Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-09
Gaffney Reported to Be in
Deal With Sinclair to Pur-
chase New York Club.
REPORT IS ACCREDITED
TO AUTHENTIC SOURCE
Expenses i'll Boston Too High to
Guarantee Big Pro6ts-Gotham .
Team Good Investment.
BY ]. ED GRILLo.

From what is considered a most
reliable source comes the infor-
nation that the sale OF the Braves
by Jim Gaffney does not mean his
retirement from the game, by any
means. 1t is the plan TO have him
join the Sinclair forces in an eff.
fort to buy the New York Giants.
d venture which would be much
more profitable than the club in
Boston.
Gaffney and Sinclair have been
close friends ever since Sinclair
broke into base ball. They visited
a great deal whenever Gaffncy
was down in New York, and from
a very personal source it is learn
ed that Sinclair some time ago
talked with Gaffney about the
proposition of buying the Giants,
and the latter then and there
started to make arrangements to
get a purchaser for his ball club.
though he proceeded rather eau
tiously and did not make any an
nouncement of his intentions.
The overhead expenses of the Braves
were enormous last season. GafYney,
who is an experienced business man,
realized this before the season was
very old and he came to the conclusion
that only with his team winning pen
nants could he expect to lay up much
coin. If he were going to stay in base
ball he figured that he would like to
get an interest in the Giants. that
opportunity came when peace, for
which Gaffney worked hard, came, and
it was whispered about that Sinclair
would make every effort to buy the
Giants. Gaffney. it is understood, had
an agreement to share the purchase Of
the New York club with Sinclair, and
in order to make this possible lie would
have to sell his club in Boston. This
he accomplished yesterday, when Percy
d.. Haughton and d syndicate of busi-
ness friends purchased the Braves and
took a thirty-trree-year lease on
Braves Field. the enormous ball park
in Boston which can accommodate 5O,-
coo spectators when they are properly
handled.
1t is said in the report of the sale
that approximately half 2 million dol
lars was paid for the Braves, and this
will be generally credited.
Stories from New. York are to the
effect that Sinclair is going to have
several conferences with the owners OF
the iants next week in a final EFFORT
to come TO an agreement as to the price
the Giants. including the palatial Polo
Grounds, should bring. 1t is said that
President Hampstead will part with ~
majority Of the holdings Tor a couple
of million dollars, but it is believed
that the price can be cut down con-
siderabiy II real cash is offered.
Gaffney is not expected to play an
open hand in the transactions, Sinclair
remaining in tn foreground, with Gaf-
ney as his silent partner and to come
to the front after the deal has been
closed.
If the Giants are purchased Sinclair
will rebuild the team with the cream of
the Federal League players, and IL Nc
can get u winner. there is no base
ball proposition in the country which
EQUALS lHdl VI IN WIN IN
fortunes have been made by
this club in recent years. but the last
season was a most disastrous one, for
team was weak and finished in last
place.
with the improvement that the ac-
of the Federal League stars
make in the team. McGraw would
very likely again be fighting for the
next year and the Polo
would once more be the scene
Of some record -breaking crowds.