The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-15
MAGEE WILL ADD
HIS STRENGTH TO
=. YANKEE LINEUP
Acquisition Of Former Fed
Star Will Mean Much to
Local Club.
PRICE NOT REVEALED,
BUT MUST BE HIGH

Zee Magee. star all round player OF
the Federal League last year. was pur-
chased by the Yankees yesterday. Busi-
ness Manager Harry Sparrow Of the
New York American League club made
tho official announcement OF the deal last
night, after receiving instructions TO that
effect from Capt. r. 7. Huston over long
distance telephone from Cincinnati.
Sparrow was not authorized to name
tho amount OF money 1t cost the club to
obtain the contract of Magee from Harry
r. Sinclair.
Our conversation was very BRIEF"
said Sparrow you know IL costs a few
dimes to phone all that distance. so the
Cap cut IL short"
Capt. Huston had gone TO Cincinnati
TO confer with Magee and make certain
that the player was willing to be with
me Yankees. He found Magee not only
willing but anxious. 81 would rather
b. with the Yanks than any other team"
10 what Magee Is reported to have said
nome weeks ago. and Capt. Huston found
the statement was not overdrawn.
Several days ago Capt. Huston and
Col. Rupert. Joint owners Of the YAM
KEGS. persuaded Sinclair to put a price
on lfagee. All that remained then was
for the local management 20 find out
what Masce's disposition was in the
matter. II has been understood generally
thai Nagee received approximately So
900 last year for playing with the Brook
lyn Feds and managing them part OF
Vhe time. Ills contract was OF the term
sort with two more seasons to run. The
Yankees Of course assume this and in
addition probably will have to pay
nfagee something extra. for that young
gentleman is known to have rather def
mite ideas OF his own worth. Ascertain
ing the exact amount of this surplus
was one Of the things hat caused Capt.
Huston to go to Porkville. where Magee
makes his home.
The message 80 Sparrow last night
did not say whether or not Mage had
signed a new contract. out II is "A moral
certainty that he has come to terms and
Is ready 10 affix his signature to one as
soon as IL II drafted.
The actual closing OF the deal was
Zone by means Of a telegram from Capt.
Huston TO Sinclair. sent from Cincinnati
yesterday evening telling the wholesale
trader that his terms "A been found
acceptable and that the Yankees had
decided to take Mngee.
II is probable that the Yarks will
use Magee In the outfeld instead Of
at second base. where he played the
majority of the time with the Brookfeds
last year. The season previous. when
he was in the outield for the st. Louis
Cardinals. he shove himself to be a
much more capable fielder In that ca
pacity than in the first line of defence,
though he can attend 10 any of the in
field jobs with a good measure Of sue
cess.
Magee is likely 10 be in centre field
for the local club. with Hugh High.
Frank Gilhooley. Young Hendryx,
Miller and Doc Cook 10 choose from
for the men to flank him in right and
left. Unless some other PLAYERS are
obtained before the season opens Char
ley Mullen IN the likely second baseman,
with Lutte Boone and Paddy Baumann
striving against him for the post. Wal
ter Ppp on first. Roger P~eckinpsugh
at shortstop and Fritz Maisel ut third
are practically fixtures. The team !s
still anxious to obtain a new catcher or
two, while the pitching staff. with an
army of youngsters on hand. appears
promising.
Magee. whose real name is Leo
Hoernschemeyer. Lee Magee being sim
ply a nom de ball field. has been more
or less Of a spectacular character dur
hbk IiN ''ihb'ai'N4NNly IloT experience
in the big leagues. He played three
years with the Cardinals, doing odd Jobs
at first base, second base and in the out
field. principally the latter, until he
jumped to the Feds last winter. He was
a contract jumper. for at the time he
was bound to the Cardinals by a three
year contract that still had two years to
sun. When he took charge of the Brook
feds he announced at the start that he
HNtandAI IN no tho Iya- pAao,I
OF the circuit-and so he proved to be.
u hard hitter and dashing base runner,
he led the league In both departments
until late In the season, when mana
Eerial worries hurt his work 80 that he
elumped below Benny Kauff. He also
Wal regarded as one Of the brainiest men
n not the brainiest performer In the
Federal circuit.
Always a sort of stormy petrol. having
quarrels on and of the ball field with
fellow players and others while he was
with the Cardinals, he lived up TO his
old reputation with the Feds. On the
drst day Of the season at Washington
Park last spring he got In an argu-
ment with the umpires over a play. was
ordered TO the bench and later sent to
the clubhouse, for all of which he had
TO pay d heavy fine.
He had a run In with the veteran
Artie Holman. who deserted the clut
because OF II, and finally had so much
trouble with his charges that he resigned
the manasershlp In August, John Camel
being brought from Rochester 10 take
charge of the team. Magec's playing at
that stage was his worst OF the season
but after Camel relieved him OF his
responsibility and cares he perked vi
and began to shine again.
Magee thinks-and others share the
belief with him--that he will get alone
handsomely under Bill Donovan. who il
n smooth, suaye. smiling Individual who
gets along with practically no friction
anywhere. If Magee plays the same
kind of ball that he did in the Fedora
League the Yankees may be considered
strengthened at least 90 per cent.