Evening star., 1914-12-20

contract for the season of 1915. The
sum of $500 was paid Johnson for the
privilege of the option, and this. to-
gether with the fact that the objection
able ten-day release clause was elm
mated from his contract, is under
ment which could not be broken.
johnson first was approached by the
Federal League in the spring of last
season. There was no figure mentioned
understand that there was virtually no
limit to the amount the Feds were
willing to pay him. Griffith at that time
offered to give Johnson $4,000 year
ed that Johnson eventually would ac-
cept that proposition. But since the
season closed the pitcher and the club
officials have done lot Of negotiating
about entering into a contract. and the
upshot of it was that the club, after
having turned down what it considered
an exorbitant demand from johnson.
who wanted $4,000 for three years and
a six-thoasand-doll bonus. sent him
notice that 1t would hold him to
the option in his contract and pay
him s12.500. Johnson there and then
signed with the Feds. It was given out
at the time that he would receive
$4,000 year for two years and six
thousand-dollar bonus These figures,
however. seem to have been incorrect
according to statements which are now
being made by both sides.
Johnson signed with the Federal
League December 8. or nearly three
been planning to get him back. and he
has succeeded. thus vindicating john
son warrants better ray Griffith
and incidentally proving that he had
pitcher when he said that II he could
| prove to Johnson that the option clause
was legal he would sign with the
Washington club.
| While manV will 10 nacc;,p;c%;,
| view Of the statement that Walter
johnson has signed with the wash
ington on. club at its figure of s12:5oo.
ager Clark Grifith in the following
telegram to the writer:
Kansas City. Mo-, December 10, 1914.
]. Ed Grillo. Sporting Editor Star,
Washington. D. C.:
out by Walter Johnson here tonight
| ls true. and he signed with me at
our terms CLARK GRIFFITH
This action on the part of johnson
was decidedly unexpected. as it was
the the general belief that if he could
have to stand by its original offer of
$4,000 per year, at least.
The option in his contract was ef-
fective only so far as next season was
| for two additional years he made a
I concession which even Griffith did not
expect But Johnson knows that Grit
nth VIII treat him fairly. and there
son warrants better pay that Griffith
will furnish it, even though his con-
tract makes no such provision.
| The official American Association
averages show Henri Rondeau, the out
neider obtained from Minneapolis by
Washington, as having hit .30s in $50
games This rs quite commenda BILE
h W hA FpoA
| into consideration that the youngster
made thirty-seven two-baggers. nine
! triples and couple of home runs His
work on the bases. however. was not
teen during the campaign. Incidental
ly. Rondeau had better batting aver
age than Felch. the Milwaukee slug
ger for whom Comiskey is said to
Rondeau. however. will have to show
here before any sort of 4 line will be
had on him, for the reason that opin-
| ions as to his real worth differ greatly
action. Cantillon. a good judge. is loud
IN his praise of Rondeau. He considers
MN the best batter that ever played
under him. and Cantillon had some
mighty sluggers on his team.
There isn't any question that Walter
Johnson leaped because he was piqued.
This undoubtedly is shown by the con-
tract he signed with the Feds. 1t seems
that Walter would have signed a con-
tract with the Nationals calling for
| $4,000 a year, as he promised to do
but when he did not show a disposition
to sign soon after the season closed, the
club withdrew its offer, and then. when
Johnson came back with his ultimatum
! of $4,000 per season for three years
and six-thousand-d dollar bonus, the
club notified him that it would hold
| him to his option, and sent him a con-
x INT no LII
Johnson, who usually is level-headed,
slipped cog, became piqued, and at
once signed a contract with the Feds
| which was by no means as good a
/ fered, nor near as good as the st. Louis
Feds were willing to tender him.
II 1t will be recalled that President
Gilmore came out with statement
Federal League WAS through negotiat-
ing with johnson, and that he hoped
Griffith would not pay him a cent more
than he did last season. Whether this
statement influenced the local club off,
cials in sending Johnson the contract
referred to is not known. but there is
no doubt that Johnson took that view
Of the situation.
There never was a greater surprise
than the appointment Of Clarence Row
land to manage the White Sox Never
before in the history of the game has
a major league club dug down so deem
in the bushes for a manager, and vet
there are those who believe that Row
land will make success of it.
Comiskey undoubtedly has a line on
Rowland. He has been watching his
efforts in the mana gerial line for sew
eral years. He has satisfied himself
that Rowland knows the game and has
the art of handling players. The Young
| man undoubtedly is assuming mon
strous task. and yet he may be capa-
Bile of handling 1t.
But there have bs:n !sther xsea.