New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09
Great Second Baseman or
Athletics Signs New
Five-Year Contract.
MOVE DESIGNED TO
OFFSET JOHNSON
Mack Refuses to Give Reason
for Sale, but Lack of Patron
age Is Considered Cause.
By HEYWOOD BROUN.

PLAYER in the world. was sold TO tne
chicago White Sox Yesterday. Connie
Mack, manager of the Athletics as
posed of his star second baseman lor
consideration said TO be S5O,OOO, rec
ord purchase price. The deal had Oeeh
pending only since Sunday
Charles A. C0miskey, owner OF the
White Sox, made the trip East 10 lano
Collins, when he heard that Mack might
dispose Of his star. Immediately alter
the deal had been put through Comls-
key had short talk with Collins IN
the Hotel Imperial and offered a sal
sry sufficiently tempting 20 induce the
PLAYER TO sign for five years Inc
amount which Collins will receive for
his services each year was not an
nounced, but it must be approximately
$4,000. When the Feds were IN the
field for the star last season he was
saved to the American League by
three-year contract which called for
$4,000 salary, and his alacrity IN ac-
cepting a new contract is evidence that
even better terms were given to him.
The shifting of Collins seems to be
tn the nature Of a strategic move by
the American League. The Feds have
assigned Walter Johnson TO their Chi
cago team, and a strong attraction Is
necessary TO Offset the great pitcher.
Collins is the attraction. On the part
of. Mack it is probable that the sale
was made solely on financial grounds.
Athletics Lost Money.
With a team which swept home first
in the American League Mack and the
other owners of the Athletics were un-
able TO make any money last year, and
the canny manager thereupon decided
that he might better emulate Jack
Dunn and get a return from his stars
by selling them. He was unable to use
Plank or Bender in deals, as they had
accepted terms with the Feds before
any plans could be made for their tut
ure. In addition to the financial rea-
son there have been rumors of fric-
ton i'm the Philadelphia club between
Collins and Thomas, but these stories
have been denied.
When the deal was first announced
it was generally understood that Col
Inns would become manager OF the
White Sox i'm place OF Jimmy Callahan,
but this rumOr was killed by Collins.
81 have no ambition to be man
aeer." he said. "and my contract is
simply a PLAYERS contract. OF course,
] am sorry to leave Philadelphia, where
| have done all my big league playing
and where / have always received such
warm support from the fans. My new
contract is very favorable one, and
] hope TO be able to play up to 1t"
100000 Infield Marked Down.
With the passing Of Eddie Collins
from Philadelphia the value Of the
$1,000 infeld is just about cut in
half II was John J. McGraw who
hailed Collins as the greatest player in
the game shortly after the world series
of 1919. and in spite of the defeat of
the Athletics this year nothing has oc-
CURED TO upset this estimate. II was
echoed yesterday by another shrewd
baseball man, Charlie Doom, who de
clared that he could see no room at all
for argument as 20 the supremacy OF
Collins over all competitors for all
round honors
Ualke Tv Cobb. Collins, although a
star. has always fitted into the team
work of his club. Eddie or, since he
has brought a purchase price OF S5O,-
coo, Edward Trowbrldge Collins
fwenty-seven years old. lie studied
baseball at Columbia and became 50
proficient that be was elected captain
of the team He dabbled a little III
semi-pro bali during summer vacations
and before he finished his colleg,
course Connie Mack took him on 3
Western trip, during which he PLAYED
under .he name Of Sullivan. Attel
finishing his college course, in 1907, he
went back 10 the Athletics as utilit!
man.
First a ShortstOp.
lie was shortstop at first, and al
though n hard hitter from the begin
ming he was an Indifferent fielder unit
moved 20 second base His outstand
ing genius for the game was not full,
demonstrated TO the general public un
I'll 1910 when he made wonderful
showing in the series against the On
eago Cubs.
Collins and Barry almost revolution
lied play around the middle sack an
there was no pair 70 touch them u
the deftness OF their team work unit
the rise Of Maranville and Evers thi
season. As q player Collins has n
weakness. He is Lard and Ion
hitter. too. but he can wait pitche
out and he can lay the ball down whe'
needful As base runner he ha
been al the top of the America
League. or near there, every season
This year he was eXcelled only b
Fritz Maisel
Al that Collins was prominen
enough In the averages TO need M
consolation He batted for .344, benz
second 70 Cobb. who led the league
lie was second in base running ant
first in run getting As a fielder HI
can cover any amount Of ground, ant
Is a particular adept at sharing ground
ers in back Of second base.
His wit is as quick as his hands
and feet. Although a silent man OF
the diamond Collins is determined
fighter Added 70 every other dlstlne
ton is this. the greatest Of all--bd
die Collins is the only player IN base
ball who writes his own stories foI
the newspapers.
Philadelphia. Dec. g. Baseball root
ers here are much incensed at the sale
Of Eddie Collins. and there is talk OF
boycotting the club next season. II
il rumored that the 100000 inheld
may be shattered still further by the
detection Of Frank Baker. who is said
20 be about 20 join the Feds.
IN commenting upon the deal to-day
Connie Mack said:
at was a plain cash proposition.
Collins Is satisfied with the deal, other
wise Sc could not have made II. As
for nv reasons for selling Collins
.bev arc ray own. / wouldn't have sold
him H ! Gid not think / was doing the
Tjght thing. At present have no def
5n5te rlaur as % the successor 81 Col
line / would Ike 20 say that the re-
n1rsed trouble between Collins and
Ts,4ain Ira Thomas had nothing what
eyer 10 do with the deal.
Chicago. Dee. g. An informal an
-,,...,.., Aoey nu,srd POOL