The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-18
SITUATION HINGES ON
CHIEF JOHNSON CASE
Ban B. Looks for q Favorable
Decision, Which, He Says,
Will Settle Feds.
KAvANAUGH LOST FOR $3.50
Ebbets Had String on Man
Who Is Causing Sensation
in American League.
KAVANAUGH LOST FOR $3.50

Thoroughly satisfied that the American
League Is back once more on the crest OF
public popularity, Ban johnson shook the
dust OF this city from his feet and set out
for Washington, D. G. Ban expects 10
leave tho East 10 Its own fate for a while
and will hurry homo from the Capital
city tomorrow. He wishes TO be in Chi
cago for at least portion OF the trial OF
the Chief johnson case 80 that lie may
lend moral and II need DO physical sup
port TO his Old friend Garry Hermann
The johnson case Just now IS tho most
potent factor OF the fight with independent
baseball" said Mr.. johnson. '1f Mr..
Hermann wins his suit then will have
been sounded the death knell OF tho Fed
eral League. The hands OF Gilmore and
his associates will have been securely tied
for all time. Johnson's case calls into
litigation the ten days release clause, tho
! only alleged inequity Of tho 1914 major
! league contract Now II this point OF
contention Is decided IN our favor organ
fzed baseball viii be armorproof Tho
best legal talent OF this country has as
sured ~ We will win and I am sure We
will.
| Here Is tho situation In a nutshell
II tho option for release of a player on ten
days notice is substantiated all the ave-
nues Of minor league talent will be closed
| TO the Federals Uniform contracts after
the style used In the National and Amer
| lean leagues would then be practical in
| every protected league. And In this case
Gilmore and his associates would realize
at once that they would have TO develop
players from amateur. sem-professionaf
independent and college ranks. That, l
| think. would be too tedious process
Tho Federal League Is hanging on dog
gedly for two reasons II hopes to break
the contract OF rights OF tho big leagues
! by establishing inequity or in the event
Of failure to secure the cream OF tho fast
minor leagues next fall. Knock these am
billions out of the heads OF the outlaws
and you will see a great scurryin. to
cover"
Ban believes he can scent from afar
one OF those old fashioned American
/ League finishes
-Four or Ave clubs arc likely to fight
II out right up TO the last week." said he.
Several OF the clubs have made wonder
full improvement Take New York, for
instance. ] think Frank Chance has ac-
conr,llshed wonders, for he had absolutely
nothing with which to start. He has now
a very fine young team and one that
might fight II out with Detroit ard Phtla-
dephia II he had one or two hitters OF the
Cobb-Crawford stamp. Chances pitchers
are as formidable as can be found any
where.
'"Then look at st. Louis, There r. q
baseball club, can tell you, that Is bound
to surprise every one. Branch Tlc6ey
has surprised me with tho excellence OF
his manager.al ability. He has his boys
full Of fight all the time. lie has good
f,ft ha a,Hl a1 1E ~ M
hitting strength"
TIE great luck Of baseball is we'll Illus.
trated In the case OF Marty kavanaugh,
, the fine young second baseman OF Detroit
In the opinion of Hugh Jennings and most
Of his rivals who have seen the Tigers this
season no other than Kavanaurh il re,
, sponsible for the vast Improvement OF the
Tigers. Kavanaugh appears fine fielder
n daring base runner and deadly hitter,
Yet our old friend Charles II. Ebbet.
couldn't see him for $3.50.
, Kavanaush, a native OF a Newark
! suburb, was the property OF Ebbets "A year
. ago He didn't look very we'll with the
: Indians and was farrned out 10 York OF
optional agreement. Newark might hav,
recalled him last fall for the sum OF $3.50
(: but couldn't see him for that stupendou,
: figure So.Jennings put IN a draft ON tn,
. recommendation OF friend and securcc
/. the phenOm for the small sum of $3.50.
!, For while last spring even tile Opt
mistic Hugh thought ne had been golC
bricked Kavanaush reported Ill az Gulf
port, Miss, and was Immediately sen
north. lie wasn't given any oonsldera
: ton until Plpp. who had been assigned (,
: first base. exploded. Burns. VINO nat
. played at second. was shifted to nrst
where he made good from the start. Thei
Jennings remembered that Kavanaugll
!. who had been drafted as a third base