The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-16
Rupert and Huston Close
Deal With Connie Mack
at COlOnpl's Office
MAKES TEAM \ SURE
pENNANT CONTENDER
Sluggcr Got Picturesque
SObriquct While Helping
Athletics Beat Giants.

@'
Of the most picturcsuu" figures OF the
diamond. IL the property of the New
York American League club. col. Jacob
Rupert and Capt. r. /. Huston, joint
owners OF the Yankees. purchased I'll,
release Of this redouhtabl, slugger from
Manager Connie Mack Of the Athletics
yesterday afternoon. The deal. which
IL undoubtedly the most important one
IL. w. ich tho local American League
club ever figured. Was consumrnated
early yesterday afternoon in the Colo
nel's Office at his brewery. Nincty-scc-
n street and Third avenue. BY 8
o'clock Yesterday afternoon Baker had
Oigned n contract with Messrs. RUPERT
and Huston for the seasons OF 1915,
1917 and 1918.
The terms of Bakers purchase were
not made public. On good authority.
however. Il has been learned that both
Mack and the home run clouter were
reasonable-they took nothing like the
$4,000 Charles \. Comiskey OF the
White Sox is reported TO have offered
for the third hasemans services.
Mack clad Nanks Get Him.
81 am pleased said Connie after
tho sale, that Bak * a member OF
the Yankees. lie is u great ball player
and should help Donovan's club. When
VIC came to a parting OF the ways l
realized that 1t would be to my personal
advantage 10 place Frank with the New
York ,.ub &: possible Every on" can
appreciate IN. value of "A winncr IN New
York. Furthermore Baker IL bound To-
BE- a greater attraction in New York
than elsewhere. for IL was here In re
sHat ~ asANa ht8
sobr.ouct. The owners Of the New YORK
club have proved themselves genuine
sportsmen and I am glad that I have
been able tn help them In their most
generous plans for an uplift in New
York"
~ am satisfied said Col. Rupert.
"that the Yankees should lift themselves
this year out OF the joke class ANYHOW.
Our CRYING need was hitters. Baker
aud Magee are strong additions IN ms
line, 7 am sure. II mas been my dearest
ambition To give the New York .A'neri-
can League fans a team worthy OF their
affections. II we should be disappolnted
IN our aim Capt. Huston and myself VIII
have at least the comfort of KNOWN
that we did our very best Tor our
patrons
Upon signing his three year contract
J. Franklin Baker Immediately COM
municated with Manage BIZ Donovan.
The Trappe. Md, farmer did not try
70 conceal the fact that he was Delighted
with the prospect of appearing regularly
before New York crowds. lie Will ac-
company the veterans to Macon. 'ia''
on March /. Baker. who lives the open
air winter life on his farm. ~pronounces
himself sound and 1T in wind and linn
and ready for another successful major
kague campaign.
Earned His Nickname Here.
With the possible exception of Ty
Cobb. no greater American League hero
than Frank Baker ever entertained q
New York baseball crowd. He earned
his nickname Of Home Run a. a member
Of the Athletics in the worlds series o'
1911 against the Giants. After Matty's
great pitching had clinched the openinl
game Baker blasted RUDE Marquard''
hope in the sixth inning OF the secono
contest by cracking the ball over tn,
right field wall OF Shibe Park while
Eddie Collins was perched on seconc
base.
In the third game. at the Polt
Grounds. with Blk Six back In the boz
and rolling into al apparent ! to . vic
tory, Baker came up in the ninth ant
kno.ted the score with a drive into tn
right field bleacher. This enabled hi
teammates laten TO pound out Al
eleventh inning victory.
The acquisition of Baker somewha,
eonplicates the managerial problems o
Wild I'll! Donovan, Bill, needless To say
will find som. spot on his club for tn
home run king. In all probability J
Franklin will guard the third station ~
in his won't, displac!ng Fritz Ma!s"l
The latter speed merchant il a dand,
outhelder and would welcome an oppoi
tunity To play regularly III the garden
..o 80 an ,pAx t.-saI call dawn III
any position OF the infield outside o
third Baker is quite competent 10 plus
the gap. leaving Maisel 10 perform a.
usual at the third corner. Baker plays
equally we'll at third. short or second
Mack is OF IN" opinion that with a LITTLE
experience he would be hard 10 beat as
hrst sacher.
Team strong In Every Way Now.
IN any event II would appear hat IN
presence OF Baker is bound to assur'
Donovan two strong defensive lines an,
an offence greatly improved over n
thing that ever before wore the Yankee
uniform. Dozens OF different comb!na
tons on both the inner and outer line
are now possible in case Of X o.
Injury TO players, Pipp and Mullen AR
both competent first hascmen Mullcl
was a sensation as II eco basemal
sluIlllR Nt' "a A'tl VI "' 80 eNh' -
the American Leagu" Much - eNpecte'
Of Joe Gcleon. purchased AZ = secon'
base prospect. Peckinpaugh and Angel
Aragon, III" Cuban, ar" shortstops o
class. though not as formidable At bt
NJ could ne wished. Baker and Maise
are third btsemen OF renown, Baker ga
play practically every inheld position
So can Lutte Boone and Paddy 8aumanr
utility infelders last season. not to men
ton Roy Hartzell, the old war horse
who has done everything for the Van
KEGS hut pitch and catch.
with Maisel added to the outlleld can
didates there IL n wealth OF garden ma
terlal-Lce Magee. Gilhooley, Hugh
High, Hendryx, Miller. Cook and a ban
OF untried colts. Furthermore, In
pinch Lee MsRee Is as versatile an In
fielder as can be found anywhere, Wit
an army OF new pitchcrs--among ther
nine s~outhpaws--it would appear tina
Tho long delayed Yankee uplift is at las
NOR" substantial than day dreaming.
j, Franklin Baker will he thirty year
OF age March ~, He began hts hascba
career ut 80 with an amateur team |
Eidgcly, Nd. In 1907 and 1908 h
Nlayci third has. for "A team rnauap.