The Washington herald., 1915-01-01
Yankees Sold at Last
Bill Donovan to Pilot
Rupert and Huston Buy
the New York Americans
for Price Said to Be
100000.
FARRELL STEPS OUT

New York. Dec. S1.-The New York
American League club has been sold by
Frank Farrell and Big BflT'' Devery to
Jacob Rupert, jr., and Capt. TIL. Hus-
ton. Ban Johnson, president of the
American League, who made the an
nouncement of the sale at p. m. to-
day. would not state the terms Of the
sale.
Bill" Donovan, former Detroit pitch
er, and manager of the Providence
team in the International League In
| 1914, will manage the 1915 Yankees,
said Johnson. The sale was concluded
| today after an all-day conference by
johnson, Farrell Devery, and Huston.
The deal hung fire for nearly a month.
After Johnson made announcement
Of the sale. Rupert, the new owner.
said:
Il will act as president Of the club
and Capt. Huston will be secretary and
treasurer"
1t is believed that the price involved
was between S350.00O and 100000 Far
reIl originally asked 100000 for the
club. Ruppert's best bid at that time
was $780, 900. Later on, Farrell dropped
his price to S450.000 but by that time
Rupert decided the Yankees were not
worth much more than S350.000. It is
said he held out at that price for some
time and that Farrell agreed to drop
to 100000 II Rupert would boost his
bid to that figure.
Wanted Jennings to Manage.
Rupert, it became known today, want
ed Hughey Jennings or Connie Mack as
manager Of the Yankees. After some
jockeying, Johnson found it was impos-
sible to get Mack. Then he tried to get
Jennings. but Frank Navin, owner Of
the Tigers, baked him. johnson wanted
n give NaVin nnDnNyan fpr Tannin1s
When it looked like a deadlock over the
managerial question, Rupert finally de-
cided he would take Donovan, who has
the reputation for being a brainy mana
ger.
The selection of Wild Bill Donovan
as manager was enthusias stically greeted
Donovan led the Providence club, Of tho
! International League, to a pennant last
season, but his chief value to the Yanks
will lie I'm the fact that he still retains
all the old knowledge of American
League conditions. He has line on
American League clubs and individual
players that is not possessed by any OF
the other men who were suggested for
the job.
The American League is giving the new
owners a number Of young players OF
rather doubtful value. but Capt. Huston
stated that they have lines out for a real
SLdTs ana expect 10 ldlQ DcIOTe lOus.
Pipp, a recruit first baseman from the
Detroit Tigers, who was with RochesteI
in the International League last season:
Rehg. a recruit outtielder from the Bos-
ton Red Sox; Hugh High. utility out
fielder from Detroit, and Berger, an sin-
fielder from the White Sox. are among
the players that are to come to New
York.
To Build New Park.
Ban johnson stated today that the new
owners OF the Yanks will build their own
ball park on the Island of Manhattan
He made this assertion with great posi-
tiveness, declaring that they have not
even made any arrangements for the use
of the Polo Grounds next year, although
1t is assumed that they will play there.
1t is believed that the location of the
new grounds will be just across the river
from the Polo Grounds. II Is believed
that Huston and Rupert have paid
record price for a property that is moth
ing much more than franchise, but also
is believed by baseball men that they
have made the best buy in the game.
Farrell UnIucky Magnate.
Frank Farrell has been interested in
the club since the American League in
vasion Of New York back in 1893. He
has been a singularly unlucky baseball
magnate, however. With the exception
of one or two years, the Yankees never
made much Of a showing. and the club
was always hampered by a small and
inadequate field up to the time 1t moved
to the Polo Grounds.