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 fiutter and has builded
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 not be
a serious after-effect, 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 put hm-
self on record as unwilling to have
any Federal League players ON his club
who have at any time turned their
against trying out any new material
which may have been uncovered in the
outlaw ranks, but he prefers to pro-
serve the clean blood with which he
has kept his team stocked: clean
as far as any men who have ever for
saken organized baseball for the new
Corners are concerned.
New York at this early time of base
ball peace, seems to be most anxious to
secure the services of Benny Kauff, one
of the most spectacular figures in the
Federal-organized baseball strife. Be
1. T. Ia
either the Yankees or Giants would be
glad to have him for a drawing card
alone. IL his days as a player were over.
but 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
of the baseball war centered about this
kauff. who was claimed by the Giants
and Brookfeds at the same time last
wear. When 1t came to a test, the
Brookfeds won, and Benny led the
league with the stick. Now that he is
q free agent, he Is quoted as saying
that he will play where he can get the
most attractive salary. and when it
comes to bidding for services. the Giants
are no "slouches." We can't conceive
New York letting this rare morsel get
away.
Kauff has the best chance in baseball
OF probably any player who has been
Identified with the Federals. he has u
level head and wants to make money
in baseball while the opportunity Is
present. He is a boyish. good-natuared
q youngster; sometimes he talks too
much Tor his own good" or else the
baseball writer's are overload of quot
ing him Organized baseball anywhere
will gladly take him back into their
hearts and forget the past. II he handles
himself well he has an opportunity to
he another Cobb or Speaker, tor he is
an able player, with his best years
ahead of him.
New YoEk-llke. the two teams in that
city are first to be found bidding tor
the services of the stars of the third
al ganlGation.
That the Yankees will get several or
the established stars now under con-
tract 10 the Federal League and made
eligible to return 10 organized baseball
through the peace treaty is not improb-
able
Just who are the men sought by the
Yankees is not known, but from state
ments by Captain Huston several days
ago IT seems that Lee Magee, the
Brookfed, second basemans Arthur VIII
son, the Chicago catcher. and Flack,
the Chicago outfielder, are the men
sought by the Yankees. That Magee
is almost certain to be with the Yam
Eees next season was stated by an Of
fetal of the local club. Rousch, OF
Newark, and Tobin, of st. Louis, also
are eliglbles that "Bnr Donovan asked
Captain Huston to obtain If possible.
With the prospects OF j. Franklin
Baker going to the Yankees and "Fritz''
Maisel being converted into an outtield-
er and with Magee In the intleld, 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.