The Washington times., 1916-12-28
Upon Outcome Of FederaIs' Suit
Depends Sale of Base
ball Properties.
WATHEn WANTS AN OUTFIT
Louisville Mogul Would Buy
Cards or Pirates Before
Season Opens.
ny LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

ny LOUIS A. BOUCHER.
Upon the outcome OF the approach.
ing trial of tho Federal League suit
against organized baseball hangs the
possible sale of three National League
clubs. II organized baseball Is de-
clarcd victorious, the Brooklyn, Pitts.
burgh, and st. Louis clubs will change
hands before the curtain goes up
next April.
The suit entered by the Baltimore
T'ederais will be heard at Philadei.
phia next month. The Baltimore folks
niiege that organized baseball is a
trust within the meaning Of the
statute. and ask that they be given
damages totaiing 100000.
President Tener. OF the National
League, has several times announced
entire confidence in the outcome OF
the suit. saying that the Federais
would be defeated and that organized
baseball would gain accordingly.
Deals Are Held Up.
However, until that suit has been
heard in the United States court In
Philadelphia, three deals are held up.
Charles II. Ebbets, with the Nc
Keovers, owners OF the Brooklyn
club, In willing to entertain PROPOSE.
tions for the purchase OF the Ma
tionai League champions. Indeed, II
In said that he has already accepted
an offcr.
Barney Dreyfuss announced at the
annual meeting of his league that he
would sch his Pirates. IL he could
ret his nricR
Mrs. Schuyler Britton. owner OF the
81. Louis Cardinals, has been quoted
in n similar vein.
wathen Want. Club.
o. II. wathen, owner OF the Louis.
willie champions, OF the American
Association, Is angling for the 81
Louis club. II Mrs. Britton refuses
n reasonable offer. wathen may buy
the Pittsburgh club, though he pre-
fers TO locate In -. Louis.
IL In said that National Leaguers
are counseling Mrs. Britton TO sell
out, n she cannot adopt n more iiber- |
al policy In the management OF the
Cardinals.
.wathen f. q wealthy distiiicr who
wants TO own n major league club
for the pleasures he would derive
from the connection.
Gsffney In Field.
Jim Gaffney. former owner OF the
Boston Braves. is In the field for
the Pirates. Gaffney Is a wealthy con.
tractor who likes TO be known as n
baseball magnate. He now owns n
mortgage on Braves Field. Boston.
preyfuas has asked for $1,000. go |
In exchange. for his park. franchise
IA A.. 1.a Il
certainty whether or not Gaffney will
pay such n sum. but they may got
together following the trial In Phila-
delphia.
Ban Johnson In interested In Ma
tional League changes, as he wishes
To have his rival better balanced, if
possible, for the coming campaign.
Mssee In Trade.
Sherwood Magee, the veteran out.
fielder OF the Braves, has been traded.
according TO a weil-defined. rumor
from Boston. The tale does not say
where he Is TO 20. but IL In believed
that he will play with the ST. Louis
Cardinals next season.
Magee Is working on a .S6.500 con.
tract, and the size OF this II said To
have something TO do with stallings'
willingness TO dispose OF him. Pres,-
dent Haughton wants TO iop off S25,.
600 from the Braves payroll this win.
ter, and Magee's passing will be a
long step In that direction.
Though the Cardinals will get him,
according TO rumor. the Cubs are also
angling for Magee. Manager Mitchell
has offered Les Mann. an outnelder
formerly with the Braves, and a pitch
or In exchange for Magee.
Jack Barry Satisfied.
While much has been heard OF the
possibility OF Jack Barry's becoming
manager OF the worlds champion Bost-
ton Red sox. the famous innelder Is
said to be satisfied with his present
duties around second base and is not
after the more arduous re-
sponsibilities OF leading a major league
ball club.
barry Is making his home In Meriden,
Conn. where he Is conducting a paying
garage. Recently he was interviewed
as to the likelihood OF his succeeding
Bin Carrigan and he said;
Managing a team and playing In
the infield Is too much OF a strain for
any man. Infelders are always under
more OF strain than those playing any
other position on team Running a
ball club is another tremendous strain.
Il don't think any man can MI both
positions. One or the other will suffer.
IL he Is good manager. he'll he a
bad infielder. II he plays good ball,
his management will suffer. prefer to
play second base as best / can"
Others Have Failed.
Five prominent inhelders have failed
as player managers and Jack
Barry does not lack for guide posts
along the line. h
Joe Tinker was leading shortstop
until he became manager. Then he
fell down badly as a player with the
Reds.
Buck Herzog's management failed
In Cincinnati because he played great
baseball in the inheld.
Larry Lajoie failed as a manager
because he was a winning second
DRSeman.