The Washington times., 1917-02-02
Old Fox Receives Card Show
ing That Newest lnfielder
Knows His Terms.
MANY ARE DROPPING BACK
Veterans Slipping From Fast
Company, Leaving Chances
for Youngsters.
By LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

By LOUIS A. BOUCHER.
Sam Crane, the shortstop obtained
by the Griffmen from Baltimore, has
received his contract at his home In
Harrisburg, Pa, and Manager Grif'
fifth expects to have his signed papers
in the office safe in a day or two,
The receipt card arrived here today
HCrane Is q youngster with grea'
future" remarked the Old Fox today
"and believe he'll sign up in jury.
1t means q lot to a youngster to get
a chance with a big league club, and
Crane knows It He was up once be-
fore, you know, with the Athletics.
"As the fans know, a young player
Joining my team these days is douoly
fortunate, Several of my best play
ers have been in the game a long
while, as baseball time goes, and the
new blood Is sure to force itself into
the team. Crane is just one OF the
youngsters who should sooner or later
be a regular"
Many Are Dropping.
Many players, most OF them mem
bers Of the Baseball Players Fra
ternity, are dropping back to the
sticks this season.
Alva Williams is washington's con
tribution to the list the big catcher
being released to the Baltimore IN
ternationals-
The Indians have dropped Dan Noel
Ter, Fred Beebe, and Walter Barbara
The Athletics have sent back Pick
Shea
han and Bressler.
Walsh Is Released.
Ed walsh, the White sox veteran,
iron man." has been released uncon'
ditionally.
Nap Rucker, the Dodgers veteran
southpaw pitcher, is out without
strings, though he will act as scout
for Robinson's team this season.
Babe Borton. of the Browns; George
Mcconnell, of the Cubs; Wilbur Goode,
of the PhiIs; Dubuc, of the Tigers;
Lutte Boone, Ray Keating, and Her
man Schaefer, of the Yanks; Mordecai
Brown and Joe Tinker, of the Cubs,
and Zim Beck, of the Cards, with
more to be named before the season
opens, have slid down the creased
chute. Their places must be filled by
youngsters.
Some Coming Back.
Some players are coming back for
trials in the big show, but the chances
of most of them are slim. Fast COM
pany needs speed, and only youth pos
sesses that quality.
Bill Kenworthy, Joe Engel, "Chuck"
Ta1l TonnhanH
Larry Chappel, Rube Schauer, Bill
Archie Yelle, Earl Yingling, Jim
Thorpe, and "Red" Murray are some
players returning for trials with big
league clubs this spring.
Honus Wagner is expected to retire
this season. This action is not based
on any salary cut, but upon his physi-
cal condition. The Flying Dutch
man" Is suffering from an injured
hip, and he himself does not think he
will be able to weather the campaign.
However, he Is now training, and will
try to hold down first base.
Jack EnrIEht Quits.
Jack Enright, the Yankee pitcher,
farmed out to Newark last season,
has resigned, from the fraternity and
signed with Bill Donovan's team. His
letter to Fultz reads as follows:
"Please accept my resignation as a
member of your organization. As
you know, old not agree to refrain
from signing for the 1917 season, and
after carefully considering the entire
situation, have decided to take the
above step"
ho
Washington College, where he at
tracted the attention of Frank Baker.
Is evidently of the same mind with
Hank Shanks, who says he cannot
agree with the present course of the
fraternity. The following quotation
from his letter to Colonel Rupert is
illuminating:
"DearSsir: Enclosed please find my
Signed contract for 1917. l was
member of the fraternity, but could
not see where / had any cause TO
strike, so have rendered my resig-
nation as q member Of January %.
II 1 thought they were right I would
stick with them, but in this case l
have viewed 1t from every angle and
cannot see IL as they do"
Dick :udolph, the Braves pitcher,
in returning his unsigned contract to
Percy Haughton, kicks against being
bulldozed into signing before Feb
ruary J." and also against the ten
DAYS release clause in his contract.
81 am not protesting against the
salary" writes Rudolph, but my re-
lations with the Boston club have
always been so pleasant that must
protest against being bulldozed into
signing by February ]. In addition,
] want the release clause eliminated"
Haughton is expected to mollify
Rudolph in some way.