Evening star., 1914-11-18
MACK NOT TOILET
BAKER GET AWAY
Story That Player of Home
Run Fame Is High-SaIaried
Not True.
BAN JOHNSON MANAGES
TO KEEP UNDER COVER
New York Scribes Fail to Locate
Big Chief, Though He's
in Town.
BY J. ED GRILLo.

Perhaps one of the most absurd ru-
mors that was ever started is the one
which placed "Home-Run" Baker on
the market. In certain quarters this
story is taken seriously, even by club
owners. who expect to make bids for
the Athletics great player. Mack is
said to have decided to rid himself
of Baker because he is a high-priced
player, but such is not the case. There
are a whole lot of players on every
! major league club whose ability does
not compare with that of Baker who
are drawing just as much money.
1t may be surprise, but it is fact.
nevertheless, that Baker drew $4,000
! last season, and under existing condi-
tions these are rather ordinary fig
ures.
There is not a chance for Mack to
let Baker get away from him. He is
not only a steady, honest player of
great hitting ability, but he is not de-
manding anything exorbitant in the
Mack.
Perhaps the best exemplification of
the fact that organized base ball is no
seriously is shown by the fact that
Mack and others are cutting loose
some real ball players, who year
ago would have fiocked to the Federal
League. Besides, the American League
has decided to cut its playing list way
down to limit much lower than 1t
has been in recent years. If the Feds
are willing to grab up these disgrun-
| tied stars. there seems to be no objec-
ton on the part of organized base ball.
Creditors of Ban Johnson. the strate-
gic president of the American League.
will doubtless be panied to learn that
base balls cZar has solved the riddle
of invisibility, says the New York
Sun. Ban can now fade into thin air at
a moments notice.
For two days now the bloodhounds
of the press hive secured Gotham and
environs for a glimpse of Bans rotund
! parsonage. all to no avail. Ban has re-
vealed himself only to divers friends
of the reporters. Several sober. re-
liable and Intelligent citizens of this
city declare they have seen Mr.. john
son at various times between o'clock
Sunday morning and last midnight.
Representatives of organized base ball
are all positive that, if he is in New
York, johnson has suddenly contract
ed an unknown vein of modesty. 1t IS
not his custom to hide his light under
i bushel.
| It was rumored yesterday that Mr.
johnson could be found at the Garden
| CITY Hotel, a guest of Joseph ]: Lannin,
president of the Boston Red Sox. No
one at that hostelry had ever heard of
| the American League executive A can
yass of the New York hotels failed to
unrayel the mystery. To all intents
and purposes Ban is a thousand miles
away.
The proposed limiting of the Ameri-
can League clubs to twenty-five play
ers. IS going to meet with the opposi-
tjon If the New York National League
club. when the old league is asked to
give it's approval to this plan. Here
Is what John McGraw thinks about
limiting the number of players a club
such radical legislation to go into
effect Immediately would be a great
hardship on most of the energetic
club owners" declared McGraw. 1t
would be a rank injustice to compel
any owner to sacrifice lot of men for
whom he had expended thousands OF
dollars through purchase and draft.
or course, it would be a boon for sec
ond division clubs. They would be
able to recruit at the expense OF their
rivals enterprise. A minimum roster
limit should not be attempted before
the various managements have every
opportunity to protect themselves in
regard to the purchases and drafts for
1915"