The Washington times., 1915-12-23
Griffith Wants No Player On His
Club Who Has Ever For
saken Organized Baseball
For Outlaws.
Two New York Outfits Are First
to Bid For Men Who Have
Played Good Brand Of Ball
in Third League.
BY KIRK C. MILLER.

Now that the dove of peace has
ceased to futter and has bullded
herself a nest in the fork of the
baseball tree formed by The Ameri-
can and National leagues, some
aftermath can be expected of her
eventful career during the past
twenty -four months. 1t will no. be
serious after-effcct, however, and
will concern more than all else the
matter of distributing the leftover
players.
In this regard bit of advice is
being circulated among the mag
mates today which has to do with
doing their spring shopping early,
for there is plenty of perfectly
capable material at liberty now, and
the field will be we'll picked over
before the next season opens.
AS far as our Washington club is
concerned, Clark Griffith has pat hIm-
self OH record as nnNi illing to hay"
any Federal League players nn his cinb
WHO have at any time turned their
hack on organized baseball. Griff is not
which may have heen uncovered in the
outlaw ranks, bet he prefers to pl'-
serve the clean ploud with which II"
has kept his team stocked: clean
as far as any men who lEe ever for
sakcn organized baseball for the new
comers are concerned
New York at this early time of base
bal peace, seems to be most anxious to
secure the services of Benny kauff, one
of the most spectacular figures in the
Fedcral-organized baseball strife. Be
cause Of his popularity in New York,
either the Yankees or Giants would be
glad to have him for a drawing card
alone. If his days as a player were over.
hut the hitting phenom is still young
in his playing career, and unless all
signs fail. he will be with Harry Hem
stead's New York Giants next year
one of the most important skirmishes s
of the baseball war centcred about this
kauff. who VAS claimed by the Giants
and Brookfeds at the same time last
year. When it came to test, the
Rrookfeds won. and Benny led the
league with the stick. Now that he is
free agent, he is quoted as saying
that he will play whore he can get the
most attractive salary. and when it
are no "slouchCs." We can't conceive
New York letting this rare morsel get
away.
OF probably any player who has been
identified with the Tederals lie has !
level head and wants to make money
in baseball while the opportunity Is
present. lie is a boyish, good-natuared
Houngster: sometimes he talks too
much Tor his own good" or else the
baseball writer's are oVerfond of quot
ing him. Organized baseball anywhere
will gladly take him back into their
hearts and forget the past. II he ha ndles
himself well he has an Opportunlty to
he another Cobb or Speaker, tor he is
an able player, with his best years
ahead of him.
New York-Iike. the two teams in that
CITY arc first to be found bidding tor
IN" services Of the stars of the third
EanlEatIOn
That the Yankees will get several OF
tho established stars now under con-
tract to the Federal League and made
eligible to return TO organized baSeba II
through the peace treaty is not improb-
able.
Just wi2o are the men sought by the
Yankees is not SHOWN. but from stale
mentS by Captain Huston several days
ago it seems that Lee Magec. the
Hrookfcd second bascman; Arthur Will
son, tho Chicago catcher. and F'lacE.
sought by the Yankees. That Magcc
Is almost certain to be with the Yam
Lees next season was stated by an Of
fetal of the local club. Rousch, OF
arc cl,gibles that Bin Donovan n sked
Captain huston to obtain if possible.
with the prospects of J. Franklin
EakCr going to the Yankees and "F'ritZ'
MaisCl being converted into an outtield-
or and with Magec I'm the inficld the
Yankees should provide some real re-
sistance to the rest of the league next
season. All of these Federal players
are stars OF the first magnitude and
bring just the strength needed.