Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-01
KING FIRST Of
NP|CKED To
BUILD Up VOLS
BIZ Schwartz Doesn't Know Just
Where He Stands in the
Holman Case.
NASHVILLE, TENN, Feb. u.s.

n r ASHVILLE, TENN, Feb. Is
" The purchase of Bert King, the
Lookout fly-chaser, is Bill
6chwartz's first step toward making
good on the mysterious paper club"
which he has all along insisted he
would put on for the Vols this sea-
son. The news which came from
Mobile that the Boy Manager had
closed a deal with Moose Mccormick
surprise to those on the inside of
baseball in Nashville. Schwartz has
for a long time past had a paper
team which he had headed with King
as lead-off man, and, while not tell
ing tales out of school, there are
some others on this same paper club
who will make the seven other man
ayers in the Kavanaugh circuit open
their eyes if Bill should be successful
in landing them.
King came to the Vols in a curious
sort of deal as a sort of thank offer
ing to Schwartz for his services in
making it possible for the Lookouts
to grab off Third Baseman Graft.
President Andrews has long been
sweet on the Graft person, and it was
Bill Schwartz and Branch Hickey
who framed up the deal for his re-
turn to Chattanooga this season.
Schwartz and Hickey are great pals,
and 1t was duck soup for Schwartz to
turn the trick for President An
drews, but the Vol pilot drove a hard
bargain in securing an agreement
from the Lookout mogul whereby
King was sold to Nashville.
Will Take Young's Place.
While Bert's average with the stick
Of .271 last season was a few points
under that of Del Young, whose shoes
he will fill, Schwartz figures the for
mer Lookout will travel a fast clip
here, and his knowledge of the game
and speed on the paths will far over
balance any extra hitting which
Young might have delivered.
No tears are being wasted over
Young, who has jumped to the Fed
erals, for Schwartz was dickering
with both Dallas and Evansville for
O. sale of the Cleveland boy, but a
bitter fight will be made before the
National Commission to have Del de-
Clared the property of Nashville, since
ne technically signed his contract in
letter to Schwartz some time ago.
Schwartz can't see the use in folding
his hands and permitting Young to
get away under such circumstances
when he might be brought back and
used in a deal with some club to the
profit OF the Vols.
The same holds true of Artie Hof-
man, who is again rumored to have
Hoped to the Feds. Once before
Circus Solly was said to have signed a
contract with the Pittsburg outlaws,
which he later denied; then story
came along about his having signed
with the Cardinals, and now they
have him signed with Joe Thinkers
gang in Chicago.
Hofman's case is one Of the strang
est mixups that has probably ever
come within the notice of local bugs.
He came to Nashville, along toward
the tail end of last season, out OF
friendship to Schwartz, the Vols pay
ing $1,000 to Pittsburg for his re-
lease. He came under written
agreement that at the end or the
season he was to be declared free
agent or sold to a major league CLUB.
When personal waivers were asked,
Charley Frank gummed the proceed
lngs, and affairs were at a standstill'
Buried the Hatchet.
At the Columbus meeting of the
minor league magnates Artie and
Schwartz passed some hot words over
what Hoffman considered the shabby
treatment he had received from the
Vols, despite an explanation from
Schwartz that ii was Impossible 10
give him an unconditional release
when waivers could not be obtained
/ alter the two, who have been lifelong
friends buried the Ratchet after
Schwartz promised to use his inf1u-
ence in selling Artie to some of the
majors. A deal was arranged for
Artie to become a member OF the
Browns. under a 60-day option, AFTER
which time the former Cub could sign
his contract if he so desired.
Holman pooh poohed the idea,
thinking It an insult to his playing
ability to be saddled off on the
Browns, and refused to be party to
the deal. which was the only arrange
ment Schwartz could make at the
time When the news of his signing
with the Federals came, schwartz
Immediately laid all the papers before
Secretary Farrell, claiming that Hof-
man was still the property Of the
Vols, and asking that his contract
with St. Louis be annulled.