The Washington herald., 1913-12-07
BIG Meeting
IN new YORK
NEXT TUESDAY
National League Magnates IN
Annual Conclave Friendly
Session Is Predicted.
GRIFFITH WILL ATTEND
Washington Manager Hopes to Pull
of Trade or Two-Other
Sporting Gossip.
ny WILLIAM PEET.

For the first time in years the
coming annual meeting of the Ma
tional League in New York, which
starts next Tuesday, promises to be
nice. quiet social session, instead
of the usual stormy gathering.
= The firing of Tom Lynch and the
formal hiring of Gov. John K.
Tener. of Pennsylvania, as presl-
dent, in Lynch's place, removes the
last chance for a war of words,
chickering's, and dissention among
the various magnates, for this one
position has caused trouble ever
since the death of Harry Pulliam.
Washington fans will be interest
ed in the doings of the National
Leaguers for the reason that Clark
Griffith has announced his intention
of being among those present, in
the hope of pulling off a trade or
two which will strengthen his
forces for 1914.
baseball writer's that he hardly expects
ITO land any ball players from the old
league but the fact remains that GrlH
is going to make the trip, and certain
significance is attached to this, for the
local pilot would hardly care TO go TO
New York unless he was reasonably sure
that something would come OF this Visit
II is known that Griff has his eye on
several outfelders on the National
haIi
of them would add just the necessary
hitting strength to make the CliJnbers
a factor in the 1914 pennant Tight and
the writer predicts that the Old Fox viii
not leave New York empty handed.
For the last two months the atmos-
phere throughout the country has been
pretty well cluttered up with trade talks
From all the rumors that were floating
around one would imagine that about half
the teams in the old league were going
10 trade or sell their star players, While
the other half were going to give them
away.
More New York Giants are involved In
the rumors than any other players.
Whether the New York club Will put
through any real deals is a question.
Manager McGraw, the David Harum" of
the Giants, is now in the neighbOrhood
Of Shanghai. Secretary John Foster will
act as McGraws proxy, but will not
have the unlimited power in making
trades that McGraw would have exer
cised in person
Joe Tinker's case will he disposed of at
.1he meeting. Charles Ebbets, owner OF
he Dodgers, wants Garry Hermann TO
turn Tinker over to him.
George Stallings, manager of the
Braves, will be at the meeting angling
for Mike Mowrey, of the Cardinals, but
the chances are he won't be successful
The Cardinal folk like Mowrey and havs
decided TO keep him. The same is true
aconcerning Outfelder Magee, who is
wanted by the Giants and several other
clubs.
Manager Fred Clarke. Of the Pirates
is anxious to dispose of Infielder DOlan,
Outfelder Mitchell, and Catcher Wilson.
None of the trio is a star any longer,
end Clarke will have some trouble dis
posing of them unless he offers bargain
rates.
now. but before the meeting adjourns
next week some surprising trades are eX-
pected to take place.
Ball players in the major leagues on
several Of the clubs have learned the
deaf and dumb alphabet and can talk
with their fingers almost as Well as with
their lips.
On the Philadelphia Athletics Danny
Murphy, Ira Thomas, Jack Lapp, and
others are adopts at using the sign Ian
guage, and it comes in handy many
times.
The writer had occasion to pay the
NacEmen a visit one night last summer.
The team occupied the entire front steps
leading to the main entrance of the
Bellevue Hotel. for the night was un-
usually warm and hard game had
been played that day.
During a short chat with Murphy, the
veteran changed the subject and sug-
rested that a cool stein of Pilsner and
a few crackers might not go bad
.'Wait a minute and I'll get Jack Lapp
70 come along" said Murphy, who held
I'M his right hand and wiggled his
'fngers. "Iapp will join us when he can
get away" he added.
Later during the evening in reply TO a
question. Murphy vouchsafed the follow
INC. .sYou see, Connie Mack does not
,approve of his young players drinking
besr. although he has no objection to
some of Us older men taking glass once
in a while, and we always go 10 some
ouiet out of the way place. Lapp and
can talk on our fingers, SO can some of
the Others, and we find it mighty con-
venient on various occasions"