The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-23
.GRIFF'S PRICE
IS TOO HIGH IN
PROPOSED DEAL
Owner Somers Refuses to
Trade Ray Chapman for
George Mcbride.
GOSSIP OF NATIONALS
Members Of Cleveland Athletic Club
Sign Petition to Make Billy
Evans Manager.
GOSSIP OF NATIONALS

idHo' ohlo. May THE proposed
deal between the Washington and Cleve-
land clubs whereby George Mcbride
would be turned over in exchange for
Ray Chapman has been called of by
owner somers. although it is believed in
some quarters negotiations may be OPEN
cd UP again later in the season.
Cleveland was unwilling to swap Chap
man for Mcbride and Griffith wanted 80
much cash for his captain that Soners
could not see the proposition. The
chances are that tho Cleveland team
Will continue this season under the di-
recaon OF Lee Fohl. the veteran catcher,
ana mat not until next winter will
Somers appoint a manager
Perfect weather today brought ou, .,
crowd of less than 5000 fans but 4, 4,
predicted that a big Sunday mob will
storm the concrete stadium for the final
battle between the Nationals and Indians
tomorrow. as Guy Morton will hook IN
win Walter johnson. and these sterling
risht-nanders have their work cut ont
for them Morton thus far has pitched
better ball than has johnson.
Fnty members of the Cleveland Atb
!etic Cluo today signed a petition which
was presented to Owner Somers. OF the
local American League club, requesting
tnat Somers appoint Billy Evans, the
umpire. manager of the Cleveland team,
Clyde Milan led of the Nationals half
OF the eighth with a clean two-base
smash to left field but overlooked the
fornality Of touching srst base in his
flight. a play was made on hin, and
Umpire Nallin declared Milan out. rob-
bling that young man of a hit, and the
Nationals of Q chance to break I'D the
game
II is rather unfair to blame Howard
Shanks for the loss OF the game today.
Capital fans must remember that Shanks
is not in the game regularly these DAYS
and therefore unable TO do himself jus
tice.
The release OF Joe BIRMINGHAM as
manager of the Cleveland team came as
no great surprise to those who were
familiar with the inside workings Of the
sixth city club.
Larry Lajoie. at present with the Ath-
letics. told the writer in Washington last
month he was willing to bet any part of
$50 that Birmingham would be let out be-
fore the Fourth Of July
Lajoie made the claim that Birny was
incompetent to handle a big league team.
that the players would not give him their
hest individual efforts. and that the fans
demanded a change.
birmingham record since he relieved
Harry Davis in 1912 has not been such
a poor one. 1t will be remembered that
the following year the Cleveland club
was right in the pennant fight until the
Tag end of the season. Last year was
bad one for Birmingham. but at that
the club proved to b. a stumbling block
to several pennant- aspiring aggregations.
The answer to Birmingh8ms dismissal
seems to he that the fans In Cleveland
L., L. l., -
it's the fans who must be satisfied, for
without them salaries could not be paid
and tie national pastime could not
thrive.
Reports are Just being waited to Cleve-
land from the Capital that one Washing
ton new spaper has Grifith making a
wholesale shift and retaining only
half a dozen Of the players at present
drawing wages.
These reports are absurd. for the reason
that players able to fill the places Of
Gandil Morgan. Ainsmith Shanks and
others cannot be had for love or money.
That Griff will hardly be willing to
listen to trades involving half a dozen
Of his young men goes without saving.
for the men who might add strength to
others whom GrifY might possibly pry
loose from their respective clubs would
hardly be desirable.
No chance, fans. for a general
shake-up in the present personnel OF
the Nationals. and surely none Is
needed il the club only plays the
kind Of bail it is capable of playing.
No sooner had the rumor been put
into circulation that Doc Ayers or
Jack Bentley would be sold to the
club than Griffith stamped
the report as untrue and without
The various conferences between
the Old Fox and Owner Somers. Of
Cleveland. gave rise to the reported
sale.
SO often on this trip that the matter
has become quite a good joke among
the players in question. who greet
each other in the morning with well.
| see we have been sold again.
Hume Battiste. former student at
Gallaudet College in Washington and
A crack pitcher while he attended
school. who claims Cleveland As his
home. Is at present pitching for the
Portland club of the Northwestern
League and making quite a name for
himself
Battiste Is bound to graduate into
faster company before many months
have elapsed.
Two years ago Grif was tipped or
10 Battiste and gave him q trial in
practice one day when the team was
in Cleveland. Battists failed
10 impress and he was not considered
,eriously.
La Fohl. the veteran catcher who
asst year managed the watorhurY,
club Of the Eastern Association. andt
who Is temporarily In charge OIL
Cleveland. II the man who dsvolopsay
juy Morton. the young pitcher Who'll
,as been creating such . furors heret
his season. WULIAN pE1I