The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-23
CONNIE SAYS BAKER
HAS QUIT FOR GOOD
MANAGER MACK MAINTAINS
THAT HEAvY-HITTING MARY.
LANDER is SINCERE.

Philadelphia, Feb 22.--"I don't
think the offer of more money will
tempt j. Franklin Baker to recon-
slider his decision to retire from base
ban. but believe he is sincere In his
stand, AID II out of the game for
good. Certainly / won't make the
strongest effort to get him back"
That's what Connie Mack said last
night in reply to the report that
Baker might stick In baseball II better
financial inducements were offered.
Il base this belief" resumed the
gaunt general ION my talks with the
third-sacker this winter and last sea-
son.
IF money had anything to do with
MS discomfort / would have known
about it.
Baker started the season of 1914
under new three-year contract with
the ten-day clause contained In the
document AS the season wore on
decided to change all contracts for
documents In which the ten-day stipu-
latson was omitted but at the same
salary as in the contracts IN force.
did this at the advice of attorneys in
order to get an absolutely ironclad
contract.
Mach Was Held Up.
when l broacs1ed the matter to the
players several declared they would
not stand for this slight alteration,
unless they were paid extra for It.
Several of my stars held me up In this
way.
Baker was not one Of them. He
signed the new contract at the same
figure without the slightest protest.
Now, had he wanted more money ne
was in a position TO kick over the
traces and force me to boost the
figures.
Moreover. when I received a letter
from him ten days ago containing the
simple statement that he had retired
from tho game I replied, asking him
if there was any cause under my con-
troll that could induce him to cs1angs
his mind
Mind you didn't send any appeal
to him. sad that considered 1t his
own personal matter and that I didn't
purpose TO advise him or offer any sug-
gestfons. I did say that If he found
fault with the salary In his contract
for him to name his price and that |
would try TO grant II.
Bakers answer came In few davs
He wrote hat he hadn't given the
question Of money one thought and
that he was quitting solely because
he detested to travel and wanted 10
stay In peace and quiet on his farm
at Trappe
This convinces me that he Is sin
cere. and mat financial motives have
nothing to do with his retirement"
Has Altered Ane-Up Often.
1t fs nothing new for Connie &c
make radical switches. Fans will re-
call how he started the season Of 1909
by shifting Ian Murphy to right field
and Eddie Collins to second base.
This master move really changed the
Athletics into a championship team.
Two years later Connie also surprised
the fans by benching Harry Davis and
putting Substitute shortstop Stuffy
McTnnls on first The latter Inn
mediately became the topnotch first
sacker OF the American League.
Comics hint OF another change
offers wide room for speculation. II IL
is done It ia almost sure to involve
McInnis One combination would be 10
put Stuffv on second and 1ajoie on
first. In this case Kopf would cover
third. Will, Barry. of course. would
stay AT short.
Another combination would be to
switch McInnis to third and send Ii
Hung Schar- to first. Schang Is such
a hard hitter and fast base runner
that Connie may want to use him
every day. now that he has lost hitters
like Collins and Baker. In such an
La3oie would be at second
and Barry at short.
Mack Is sure to try these combina-
tons and many more down In jack
sonville and decide on the arrange
ment which he thinks best.