed.
Some say that Hal was too Sood-hearted
TO use the iron hand Anyway. he
failed, and Immediately became anath-
ema.
Last year chubby Harry Wolverton
was wished upon the New York CLUB.
He had forgotten major league tactics
through long service in the bushes.
He experimental and experimental, but
got nowhere. He failed. If his continual
Experimenting would not have nrought
his downfall, his extreme hard luck
would anyway. There were times when
the Yankees positively resembled a
class c team. So Harry failed, ana
moved on to California.
Johnson Steps In.
Ban Johnson, archon Of the American
League. realized that to make baseball
really reach its height of prosperity,
he must put winning club into New
York Fortunately for him his arch
enemy, "Chatteying" Charlie Murphy.
boss of the Cubs and general disturber
of baseball, picked on his manager.
Murphy knew that Chances contract
was about TO end. He knew, too, that
the contract required MURPHY TO Keep
his hands off the team. SO Murphy, IN
order not to tie himself up to any such
a contract in the future, picked a quar-
rel with the man who had won pennants
and worlds titles for the West Side
team in Chicago. And that was where
Fan johnson stepped in.
Chance did not hesitate to reply to
Murphy in the latter's OWN terms.
When Murphy lied, Chance called him
liar Both men kept the wires blaz-
ing with their messages. Finally Chance
decided to quit the diamond, going 10
his orange groves in California. He
had done his work. He had made a
winner out of a team generally doped to
finish third or worse Bat his retire
ment was not to be long. Ban Johnson
got busy.
Il must have a winning team in New
York" thought Ban johnson. Tine
team looks good now on paper II
lacks a driver I'll get Chance" And
he did.
Frank Farrell. the quiet owner OF the
Yankees, stood ready TO pour his money