New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-05
Assures r. B. Ward That
Giants Have No Legal
Claim on Him.
NEW YORK CLUB
TO FIGHT DEAL
Foster and Heydler Insist That
Pitcher Is Bound to Old
Team by Contract.
By HAYWOOD BROUN.


RUDE Msrquard, pitcher Of the New
York Giants, signed a contract yester-
day with the Brooklyn Tip Tops. The
question as to where he will play next
season seems still 10 be open to debate.
Robert B. Ward, president OF the
Brooklyn Federal League Club, SAID
that the big left-hander before signing
his Federal League contract made an
affidavit that he was not legally bound
70 the Giants for another season.
John B. Foster. secretary OF the
Giants, takes exception TO this; We
sre not worrying" said Mr.. roster
"Marquard is bound to us under two
contracts for the seasons of 1915 and
1916. and we have an option on his ser
vices for 1917 The first contract is his
regular baseball contract. 1t contains
no ten-day clause provision for release.
We also hold another contract with
Marquard, and this IS personal con
tract between the National Exhibition
Company and Vanguard"
John Heydler, secretary OF the Ma
tional League, also was positive In his
assertion that Vanguard could not play
with the Tip Tops. IF contracts are
worth anything Marquard must play
with tho Giants" said Mr.. Heydler. 81
have here in the once a contract, and
* covers two more years. 1t has none
Of the features which rendered the old
style contracts invalid"
Hampstead Threatens Ward
Harry n. Hampstead, owner Of the
Giants, intimated that he might take
the matter into the courts, not only to
hold Msrouard, but to bring action
against Robert b. Ward "If it is true
that Marquard has jumped" he said, lit
Is quite possible that no more Jumping
will occur. There is legal redress for
those who suffer because employees un-
der contract are tempered with, and
will consult my attorneys in regard to
taking some action against the Wards
81 they have tempered with Msrquard."
But there was still more wrath TO
descend upon the pitcher. DAVID L.
Fultz, president Of the Players Frater-
nifty, issued the following statement:
Information has reached me that
Rube Marouard. in spite of the fact
that he IS under a binding contract
with the New York club for the season
of 1915, has signed with the Brooklyn |
Federal League Club. The report is
hard to believe, as / feel sure the
Brooklyn people would not knowingly |
sign player under these circum-
stances. If Marqusrd has done this he
will unquestionably be expelled from
tho Baseball Players fraternity, as the
directors absolutely will not counte-
nance any such disregard Of their obli-
cations by its members"
In the face of all this criticism Rob-
ert B. Ward declared that he had not
sought out the pitcher, but that Mar
guard had come to him and had made a
proposition. Acting upon the affidavit
4k.% ka utfrbar Declaring hlH
freedom as baseball agent, Mr.. Ward
gave him 1900 advance money. "lf 1t
Is true that Marquar6 is not a free
agent" said Mr.. Ward, "of course, we
don't want him. If he has not acted In
good faith we shall take him into court
on our own account"
Mr.. Ward refused to state the terms
of the contract which Vanguard signed
or its duration. II is believed to be for
three years.
A sporting" Contract
The owner of the Tip Tops said that
the contract was q sporting one. RUDE |
Marquard will be paid only com
paratively small sum In a straight
salary, but he will receive q generous
bonus for every game which he wins.
Mr. Ward is right in referring to the |
contract as & sporting one. Bonus |
agreements always depend on the ele- |
ment of chance, but in the case OF |
Rube Vanguard the gamble is intensi- |
fed.
Rube is distinctly two-speed /
pitcher, forward and reverse. Thus, II |
he pitched in his 1912 form, when he
won nineteen straight, II might be |
necessary to turn over the bakeries TO /.
him. On the other hand, If Marqusrd |
pitched as he did last season, the year /
Of the twelve straight reverses, he /
would have to turn over all the re- /
ceipts of his winter vaudeville tour in 1
order 70 come out square with the Tip !
Tops.
Marquard won fame as the si1 900 |
beauty when he came TO the Giants in |
the fall of 1908 from the Indianapolis
club, Of the American Association.
After little he became known as the
sil 900 lemon, and IL seemed for many
weary years as IL he never would be
able 70 pitch winning baseball Wilbert
Robinson took him in hand finally, and
by eeaseless coaching taught him con-
troll. In 1911 he won a number Of
games, but failed 70 show good form
In the worlds series after Frank
Baker broke his heart with a home run.
His best year was 1912, when he ran
nineteen straight. This run carried
MIN from the mlQOie OF April 10 tn6
beginning of July, and while IL was on
he met and defeated all the stars OF
the National League. IL was Jimmy
Lavender, Of the Cubs, who finally
smashed the string.
Weak Against Athletics.
Rube again lived up to his reputa-
ton that fall as being a poor worlds
series performer, and again in 1918, al
though useful throughout the season,
be was weak against the Athletics.
Last season showed RUDE at mis- worst,
for in addition TO losing twelve games
in a row he had many smaller strings
Of reverses. He showed an ability to
lose one, two, three or four games
whenever the Giants needed victory
most, and upon his shoulders rests the /
greater part Of the blame that the /
Giants were not able 10 hold their /
early lead.
Rube married Blossom Seeley, his /
vaudeville partner, in 1918, and has
spent several seasons on the stage as a |
member Of the team of Blossom Seeley
and Husband. He is a confirmed left
handler.
Everybody admits that Bill KLEIN is
a good umpire" says a Chicago news
paper. We didn't even know he was
STICK
Al any rate Walter johnson is not
30 che 4nO mn a I