New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-20
YANKEES TIRED
OF PAYING HIGH
GROUNDS RENTAL
Huston Eager to Build
New Park and Quit the
Polo Grounds.

fOlO OTOuIIuS.
Captain Huston is fighting man. He
revels In battle, and the hotter the fire
the better he likes it. Right now he is
ready to fight any one--and that goes.
The genial captain has been the recpi
ent of much fatherly advice since he
ventured the opinion that he might pos
sibly build baseball park in Queens,
and while he listened patiently at
first, he has been just about surfeited.
He voiced his opinions on baseball free
ly yesterday, and the baseball writer's
were quite happy.
It became apparent that Colonel Rup-
pert and Captain Huston are not ex-
actly satisfied with conditions as they
now exist. They are anxious to have
their own ball park, and although the
Yankees will play on the Polo Grounds
next season. IL will be positively their
last season there. Contracts have al
ready been signed with the management
of the Giants for the use of the grounds
in 1916.
The Yankees pay $4,000 a year, in
round numbers, for the use OF the Polo
Grounds, and the terms of the contract
allow them only seventy-seven days. If
1t becomes necessary to play a double
| header the consent of the New York
National League Club must be secured
before the two games may be played.
Under such q staggering rental the
! usual current expenses, salaries and
one thing and another, not forgetting
the uncertainties of the weather, it is
practically an impossibility TO make
money.
Captain Huston did not admit in so
many words that he would build his
park in Queens, but the general tone
of his conversation would lead one to
believe that such was his intention. He
declared that there were three sites in
Queens which we're more accessible
than the Polo Grounds. One of these,
he said, could be reached in five min
utes from Manhattan, another In eight
minutes, and the most distant In twelve
minutes. Captain Huston did not
name the starting point from which
these times were reckoned, but IL Is be-
lieved that he meant the Pennsylvania
Terminal.
The fact that James A. Gilmore,
president of the Federal League, has
announced that the New York Federals
will have a park in the centre of Man |
haitian Island will not affect the pol.
icy Of the Yankees. Huston said that
no expense would be spared TO build
up winning team for the fans, and
that IL he were successful in getting
the team he had no doubt in the world
that the fans would support 1t, pro-
viding that the park was not too far
distant He also said that the ground
at Lenox Avenue aud 145th Street had
been considered, but that the expense
necessary to fill III the ground, close
a street and all that was prohibitive.
Silence was so dense at the Offices of
the Federal League yesterday that one
could almost cut it with a knife. Mr..
Gilmore said that he was not ready yet
TO announce just where the Feds would
build their park. He scurried out to
hold q conference with some one or
other whose identity could not be es
tablishel. It was rumored that it was
Boston man who is interested in the
New York club.
The Federal League used the pruning
knife yesterday, and five weak branches
dropped. Jim Delehanty, the last of the
famous ball-playing family, who guided
the Hartford team of the Colonial
League to the pennant last year; Eddie
Gagnier, Of the Tip Tops; Bert Max
well, Of the New Haven team, and Byron
Houck, once with the Athletics, were
Internationally released.
The future Of the Colonial League is
far from assured. II is known that the
league failed TO make money last year,
and there Is some doubt II George
Ward, who has taken over the interests
Of the late Robert B. Ward, will be will
ing TO play losing game. One OF the
causes, 20 be sure, was having TO as.
sumo the contracts Of the Federal
League. with players who failed to de-
liver the goods. -,
Under ordinary circumstances, with
the salary limit at the usual figure, and
the player limit reduced 70 minor league
standards. all might have gone well;
Many reforms will have to be WORKED
and sound assurances given before MT.
Ward will consider the proposition, 1t
is thought.
Mike O'Neill, who managed the syria
cuse team In the New York state
League last year, may manage the
Wilkes-Barre nine next spring
Johnny Bates, who was released 70
Richmond by Cincinnati last spring,
may get another trial with the majors.
The Cardinals are after him.
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