New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-18
Time Will Tell Whether
Bleachers Can Lure Him
from the Plough.
HUSTON WOULD LIKE
HOME RUN KING
Frank FARRELL Misses His Ball
Team and May Put Fed
Club at Klngsbridge.
~ HAYWOOD BROUN.

the man who used 70 break fences mas
settled down 20 mend them.
Hes plumb sick OF travelling" said
Connie Mack, when he announced the
retirement % the great third basemaH'
"Hc jus. wants 20 farm and do nothing
else"
But Baker il less than twenty-nine,
and he may not find retirement so easy.
To plough S furrow TO the end o. a heid
So well enough in Us way, but no MAY
ter how admirably the task is per-
formed no thousands will leap up 20
cheer the farmer Tho hum and the
outcry OF the bleachors may be low IN
he scale Of harmony, but for a long
summer symphony 70 must be more
agreeable music thsU The conventions!
caw-c8w OF tho crows.
The sight or ripculng radlsh, grow
ing grain or todd.ng ;Urnlp may warm
the hear, or The husbandman. but It
can hardly furnish the vibrations or
the thrills Of a smash 20 the right field
blesehers.
Precedent is against Bake. IN days
Of old there was big Lacquer IN the
citv Of Rome. who quit the paths Of
glory for the farm. Like Baker. he
stated positively that he would never
come back Lucius Qunc'.us Cincin-
natus was his name. Fut for all hls
protestatioas, Lucius did come back %
The big show, and so great was his
haste that he left his plough and horses
in the middle Of the field. Poster'ty
has paid this hero the doubtful comp.i-
ment OF naming the Reds after him
Many are moved already 10 tempt
Baker from his snolu-.on. Hearing
yesterdsy Of tho stars retirement
CAPTAIN Til Huston asked. "IIow old "a
Baker" and hearing that ne was st,N
well within the limits OF baseball ell
cheney, he declared. Gle would make
pretty good Investment for US"
St. Louis sent word from Colonel
Hedge tha. the s.. Louis Browns
would bid high 20 keep Baker on the
diamond. The call Of the farm must
be loud and insistcnt II II is TO drown
The many appeals which the great third
baseman will receive from now on until
the beginning Of the baseball and the
ploughinC season.
~. Franklin Baker IS sincere IN his
announced intention OF retiring ne
lacks the dramatic instinct. His exit
IL not well timed. From the theatrical
point Of view he would have done much
better 70 have quit the game in 1911
after his two home runs In the world
series. or in 1913 when he made still
another circuit smash against the
Giants.
Against the Braves he was distinctly
a disappointment Il vas not that he
played badly for, as q matter Of fact, he
performed exceptionally well, but he
could not live up 20 the old traditions.
He hit for two bases twice, but m the
arithmetic of baseball two doubles DO
rot equal one home run. In fielding he
- T. L III
Ave chances without an error, but the
heart Of the fan must be reached
through the hit column.
Frank Farrell. according 20 a rumor
prevalent yesterday, just can't get along
without a baseball team. II was learned
yesterday that Mr.. Farre. and Tom
Foley. the well known politician. con-
ferred with Jim Gilmore. AZ the Hotel
Biltmore on Tuesday Mr. Farrell still
has an option on the Kingsoridge prop
erty az 225th Street, and it is under
stood that be and Mr. Foley discussed
the possibility Of putting a Federal
League team there.
Some little time ago the president Of
the Feds promised q big surprise which
he predicted would bring Ban Johnson
back 70 New York This surprise NAV
he the announcement Of a Federal
League team in New York owned by
Frank Farrell.
The old owner OF the Yankees was
no. pleased at the treatment which he
received when he was forced 20 sell out
~ the American League. and this feel
ing might add 10 his desire 70 get back
IN the game with 2 rival organization
In corroborstiou Of the story il was
pointed out ;hat Arthur Irwin had
long conference with Robert B. Ward,
In Chicago, az the hearing Of the base
ball suit. According 70 a well known
baseball man Irwin acted NJ that time
IN the capacity Of representative OF
Mr.. Farrell and his Yankees.
Harry Sinclair, hacker Of the floating
Federal franchise, has sailed for South
America. Pat Powers will endeavor to
bring the craft 20 land before the re
turn Of his associate.
Rube Nsrqusr1 was q caller yester.
DAY p the oa'ces Of he Giants and was
Informed that the New York National
League Baseball Club expected him 70
report for spring training Maruuard
did ro' commit himself - 70 his .N'cu-
lions. Another caller was Title Shafer.
but he came simply 70 pay his respects.
for he assured John Foster that he had
no intention % returning 20 the ma
tionnl gone.
Nov we understand why baseball
players are glad 20 get away from
Philadelphia. In a story about the
dinner given by the sporting writers o.
me Quaker town 20 Bill Donovan, Pat
Moran ard Nap Lsjo;e. THE Philadel-
phia North American" says bill DON
ovan surprised the company with a
polished after dime. speech"
J. A. Conklyn, o. The Bronx, who
rides" us when we make mistakes
about baseball. sends us a pleasant
letter, in which he informs US that he
10 six feet two inches tall, twenty-four
years old and weighs 2i5 pounds. Well,
we have O year. an inch and fifteen
pounds advantage Of him, and as we
start for the training camp at Marlin,
Tex, to-day, We hope 70 be IN condi-
tion 20 meet our critic some time IN
April before the club offering the best
inducements.
We can now tell the recruits from
the ball players, thanks 20 useful list
which we received yesterday from a
Fan who signs himself We'll Wtsher.'
Johnson Talks Ball
on Pleasure Trip
San Francisco. Feb. IL President
Ban johnson Of the American League
. IL