Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-05-01
KAUFF JUMPS BACK
TO ORGANIZED BALL
Star Outfielder Jumps Back
From Federal to the New
York Nationals.

NEW YORK, April % Bennie
Kauff, star outfielder Of the Federal
league, jumped today from the Brook
Ign Federals to the New York Ma
tioual league club, thereby creating
the biggest CommotiOn of the baseball
season so far his action giving rise
also to an unusual series Of complica-
tlons in connection with the game
scheduled for today at the Polo
grounds between Boston ana New
York.
Boston refused to play New York
with kauff in the lineup and the game
was forfeited 10 the Giants 9 To d. La
ter a game was played without kuuit.
Boston winning IS TO s. Manager Mo
Graw claims this was AN exhibition
contest
According to Sccreta John A..
Heydler of the National league. how
ever President Tener called by tclc-
phone. ruled that kaurf as a Jumper
from organized baseball was inchs-
iblo to play with club In the organ
lied game unless formally reiustat,i,
and instructed the umpire 10 forfeit
the game unless kauff was removed
from the lineup. as ne Cycutu1lly Was.
Won't CnangC Game.
At a late hour President Tonor had
issued no formal statement but % 'Wle
believed the game would stand as
played as victory for Boston sub
JcCt to probable protest boy New York
against any decision giving the same
to the Braves
Knuff was obtained by McGrlw just
before the start Of this afternoons
game, He has been trying for some
time to obtain a strong hitter for
his outfteld and only yesterday was de-
Clarcd on the best apparent authority
TO have obtained Zach Wheat OF
Brooklyn in exchange for several New
York players, which later was de-
MED
Legal Contract
Kauff this afternoon is declared to
have made an affidavit that he was
not under contract to the Brooklyn
Fedcrals and to have signed a three
year contract with the Giants at
high salary. MCGraw asserted the
New York club consulted legal au-
thority before signing Kautf and
that the New York clubs claim to
the player under his new contract is
believed to be unassailablc.
According to MCGraw, Kauff never
has signed contract with the Brook
lyn Federal league club The player
was a member of the Indianapolis
Fcderals last season. He originally
baked at mis- transfer to Brooklyn,
it is said, but an agent for that club,
reported to have been Business Man
9ger Richard Carroll, finally offered
terms which Kauff accepted.
McGraw stated that when Kauff
came north with the club President
Ward refused to accept the terms
made by his agent and repeatedly
tried to sign Kauff to Federal
league contract calling for the same
salary for which he played with In
dianapolis last season. Ward prom
ised TO pay Kauff a bonus to sign
such a contract, it is declared. Kauff
refused to do this and held out for
the salary for which he contracted
at the training camp. Ward then,
kauff's contract with Indianapolis
was binding on Kauff as it still had
two years to run.
kauff a Free Agent.
McGraw asserted that player be
came dissatisfied with his lot in
Brooklyn and after writing several
letters asking President Ward to give
him the salary to which he believed
he was entitled, Kauff opened nego-
tiations with the New York National
league club.
McGraw said that fauff's contract
with indianapolis was an iron bound
one and that 1t could not be broken,
but that the attorneys for the New
York club took the stand that as the
Indianapolis club no longer is in eX
istence, Kauff is free agent.
The news that Kauff had appeared
In a New York uniform at the polo
grounds threw a bombshell into the
Federal league camp. President Ward
declared that he had the player signed
for three years and would make
fight for him. Mr.. Ward immediately
wired President Tener of the National
league and President Hampstead of
the New York club, protesting against
New York's action. Mr.. Ward de-
clared that if the National league
failed to order Kauffs return the
Federal league would start a war OF
rcprisal and go after the biggest
players in organized base ball.
Leads in Hitting.
kauff lead the Federal league In
batting last season. His average for
15f games while playing centerfield
for, indianapolis was 1866. His field
average was .95S for 154 games.