New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-09
Speaker, Star of Red SOx,
Sold tOClepeland Team
Head of Indians Says He
Paid More for Iris Than
Collins or Baker
Brought.

Iris Speaker. the star outielder 81
the Boston Red Sox. who is rated az
the best defensive player Of his posi-
ton in baseball. and ranked second
only to Cobb Tor sll-around efficiency,
has played his last game in Boston
uniform. perhaps.
Bill Carrigan announced yesterday
afternoon that Speaker had been trad
ed 20 the Cleveland Indians for a cash
consideration. and Sam 2. Jones. a
young pitcher. who is held IN high
esteem BY Lee Fohl. manager Of the
Cleveland team. one other player. yet
10 be decided upon. will accompany
Jones and the money 20 the Back Bay.
1t is just possible that steve O'Neil,
the catcher. will hear the call TO the
worlds champions. There was some
talk OF the Sox letting Thomas and
Csdy drift along TO other parts. and
the deal may be so arranged as to IN
clude O'Neil.
The trading OF Speaker comes As the
elimination Of bitter fight between
the player and the club owners after
the settlement Of the war with the
Federal League. During the time when
the star Of the outlaws seemed to be
in its ascendant, Speaker received a
salary Of $4,000 for two years. But
just as soon as the Treaty of Gin
cinnati was signed. and cutting sal
aries became popular pastime. the
Boston management offered Iris a
contract calling for $4,000 per annum
When Iris recovered from his frs.
spasm OF surprise, and was able 10
talk in connected sentences. he re-
turned the proffered document with d
note that such q salary would not buy
gssOlene for his new limousine. He
sent several other messages also. but
there seemed to be no way OF adjusting
conditions.
When the training season opened
Speaker remained al his home. IN Hub
bard City, Tex, and came over 10
Marlin 10 watch the Giants practise
couple OF days. lie said at that time
that he had no intention OF accepting
the terms offered by the club, and that
he would force the owners TO trade or
release him before he would play. A
representative Of the Boston club in
terviewed Speaker then. and matters
were adjusted, so =; was announced.
Speaker did some training. and he
proved that his batting eye was keen
and his swing unimpaired IN the game
with the Brooklyn Robins on FRIDAY
afternoon.
The transfer Of Speaker 10 the
Indians comes as q surprise. or course.
one star is always TO be considered as
tho foundation Of winning team, but
Sneaker on the Indians Is lone oird.
The Yankees made an effort 20 get him,
hut the same barrier which has blocked
tho owners OF the Yankees In their
efforts 20 secure other men was raised
in this instance.
Cincinnati. April s--Whle he would
not saw what amount OF money was
given for Iris Speaker James c. Dunn,
1resident OF the Cleveland American
league club. declared the deal in
volved the greatest cash consideration
ever paid for a ball player.
we paid more money for Speaker
than the Chicago Americans paid for
Eddie Collins OF the New orS f'eri-
cans paid for J. Franklin Baker. SAID
Mr. Dunn. The acquisition Of Speak
or was purely a cash eonsi deration. but
there may be some minor details which
would involve one or two OF the lesser
players on the Cleveland team
BOSTON. April s-The transaction an
New York to-day by which Tristram
Sneaker passed from the Red Sox 70
The Cleveland Americans ranks with
the greatest, financially, in the history
Of the game.
Although President, J. J. Lannin or
the Boston club would not disclose the
figures. information obtained here
placed the amount Of the cash consid-
Grafton with the relcnse value OF the