The Washington herald., 1914-06-05
FEDS Will NOT
Sign johnson
Griffith Says They Haven t
Enough Money to
Get Him.
OTHER NATIONAL NOTES
Chick Gandil Turns Down Brooklyn
Ofer-Eddie Ainsmith
Joins Club.
BN WILLIAM PEET.

Albany, n. Y. June A. Cen route with
the Washington Baseball Club)-Manager
Chance. of the New Yorks, was only too
glad to cancel the remaining game of the
series against the Griffmen scheduled for
the Polo Grounds this afternoon. Walter
johnson was slated to do the fiinging for
Washington, while Chance had nobody
but Jack warhop. and Warhop has been
hit hard every time he has faced the
Nationals this season.
Leaking skies greeted the Griffmen as
they tumbled out OF their beds this morn
ing and the downpour continued all day.
The ball game was called on at noon
and Secretary Fowler hastily completed
arrangements to catch the 4 o'clock
Southwestern Express for st. Louis.
The Griffmen will be on board this
train all tonight and tomorrow, arriv-
ing in the Mound City about o'clock.
The series of four games against the
Browns starts Saturday, and Walter
Johnson will be in the box. Johnson,
earning the right to a short vacation.
will leave for Coffeyville. Kans.. after
the game. johnson joins the club Tues
day night in time to catch the train for
Chicago.
The presence at the hotel last night of
Jim Delehanty and Bill Bradley, members
CT the Brooklyn Federal League club, set
the tongues a-wagging.
These players from the so-called out
law circuit just marched into the hotel
lobby. grabbed Walter johnson, and
whisked him away in a big touring car.
johnson did not return to his room until
late at night They've signed him sure, -
one Of the young players said. Not on
your life," angrily retorted Clark Grif-
fifth. Its just a plain case Of free ad-
vertising. The Federal League hasn't
money enough to get johnson away from
me-"
Chick Gandil. the Nationals big first
sacker, was also approached by several
of the Federal League players this after
noon, but he made 1t plain that he was
under a three-year contract with Wash
ington and would not dI cam of talking
business.
Catcher Eddie Ainsmith Joined the club
this morning and left for the West with
the party. He declares that his broken
wrist is entirely healed. and that he is
ready to go behind the bat any time
Griff says the word. The chances are
that Ainsnith will warm the bench for
awhile, as both John Henry and Rippy
Williams are catching good ball.
In discussing the decision handed down
yesterday by an Illinois Judge in the
case of Pitcher johnson OF the Cincinnati
club whom, it will be remembered
jumped his contract. and cast In his lot
with the Kansas City Feds, Clark Grif-
fifth said: II did not see how the judge
could decide otherwise. To me 1t was a
plain open and shut case. At that the
decision did not do much to the Federal
League which is already on its uppers.
understand that the recent series over
in Brooklyn with Baltimore playing did
not draw enough fans to pay hotel bills
for the visiting team. 1t merely shows
that the public is wise and will not pay
major leagues prices for minor league
baseball
Jack Bentley, Jim Shaw. and Doc
Ayers are taking their first trip West and
the kids are enthusiastic over every
thing.
They are all particularly anxious to
reach Chicago and compare the Windy
City with New York.
Griffith stated tonight that he would
pitch Johnson. Boehling. Ayers and
Shaw, in the order named during every
Western series. -Four games will be
played in St. LOUIS, Chicago and Cleve-
land, while the schedule provides for a
five-game series ia Detroit