The Washington times., 1914-01-15
Manager Griffith Has Twenty
Players Yet to Sign Con-
tracts For 1914.
JOHNSON WRITES TO BOSS
Great TwirIer Says He's Willing
to Do All Possible to Land
Pennant.
By LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

By LOUIS A. BOUCHER.
Fifteen Climbers have signed up
'Or 1914, according to the contracts
now lying in Clark Grifiith's safe. OF
last years team Walter Johnson,
Chick Gandil, Eddie Ainsmith, Nick
Altrock, Joe Engel, Eddie Foster, and
Ray Morgan have hooked up for an
other campaign under the Old Fox.
I;esides them Doc" Ayres, the Rich
mond twirler; Paul Smith, the
ADRIAN, Mich, outfieIder; Jack Bent
ley, the Sandy Spring, Nd, south
law; Johnny Mumford, the Anacos-
jia twirIer; Bill McCabe, the SEMI
70 outfielder from Chicago; Herman
chwartz, the Brooklyn semi-pro
itcher; Leo Martin, the Bronx
hortstop, and Bill Nye, the semi
,pro outfielder from Springfield, Ohio,
lave signed for big league trials.
wenty players are yet to send IN
leir signed contracts before Griff
i'll have his team in line.
These youngsters signed their con-
acts last year" explained Manager
griffith today, lads ike young Smith,
Schwartz, Martin, and MCIntcrd. OF
curse, the members Of the fraternity
, ould not sign until relieved of their
romise. For those not members this
romise had no weight, end their con-
acts were not signed till recently for
simple reason that I did not send
EN- out until the conference with the
ayers ended
Walter Johnson has communicated
18th the Old Fox. a Letter arriving
ON Coffeyville, Kan, this morning;
Il am in good condition" writes the
''SmoEeban finger" land am longing for
he word TO report. I have taken good
are not to oveTdO anything since the
Ose of the season and ought to be
-oady for the opening day again Hope
s, win the pennant this year and l
shall be willing 10 do my share OF the
oTk TO land it.
Zack Erhard, who received a short
trial with the Clim bers last spring, end
.Eg by the sudden disappearance of the
New York boy through homesickness.
has signed for a trial with the Newark
International League, team.
Lefty High, the Tigers midget
ulity outfielder. has signed. turning
,own StovalFs Federal League offer.
.ay Rogers. Richmond's catcher Of
mas signed Win the i ldHhSSS AO-
tiial. Meldon Wolfgang, Denver
A. twrler. has signed with the White
.-oE. George Burns, the Giants out
der; Nap Rucker, southpaw hlngeE.
I'd OutfieIder -Zack Wheat, both with
Ocklyn: Dick Rudolph, the Braves
tchcr and Arnold Hauser, the Cardi-
r liz shOrtstop. have signed for 1914
. arI Yingling last year with Brooklyn.
b AS signed with the Reds. Charlie
loom has put his name to the papers
~ &1a hill los
'r another season.
The Federal League continues 10 pick
10 spav'ns and lear-big leagueTs, as
a days list indiCa .SS. Guy Zinn. who
Y lied to make good with the Yankees
:: ID the Braves; frank Smith, former
yirler with the White SoX. Reds, and
.Inntreal, and Enos kiTkpatr'Ck, yet to
owe his worth as an outfielder WIFI
re Brooklyn Superoas, have cast their
Is with the outlaws, all going 10 OTTO
rabc's Baltinore Tsrrapins. George
ullIn. who failed miserabiy with tn
'mbers, Is to Join the indianapolis
IAN. In well-nigh every case the play
'.- going to the JU FLAWS are about don"
O.. the diamond and failures in the bi;
:rOw.
IF the Federal League wants such
ea as Mullin. Smith and Zinn,' said
'-JEager Griffith today, they're en-
lied to them. Smith has been in the
rCTs two or three years now. Iinn
u down with Stallinss last year afteT
lying good ball in the Interna tiOnal
} -agUe. Washington fans know enough
bout Mulin to need HO remarks from
@. Indeed, signing such players gives
~ excellent indication Of the calibcr Of
{ IA the new league will show its fans.
succeed in baseball you must give
fans the real stun. Is the Federal
: rague going to 90 it,
Ecw York and Cincinnati ma repIace
ronto and Buffalo in he Federal
O. .sig1Ie circuit according to the --latest
nOrs. Cincinnati Uag have an open
z for team opposing the Reds fu-
bic patronage. -bIIi New York will
-rdly smile on the invaders
ucrt Niehon, the Louisville tEirJ
tscInau. has signed L. play with the
.oI. for 1911, and COED judges sly that
will make the team. Ills work in
ue American Association last ye"r waa
s. rCai thin.
Gt.o Miller. sought " rhc Icd, raj
,3gUc mas aiGned to backsJUp iOT the
oOI;!y SuDerUas. ending another out
J. " dream.
Tho American League loses its writcr-twir-
in tho salc or Carl Z3nlo-k by Tranl.
in 10 tis~ ncn,c- weaIeru L"agUc club.
LamIOck acts as sporting editor OF
.ssyUlt. Mont. paper in tie oG-scasou ami
u tri"s to live up to his dopu in the sum
r..T It was Za"Ilo,E who gave Wall r.
HUa9l au"h q tcrrffic battle last spring in
troit losing ! TO ia fifteen innings b.
p ." a DiF crowd. AttcT that showing Iaur-
X Naa expected 10 make good but he fell
e. Ia efficiency and was sent 10 PrOgideucg
i. bHlsh the season. He goes biicI.
.tHOut a trial by the Tigers.
Vow comes Joe Tinker to say that a double
, yss by Garry Hermann sent him 70 the
q" laws. II never woGId have dreamed OF
.piHg the National League" says Tinker
al they not broken their word to me IN
Cincinnati that I was to remain as manager
, 4 once WAS taught how worthless was
l. WORD Uf major league owner. ] decided
- rsat my lOt with the Federal League
:. .4ch IS composed OF sporssmcu. Hermann
fOI not to worry about my job gi.h ib..
] Ls and immediately laid plans 10 sell me
/ Brooklyn. That's the kind or d double
Gross he handed me.
FRED Carisch. the Maps veteran backsiop
)rs turned down a fancy Offer 70 play with
;, 0yalfE Kansas City Federsls.
For his loyalty 10 the Brooklyn club. Jake
DLubert will receive a handsome boost in his
sHsry figures for I9l4. though iIc has tao
y ars TO go OF a tbree-yesr contract. Presi-
dent Ebbets is thanking his stars that
ntubert had the backbone 10 turn down the