The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-03
SALE OF new YORKS IS
DUE ENTIRELY TO BAN
johnson Brings Together Those
Not Anxious to Sell and Not
Anxious to Buy.

/ Tho sale OF the New York American
League baseball club on New Years eve
appears to have been about az fine
present as ban Johnson ever delivered
TO his associates. In spite OF appae.
emily insurmountable difficulties he
placed the lorai organization In the hands
/ or business men who seem imhued with
tho desire to- put the big city on tho
American League map This sale was
effected at most psychological time
the fortunes OF the poor New Yorls were
truly Mt their lowest ehb
Organized baseball has cause to rc-
greet tho departure OF Frank ! Farrell.
lie was always fair sportsman and p
good loser. lie took his medicine with
out whimper. hut fate always seemed
bent upon stacking the cards against
him Twice he almost won pennants-a
wild pitch by Jack Chcsbro lost one or
the two main opportunities No man
was more liberal with his money in try
ing to build up really powerful club.
and no ono suffered heavier disappoint-
ments ON the advice of his associates
he paid record sum 20 get Frank
Chance out OF the National League on
the advice Of these same associates he
sacrificed Geo &c Stalhngs the only
manager who had shown him miraculous
resulH
= ItH4- y. u dTItbl S1OnlO ne remembered
always with respect, for ne made pos
sible an invasion of New York at
time when II was absolutely necessary
for the American League to establish
club In Gotham to win a decided adj
vantage over the National circuit. ~
nancial conditions Of those times were
far more secure than now. The Farrell
fortunes were thrown in the pot at n
time when they were most needed and
they helped ~ much as any other thing
to win Joint recognition with the Ma
tional League.
Mr. Farrell doubtless was advised
poorly AT times the mistakes he made
cannot all b" laid at his door The es-
teen Of his colleagues was shown
throughout the recent negotiations. They
stood behind Farrell in his determine
ton to secure a commensurate price
to offset some Of the earlier hard knocks
OF fortune. Tho retiring president will
have something more substantial than
empty recollectiors to recall his Ameri-
can League experiences. For he SAYS
himself that he is through with tho
game
IN the transfer OF the local club stock
Ban johnson stands out again in all his
pristine power and glory HIS was one
of the most difficult tasks that ever con
tronted league leader Frank J. Farrell
was not anxious TO sell Rupert and
Huston were not anxious to buy. Effect
ing dedl under those conditions dp-
proaches the miraculous
\ change Of ownership here Vas deemed
advisable because the club had been al
lowed to run down for years In spite of
Farrells liberal spending. I'm some quar-
ters Che blame Is laid on the backs Of the
business associates of Farrell These re-
fused to he budged unless there was
general house cleaning. Under those con-
dtions a change was absolutely necessary. |
The town seemed TO lose it's last spark OF
interest with the withdrawal Of Frank |
Chance following n run-In with the heads !
Of the executive department
Now as to the two owners in the lime
light at present Capt T. L. Huston liz a |
man about town, possessed Of great wealth |
and exceptional business acumen. Col |
Jacob Rupert, Jr.. Is as sharp as razor |
blade In business matters. The two were |
not exceptionally anxious TO invest in the |
national pastimc, but now that they are !
in they may he expected to 20 about the |
work Of making said Investment pay to |
the last farthing. Neither IL an expert |
enced baseball man. but each has cut his |!
eye teeth long ago. That they do not IN |
tend TO do anything rash evidenced |
quite clearly throughout the recent neRo- |
tiations. They did not buy until they had |
familarized themselves upon every angle |
OF the American League. and especially |
those problems which confronted the local |
club.
Is 10 act as club president and capt |
Huston MS secretary and treasurer. From |
the caution they have displayed the last |
several weeks II II quite likely that the |
owners will feel their way until they be- |
come thoroughly familiar with the many |
angles and lntricacies of the game and |
associations so new to them. On this ac- |
count II Is expected that some person well |
yeraed in baseball laws intricate workings /
will be associated with the office force, |
A most important position under existing |
conditions Is that OF business manager.
Almost every name OF consequence has !
been suggested already for the post. SO |
far Harry sparrow, who acted as business |
manager of the recent worlds tour OF the |
White Sox and Giants, seems most proml- !
nent To tho long list has been added the |
name of John T, Doyle. the billiard i'm |
presario. John Is possessed of exceptional |
executive ability and he has had baseball |
experience az owner OF the Asbnry Park |
team Rumor also has associated Tom |
Fogarty. president of the Jersey city |
team az candidate.
For the next year or two there will be |
plenty to occupy the minds of the partner
ship. for a new baseball plant Is to he |
provided for the homeless New Yorks |
Reing a contractor and engineer OF repute !
Cant Huston will find in this department |
an opportunity to exercise his genius.
In everything the new owners appear |
10 stand united on none more so than a |
determination 10 specialize on the business |
end OF the game and 10 give Manager |
Donovan absolute control OF the playing |
end Bins word ls TO be law. His career |
in the metropolis IL TO be judged strictly |
on ability to show results and he will not |
be submitted to snap judgment at that
HeaIy boys Get All Three Places.