Omaha daily bee., 1914-09-06
BUSY YEAR AMONG PLAYERS
Present Base Ball Year Active One
in Exchange of Men.
ALL ARE STRENGTHENING UP
Teams In the Major Leagues Search
Ing Everywhere 20 Get Men
20 Holster Up Weak
Places.

Places.
NEW YORK, Sept b.--The base ball
season of 1914, already noted as a period
OF unusual occurrences In the national
sport. promises TO establish record for
the purchase and exchange of players in
the big leagues Omitting entirely any
reference to the sensational trades and
purchases which preceded the opening OF
the pennant races the present season has
been an exceptional one in this respect.
With the exception OF the worlds cham
pion Philadelphia Athletics. every club in
both the American and National leagues
has made unusual efforts toward
STRENGTHENING one or more departments by
means OF exchange or cash transactions.
Not alone have the minor associations
been invaded. for big league clubs have
dealt with each other TO an extent greater
than has been the case in other years -
In the American league Boston secured
Egan, Shore and Ruth from the Balt-
more club of the International Hobiitzel
from Cincinnati. Vean Gregg from Cleve-
land in exchange for Coumbe, r, John
son and Bgan, as we'll as several other
minor league and college players. The
Chicago White sox have signed or re-
leased to date an even dozen players, not
including Hal Chase. who jumped TO the
Buffalo Federals Tho dealing. however,
has been confined to the minor and col
lege class, although ComislSey holds the
present season record in his purchase of
Fielder Feloh from Milwaukee OF the
American association at $4,000 cash and
two players.
Change sixteen, Men.
The New York Americans have pur-
chased, exchanged or released sixteen
players since April IA. Some OF the big
league material secured included Catcher
Nunamaker from tho Boston Americans,
Pitcher Carroll Brown from the Athletics.
in addition TO Birdie Cree from the Balti-
more Internationals. Cleveland is an
other club which has dipped deeply into
the players mart Close to twenty play
ers have been bought, Sold exchanged or
lost by desertion this summer. A ma
jorty OF these transactions involved
minor leagues. the principal major league
deal being with the Boston Americans,
whereby Pitcher Vean Gregg went 70 the
Red sox IN exchange for Pitchers Coumbe
and Johnson and Catcher Ben Egan.
Aside from the purchase of two minor
league players and the release of Catcher
Gibson, the Detroit club has stood pat to
date, and the same may be said of Clark
Griffith's Washington combination. The
capital club purchased Outfielder Mike
Mitchell from the Pittsburgh Nationals,
released Pitchers Collier and Cashion, and
secured ]. r. Blair from the Martinsburg'
w. Va, club. Tho st. Louis Browns re-
leased two players and purchased one for
future delivery.
Nationals Also Active.
Far more activity In this direction has
been shown In the National league. The
Cincinnati club record shows that close
10 thirty players have figured in one way
or another in club deals or jumped 20
the Federal league. Claude Derrick was
bought from Baltimore and then traded
to Chicago for First Baseman MollowitS.
Hoblitzel went 90 the Boston Americans
and Tex Erwin from Brooklyn TO Gin
cinnai and back again. Bert Daniels,
former Yankee and part of Jack Dunn's
S6O, 900 Baltimore International league as
sets. found his way to the Cincinnati
club, TO say nothing OF number Of
minor league and college players.
Pittsburgh scouts, too, have been busy,
and the Pirates have thirteen deals Of one
kind or another TO their credit Aside
from the deal with the washlngtons,
whereby Nike Mitchell was sold, the
transaction involved the purchase or re-
lease Of players from or to minor leagues.
The Philadelphia Nationals have ten
transactions on record. the principal one
being the trade OF Josh Devore to Bos-
ton for Third Baseman John Martin.
Boston records show some thirteen deals.
The major transfers include the sale OF
George Beck to the Cleveland Americans,
the trading OF Hub Perdue 20 St Louis
for Players Whitfield and Gather and Josh
Devore's acquisition for John Martin,
Cubs Make Eleven Changes.
The Chicago Cubs have eleven trans
actions in the record. Eliminating the
minor league purchases aud releases. the
schedule shows that Pitcher Koestner was
sold to Cincinnati and First Baseman
Mellowitz traded to the same club for
Claude Derrick. The St Louis Cardinals
have held fairly steady TO the early sea-
son enrolment Hageman was sold 20 the
Chicago Nationals and Whitfield and
Gather traded 10 Boston for Pitcher Per
due. The other deals involve minor league
players.
The New York Giants have a list Of
thirteen players signed or released this
season, but not in single case does an
other major league club figure in the
dealing. Brooklyn's principal efforts In