Evening journal., 1915-09-02
DEAL FOR BAKER
IS ALMOST CLOSED
New York Americans Ready
to Pay Athletics $4,000
for "Home-run King"
BAN JOHNSON URGES
MACK TO MAKE SALE

The sale of j. Franklin Baker, for
mer third baseman of the Athletics
and "Home-run King" of the Amerl-
can League, Will be announced today
or tomorrow, unless Connie Mack re-
fuses to go through with a deal that
was talked over yesterday. Ban john
son. president of the American
League; President Lannin of Boston;
Vice President Huston of New York
Americans and President B. f. Shibe
of the Athletics, were in conference
all afternoon. and the transfer Is ex-
pected to be made today. The sale
will be outright. and the price is be-
lieved to be $4,000
The sale of Baker is part OF the
plan American League magnates have
devised to strengthen the Yankees
and boost the game in New York;
where baseball interest has taken a
big drop owing to the poor showing
of the Giants and the falling OF OF
the Yankees after they had made such
a good start. More than one Ameri-
can League club will contribute a
share to building up the Yankees,
but Baker is the only player who is
known TO have been settled upon for
transfer.
Ban johnson stopped off in New
York on Tuesday and came to Phila-
delphia yesterday. accompanied by
Captain Huston. of the New York
club, the tip being given out that
JOhnsons trip east was TO start a
crusade against gambling at the ball
parks. AS soon as the magnates got
together. however, johnson Is said
to have started the Baker deal. and
Huston expressed his willingness to
pay a liberal price for the fence
buster" There is no doubt that New
York viii pay dearly for Baker. for
Manager Mack has declared emphati-
cally that he would not allow Baker
to 90 10 any other major league club.
Reports have been circulated lately,
however. that Baker would be sold,
ST. Luois being the club picked for
him. but when the New York club
learned he was on the market It put
in a bid and called Mack's attention
to the fact that it offered to take him
of Macks hands last spring when
Baker announced that he had retired
from baseball. New York has always
been anxious to get the "Home-run
King" for in addition to strengthen
ing the eNcub, he would be a star at
traction. and it would pay New York
to have him as a drawing card.
Baker is at his home at Trappe Nd,
and will go to Philadelphia today to
meet the New York club representa-
tives. Baker has a contract with the
Athletics that has two years more TO
run and calls for a salary of $4,000
for three years. Not long ago Baker
agreed to play this season with Mack
if the latter would tear up the con-
tract for the next two years; but Con-
ME would listen TO no proposition
from the Trappe farmer and told him
to go back to the Upland club of the
Delaware County League, where Ba-
ker has been receiving 500 a game
for playing once each week.
Baker has received several offers
from the Federal League. one stipulat-
ing that he was to become a member
of the club TO be placed in New York
next season. IL is understood the
American League learned of this and
at once got busy and persuaded Mack
to sell the slugger to New York. The
baseball magnates we're i'm conference
again ] evening. Connie Mack de-
clarod there was nothing to report
concerning his club, and no statement
could be obtained from any of the
others.
"Stuffy" Mclnnis, who has beer
missing from the Mack camp for some
time. turned up yesterday and played
first base for the Athletics. There are
strong rumors, despite denials. that
Mclnnis will also be sold, and -four
clubs are known to be bidding foI
little Mac" The Red Sox. New
York and st. Louis teams are all after
him.