The Washington herald., 1915-07-22
CHANCES slim
10.GET BAKER
Grimth's Nationals Cannot AZ
ford Such a Luxury Were
1t Within Reach.
OTHER SPORTING GOSSIP
Yankees Buy International League
Star. Who Will Join Club
at Once.
OTHER SPORTING GOSSIP
BY WILLIAM PEET.

]. Franklin Home RUM Baker for the
| Nationals.
Yes, it sounds good, but somehow OF
other these words do not ring true.
There are several perfectly good rea-
sons why Washington will not get Frank
! Baker
| In the first place. If Baker was put
on the market and American League
clubs started bidding for his services
New York or Chicago probably would
get the smuggling third baseman, fol
| these teams would be able to put ur
the largest bundle of coin, and 1t is
limited that Mack's only reason for
selling Baker would be to replenish the
/ Athletics shot-to-pieces eXcheuuer.
There never has been much love los;
| between Clark Griffith and Connie Mack
and the elongated pilot of the White
Elephants would hardly give Washing.
ton a chance to grab Baker through
1 friendship
! Griffith has maintained all along that
he would not go out in the open mar.
ket and bid for star ball players point.
! ing out as his reason that the Washing.
, ton club could not afford to compete
with the others on account of the pres.
ent debt incurred by building concrete
stands and buying additional ground tc
enlarge the playing field.
The Old Fox has made II plain that
until his club is free from debt he will
he forced to develop his own players
{ Unless Connie Mack goes back on his
/ original statement, and Connie usually
backs up what he says, Frank Baker
will not play ball with any club in the
organized circuit this season.
1t would he fine and dandy for Wash
iHgton to get Frank Baker. The Trappt
! slugger would Mt in nicely with the
present line up. but there is hardly q
chance.
In connection with Frank Baker. the
Maryland slugger is quoted as saying
that he would he pleased to hear from
( Federal League clubs next season. and
intimated that he would consider all
offers.
1t is hard to see Just how Baker could
PLAY with the Feds in 1916. as his present
contract with the Athletics does not ex-
pire until 1917.
That Connie Mack probably will dispose
Of Baker next winter is taken for granted
by those supposed to know. but Baker
will be sold to the highest bidder. and
that eliminates the Washington club.
Six major league clubs, including the
Brooklyns. were hot on the trail of Out
fielder Barney. of Jersey City. who was
purchased and signed by the Yankees
yesterday. Business Manager Sparrow
turned the trick with a big bunch of
coin. 1t is understood that the Red Sox.
Braves. Cubs. Tigers, White Sox and
Browns made. liberal offers for Barney.
but when Messrs. Rupert and Huston.
of the Yankees, put in their bid the
Jersey City club closed the deal In the
last set of International League batting
averages Barney stood fifth with a per-
Centage OF 32S He is described as a free
hitter with natural ability and a fast
outfielder. Barney has been ordered TO
report to Manager Donovan in Chicag 20
TODAY. He probably will supplant Cree
in the middle garden.
Cobb. ii is posted out. has stolen
more bases than the entire Philadel-
phia Nationals. What do the entire
Philadelphia Nationals care SO long as
they are where they are?
The club that appears to be march
ing toward the goal at a more steady
clip than any team in either league
just now is the Phillies. with Alex
ander and Mayer going good, those
fellows have a real chance of captur-
ing the championship. For the past
five years the Phillies have had a
habit of keeping out in front up to the
Fourth of July, and then dropping so
fast that emergency brakes wouldn't
hold 'em. This season they fell back
on two occasions only to squirt out
again and resume the lead. Any club
in the league has a chance to win. on
account of the closeness of the race,
but the Phillies appear to have just a
little more chance than any of the
others. Alexander and Mayer, aided
by Cravath. are doing practically all
of the effective work.
Fred" Schumm. in the Wall Street
betting. announces the following odds:
Five hundred dollars to $4,000 that
Brooklyn will win the pennant, $500 to
$4,000 that the Giants will win the
pennant. 5000 to $500 that Brooklyn
will not be one. two. three. and 5000
to $500 that the Giants beat Brooklyn
out. The odds on Brooklyn have
shortened since Saturday from to Z
to l to 5.