Evening journal., 1916-06-19
DREYFUS Wants A
BASEBALL STAR
Barney Declares That He
Will Pay $4,000 for
One That Will Shine
ASKS CRITICS
TO FIND PLAYER

/ Gl14NO OANl lNgO
TO FIND PLAYER
Fifty thousand dollars is the price
Barney Dreyfuss is willing to pay
for real ball player-a man Of
recognized ability and one whose hit
ting can and will supply the long-felt
want on the Pittsburgh Baseball Club.
This offer is made in dead serious
ness The Pirate owner realizes that
| in order for him to realize on his in
vestment he must have a winning
team. And that is what he is trying
to get. Recently sharp criticism has
been directed at him for his failure
to buy real ball players" This crit
icism is declared by Dreyfuss TO be
unjust.
81 invite my critics to show me
where better ball players. than those
now appearing in the Pittsburgh line
| up can he secured" he said to the
writer Just as soon as this infor-
nation is supplied me ! will get busy.
Our money is ready and We are will
ing to spend it,"
Then it was that Dreyfuss made his
offer to pay a fortune for one man. 81
know" he said. "and Manager Gala
han knows, that one more hard-hit-
ting player would win games for the
Pittsburgh team Most OF the games
we have lost this season have been
by small scores. Our pitchers are
working splendidly. and some OF our
men are hitting. Others either cannot
or will not hit.
Recently, 7 was taken to task be-
cause did not buy iris Speaker from
the Boston American League Club.
That criticism was foolish; there was
no chance Of Speaker ever getting out
of the American League; and what's
more. had It not been for the play
er's trouble with his Boston em-
ployers over salary matters Cleveland
would not have been able to buy him
Mr.. Dunn would have offered his
$4,000 in vain.
But" continued Barney Speaker
was cheap at that price. Show me
real ball player-a hitter-and 7 will
go as high as the next bidder. In
fact will go higher"
How high would you go?" was
asked.
A good hitter who could supply the
vacancy in our club, would be worth
up TO S5O.O0O," was the reply. And
what's more. ] would consider myself
fortunate to get the right man at that
price.
I'm the first place a new player who
could help the Pirate win games
would stir up interest here and on
| the road. A winning team in Pitts
| burgh this season would prove to be
mighty profitable investment.
know that: know. too. that any
money expended for the purchase Of
players with whom to strengthen our
club would be returned threefold,
provided we could force ourselves up
into the running And, after we had
got back the purchase money, we
would be the gamers, in that we
would still have the player-or the
I players, as the case might be-"
The clubowner insisted that he was
not "bluffing," and invited any and
all fans to enter into the competition.
He realizes that something should be
done, and is willing to do his share.
Il have been criticized because I
did not jump in and grab lot Of al
legged Federal League stars last sea
son. Fact of the matter was. had a
good line on every player in that
league, and / did not know of any,
save two or three. who were better
than the men we already had under
contract.
"Kaurf was about the best OF them
and | tried TO land him. Harry Sin
clair, who disposed OF this player 10
New York, will bear witness to the
fact that ! bid against McGraw until
the price became very high Then |
was informed that my efforts were in
vain; that Kauff had already been
promised to the Giants. So il was
with Magee. who went to the New
York Americans.
There were others who, il was
claimed. | should have tried for. To-
bin. Of St Louis. was held up as a
shining light He was hitting
around 200. Rousch. OF New York is
also a failure: and so are others. no.
table among the lot being Claude
Cooper, who is playing the bench for
Philadelphia because OF his. failure
even to hit 200.
= Players Of this class are easy Ia
secure; but what we need-what We
wants real hitter-a ball player
= We need such man this season and
] am willing to pay the price for him
The trouble Is. however, that club.
b owners who have men we could use
10 advantage are holding on like grim
/ deaIh. We couldn't hope to buy viii
lianis. of the Cubs. now. even though
we came near getting him last Feb
ruary. New York wouldn't think OF
parting with Robertson. another play
er. who almost became a Pirate
Kauf isn't for sale, nor is Daubert
or Doyle and men Of that calibre.
Nor can club owners be blamed
for holding on 10 their winning play
ers. What would happen here in
Pittsburgh II we sold Mamaux OF
Wagner?
still. my offer stands; show me
where 7 can get the man and /
will write the check-even up to $780,
0O0."
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