The Washington times., 1916-01-22
GRIFF EXPLAINS HIS POSITION.

when Gedeon became homesick and
wanted to go back to California In Ihe
middle of 1914 he signed contract Tor
50 100 for the following season OF 1910.
,1IA also accepted a cash payment OF
800 for his services in 1915, This was
not written into the contract, but was
paid in cash, cold turkey. Last year 4
let him play with Salt Lake and did not
order him to report here. though he was
still signed by the Washington club.
There is the only possible quibble which
might upset my case, the fact that he
played with Salt Lake"apd not with
Washington.
Last fall he agreed to my terms for
1916 and then, receiving an offer from
the Feds, he wrote no more to me. Il
had a hard time learning the truth of
the report that he had signed with the
Feds. Apparently he did sign with the
Feds. accepting bonus Of $1,000 for
signing a contract calling for $4,000.
at was suggested to me that take
over this Federal League contract and
keep Gedeon. This have refused to do.
l have from the beginning refused to-
have any dealings with the Federal
League and 1 maintain my course to the
end. SO far as ! am concerned. the
Feds have never existed when 1t comes
to dealing with ball players. If Gedeon
had played with the Feds, / would let
him go without struggle. But. in law.
he never had a right to sign Federal
League contract and l believe can
prove this.
81 don't care anything about, that
peace pact in Cincinnati. l shall not
go to the National Commission over
this Gedeon affair. l am not helping
out any Federal leaguers. II ! fail to
convince Messrs. Gilmore. and Sinclair
who seem to be good business men
that Gedeon cannot hold them to the
letter of q Federal League contract be-
cause when he signed it he was already
under contract to the washington ciun'
] shall go to court to protect my rights;
III the Yankees take Gedeon. 1t Will
be nothing more than plain theft. l
don't believe Captain Huston and COL
opel Rupert will turn a trick ike thnt.
But, even II they do, shall find plenty
OF opportunities to get even later.
Manager GrifHith's wrath has been
stirred up by the sale of Joe Gedeon,
Nick Cullop and Herman Schaefer to
the New York Yankees. The New York
club has agreed to take over the FED
eral League contracts Of these thTee.
Owing to the illness OF sinclair, tat &
actual figures were not made public'
it is thought that Cullop cost the
Yankees 10000 and Gedeon Just hah
that ,,,....,o,a
club for the Feds, was success last
wear with Kansas City, winning -
games and losing II. -. .uo Ia
Gedeon was the sensation Oh me Ia
cific Coast League last year, playing
second base with Salt Lake. he nelu-
ed for .952 and hit for .3l7 In iSC games,
Herman Schaefer was utility In man
and comedian with the Ne"arK @ FeJS piS
Grounds fans happy all next summer
John Camel, last years manager OF
the Brookfeds, following the resighaNIlom
of Lee Magee. has appeared in New
York. All the sporting writer's: who
like CAMEL, were grievlng for his FUTURE
but he announces that he has three-
year ironclad contract and has no Wor-
ries.
The house cleaning goes merrily on in
Cleveland. Lee Fohl Is sparing no pains
TO get rid OF those minor leagues ne
nounced that he has sent Jimmy Escheh'
the former Jersey city outnelder, TO
New Orleans. RED" Bluhm, first base
man. and Jack Brenton, pitcher, have
already been released to the Pelicans;
Within a day or so the following VIII
also start for the bushes at least as
far as their contracts go: Second base
man Miller, Third Baseman Stansbury,
both to New Orleans; Pitcher Lefty
James, Outfielder Massey, and Catcher
Deberry, all to Louisville and Second
Baseman Hammond and Outhelder
Nixon to Portland, ore. Manager Fohl
Is becoming real rough with those bush
ers of his.
The New York Giants have dropped
Third Baseman Dyer to Denver in the
Western League, and Manager McGraw
announces that he will keep the rams or
the Metropolis busy for the next few
weeks following the trails of his re-
leases.
George Stallings, manager of the
Braves likes New Workers, and so he
dropped on in the big town yesterday
long enough to give them some cheerful
dope concerning the coming season.
Stanings admits that Lee Magee is
~ Was somewhat disappointed" said
he when ] heard that the Yankees
had bought Lee Magee, for | was after
him myself. l consider him one OF the
Rrandest players i'm the game. In my
opinion, he is the nearest approach to
Ty Cobb. Magee is just the man the
Yankees have lacked ever since l left
staiiing also admitted that he is
angling for several former Federal
Ieaguers. IF / connect I'll give Nc
GrAw the time OF his life next year"
continued the Braves manager.
Twenty-seven Brooklyn Dodgers will
report at Daytona, Fla. on March TO-
according to the orders issued today by
Manager Wilbert Robinson. Those re-
ceivlng orders to report are:
Pitchers-Nap Rucker. John Walter
CDusterl Mails, Rube Marquard, Sher-
rod Smith, left-handers; Wheezer Dell.
Jack Coombs. Ed Appleton. Ed Pfeffer,
GDsSY Cheney Ira ColWell, Lester 8.