New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-27
Higgins Says
Yankees Have
Find in Wick
New Manager Faces Big Job
in Getting Line on
Team S Strength
By w. ]. Macbeth

~ the ankeeSi VIII CIV 'bNN
annual major league MEETINGS, "hicr
n,u be held earlier than usual THIS
ear The chief concern Of Hugg1ns a.
n-.,ep, seems 20 be the policies tow
ard the schedule that the two DIG
leagues may adopt in 1918. =,
Ran Johnson has declared himself
n favor of reducing TO campaign u
,Io Games and of waiting TIL about May
o. the commencement Of the COM
-. ..sson. The majority Of National
T.,Su. magnates favor the shorter
.,htdul.. Such a plan was Endorsed al
.,peeial meeting Of the Tener bench
ven in this city shortly after the close
:, the world series. But the warriors
. AZ the parent major did not diseuss al
,.,Sth the advisability Of the later
.,.rt Indeed, many Of them believe
a would be better policy to commence
..,,y a. at present, and lop on 'ne
.x.r. time from the tail end OF the
campaign. =,
mi. 1. matter which must DC
.r,nsllv agreed upon, for neither DIG
- can afford 70 remain Idle whlie
~. ether Is operating. And this is
-. rojnt which must be settled before
uo~sin, can get busy. Little hilier
i..ii In the dark as TO the laten'
.nsth Of the Yankees. He has seen
SIZE .'. two of his players in action
Vn.!,ndo Narsans and Frank Gilhooley
80 tbese in few games. Therefore
az trainjhg trip for him must solVe
sHS .,sat many Of his problems.
Returns TO Cincinnati
u..c;,s returned TO Cincinnati
.Aor,IT after he signed ms two-yeA.
snDtrert with Colonel Jacob kuPPeTl
So' rs city Thursday afternoon: lie
~ 70 keep in close touch with inc
81 offce. and doubtless Will move
w. soros time about Christmas. but
n,til he gets the feel of things ne mus
W., mon his associates OF the al
u-'V{ristrative force TO keep the ball Toll
ing. III been in prospect
,.to,e Huggins was secured 70 tahe
49, 49, ~ the Yankees battle line
Sga. have met with Higgins aP-
'rsI and. II possible, wall be Ell
49, 49, a. the annual meeting OF the
ts.;.on LEAGUE in Chicago a couple
n ~ 49, hence. Higgins thinks very
I;rglv of Derrill Pratt, the SECOND
49,, of the St. Louis Browns. Also
- ~ooi;zes that second base has 0een
Dos striking weakness Of the YANKEES
9 s go time, It is no secret that
~ ysrkees have been negotiating 1Vr
pr.,t for some time. Nor is 1t lmproD-
ab 'I't that he will be landed for HuggihS
before spring u,o;, IN st.
Lonis His lot there would not ue w..
.I,aso,. bel is one Of two players
Irossinc q suit for damages against
pbI ran owner Of the Browns, LOT
aUe-ed libel. Rail- was quoted as say
nc .bat the team laid down on tleIder
InSes Ran Johnson tried 70 CAL on
tba niavers. but failed. Indeed, fratt
Ler aid that he will never again play
Tor Rail Under these circum stance,sS
II Is not unlikely that New 1oTk VIII
have the difficulty it experienced lasI
eoeson when Jores tried TO shake down
mn Donovan for s25.OO0 in exchange
for the crippled second baseman.
pratt or no Pratt, however, Hugglns
is Going TO keen close TO the American
League trail throughout the winter IN
order 10 learn as much as possible Of
local conditions before his club assem- ,
blss for spring training. And reai
training trip he intends to make 1t.
Wants No Mistakes
az expect a fairly long trip" said ne,
because Of my unfamiliarity with con-
Gitions Besides, I am told there are
great number of recruits that have
been brought in, and / wish TO make
no mistakes on any Of these.
81 suppose tire club viii 90 back to
Macon, Ga. That is immaterial 10 me.
What plan or doing is TO get real
line on the youngsters. That cannot be
done in q few days"
higgins believes that Sammy Wick
will be developed into q sensational
eutfelder.
"I'l stake my reputation on Connery,
the scout that dug up Rogers Hornsby
for ne. He says Wick is one of the
grandest prospects from the bushes.
He tried to grab him for the Cardinals,
bu. the Yankees scouts beat him TO
the prize Wick may be a year or so
away, but Connery does not think so.
COnnery says Wick will be ready next
year"