The Washington times., 1916-01-25

The National Commission is said to
have made u secret agreement at tie
time the peace articles were sighed to
allow all major league clubs first
chance to purchase lack those players
who had deserted them for the Feds,
but had not played in any games. Un-
Ger this agreement the Washington
club was allowed to buy Gcdcon. lie
- was offered TO Manager Griffith. the
only stipulation being that the Wssh-
ington club take over the Federal
, League contract. This ran for three
years at salary increasing yearly.
." Manager Griffith refused to consider
this case, resting wholly on his prior
claim to the player.
Upon Griffth's refusal to pay the
price asked, Gedeon's name was added
to the list of Federal League assets,
and when Herman Schaefer tipped the
Yankees to Gedeons value. he was pur-
chased. by Colonel Rupert. Now the
New York club announces that the
money has been paid over to Sinclair
for ,Gedeon and that on Ban Johnson's
word. there Is no chance for any other
- club to obtain him.
TO add joy to the occasion. Gedeon
has wired the New York club that he
will be delighted to report for practice.
The California Catamount" probably
ItHIlEeS lndl ne WON nave 10 WISH
Charlottesville. Va. this spring. and
Just can't help from chucklng. IL
there's one place in the United States
dlstGsteful to Gedeon. it is Charlottes-
Vile; He has termed it Just mere
mudholc."
Though Manager Griffith has threat
Gned to take his case to the courts. it
is doubtful if he will 20 that far. What
Ban johnson saws goes in the American
League. If Ban decides that Griff lost
claim to Gedeon when he declined 10
assume the Federal League contraS,
the player will be found with the
{. Yankees.
President John X. Tener. of the Ma
tional League. is going to make an at
tempt to have President Woodrow Will
son attend the fortieth birthday celebra
ton of the National League In New
York. February .. Tener believes that
this would be a ten-strike for the ma
tions Chief Magistrate in an appeal for
popularity.
Ban Johnson is quoted as the author
ity for the statement that the New York
Yankees have paid 00O0 for Lee Ma
gee cost Colonel Rupert and Captain
Huston a cool $2o .OO0, while 900 apiece
was passed over for Culop and GcdCon.
In the case of Magee, the money prob
ably is well spent. CullOp. too, may
deliver the goods He was not much
OF n twirler with the Indians, wildness
being his principal sin. but last year
he Curhcd this insanity and developed
rapidly. Joe Gedeon Is q most promis-
ins young player, and may make good,
but in his case he has yet to show. In
these deals, the Yanks are taking most
chances with Gedeon.
Reb Russell. said to be the hero of
You know me. AL" has signed with
the White SoX. Russell was in moor
condition last year. and so failed to star
Rowland ha ie opo6 N
I when worked regularly. and is expected
to shine in 1916 as he did in 1911.
Col Bob Hedges, who invested $4,000
IN baseball and in fourteen years drew
out $242 900, may return to the national
game as owner of the Kansas CITY club
in the American Association. George
Tebeau announces that he will sell his
90 franchise, and Hedges is considering
making an offer
In lieu of paying Bresnahan, his two
years salary. Charlie Weeghman is
going to aid the Cubs former manager
TO purchase the Cleveland American As
sociation franchise and transfer it to
Toledo. Wecghman is handling all ne
Sotiations with the bankers committee
in charge of Charlie SOmcrs' affairs,
and is also comforting with Bar john
son.
Fielder Jones says that baseball
star can still shine at the age of forty.
He is thinking of "Uncle Cy" Young,
/. Bobby Wallace. Honus Wagner Tommy
Leach. Eddie Plank. and Sam Crawford.
These fellows admit their age. Most
major Ieagucrs never pass the twenty
ninth milcstCne--in their conversation.
At the meeting Of the International
League. in New York, were seen u
= bunch of former big league stars. look
ing for places as managers, Matty Nc
lntyre. Tommv Leach, Joe Birmingham,
Heinle Wagner, Harry Mccormick, and
Al Schlahv were in the small army
that descended upon the moguls.
George Stovan, the Federal League
tirebrand, demands his rights. lie says
nobody can sell him.
Tim one of the principal stockhod-
ers in the Kansas city club myself"
comments Stovall, "and ! don't see
where a rival club owner has any rigIt
to sell me for his own profit NV con-
tract calls for managing the club next
season, but there isn't any club, and
I therefore am i'm no position to serve
Kansas City. Neither is that club in
any shape to pay me for my services. so
II looks as II the onlv thing | can do Is
get out and hustle for a job in organ
ized baseball If l can't catch on in the
p majors l will be satisfied with man
aging In the minors.
Il have been informed by President
Gilmore that I am the property of the
Kansas city club and must deal with
theIn. therefore thlS IS matter
strictly between Kansas city and my
self. ] got them their ball club for
{, less than a fourth what it cost other
managers to recruit players. and in
addition, obtained n lot of players for
other Federal teams. Tho least they
can do in justice TO me is let me go
and I'll find a place for myself csc
where.
why. one of my men signed by
me only few weeks agO-Johnson. of
the Coast I.eague-waG sold for $1,000
recently and I didn't get cent OF II.
although I put through the signing of
kta alone. And. Furthermore. I dug