Evening journal., 1916-02-16
Yankees NOW OWN
Home RUM BAKER
Diamond Star Comes Out OF
Retirement TO Sign Three
Year Contract
PRICE SAID TO BE
MORE THAN $4,000

John Franklin Baker, OF "home-run'
fame the player who on two occa-
sions smashed the worlds champion.
ship aspirations Of the Giants at the
Polo Grounds and in Philadelphia
with circuit hits, has been purchased
by the Yankees and will play third
base on the team next season. Baker
signed contract for three years
1916. 1917 and 1918.
The deal was consummated at a
four-hour conference al Ruppert's
brewery between Colonel Jacob Rup-
pert, Captain f. l.. Huston and Mana
ger Connie Mack, OF the Athletics.
The price paid for the player has not
the New York Club paid more than
$4,000 for the player and his con-
tract calls for $4,000 year.
Baker had a record in the American
/ League which was unusual. Never a
brilliant third baseman. he, neverthe-
less. drove i'm more runs than any
tatsman in the league for FIVE sue
oessive years. From 1909 TO 1914
Baker drove in more than 100 runs a
year Hit hitting has always been
timely. and IL he comes up 10 his past
iprowess with the hat during the COM
ing season the strengthened Yankees
will be one OF the best clubs in the
American League.
Before the opening Of tho playing
season last spring Baker demanded Z
. larger salary than that called for un
der his contract with the Athletics
j which had another year to run. Macl
refused 10 grant the incraase and
baker retired 10 his home at Trappe
1 Md. remaining out OF the professiona
baseball all season. Mack was Quote'
during the season as saying that h
would refuse to sell Baker until hi
contract expired.
"Home run" Baker began his bis
league career with the Athletics in
1908 and developed into one of the
most formidable batsmen in the game
He was the star in the worlds series
in 1911. when he bore out his reputation
as a home-run hitter by making two
circuit drives which virtually gave
/ his team the championship. In 1914
his last season. his batting average
was .319. He was born at Trappe
Md. March 13. 1856.
4 The amount of salary Baker Will re-
/ ceive and the amount the Philadelphia
ii American League club is TO be paid
: were not announced In statement
; given by Baker he said his return 10
B., the game was brought about by a
E friend. who convinced him that he
!. owed il to himself and the baseball
public He said:
r zone year ago I announced that I
had quit baseball. and meant IT, ]
was not "A holdout and never expected
TO play professional ball again Dur
4 ing the last season I received several
3 very attractive offers from both the
n Federal League and clubs in tn,
q American League. but until last weel
I had no thought of returning to tn,
game. Then I was visited by Vernon
y s. Bradley. of Cambridge, Md. VIII,
23 convinced me owed it to myself MI
IS Mack and baseball 70 go back and pla
95 ball I made no overtures TO him o
f3 through him. But he also saw MI
- Mack aud the result was that today
Is came to Philadelphia and signed
contract to play three years with tn
20 New York Americans.
20 Il am sure I can play as good ba
3 as ! ever did. and ] am going to Civ
3 the best there Is in me TO my ne
Is manager. have only the kinde'
'S feelings for Mr.. Mack and Philade
= phia and leave this city with SINGER
Is regret