The Washington times., 1917-02-26
BLOOMINGTON WILL
ENTERTAIN GRIFF
Old Fox Will Search for or
SWimmin' Hole and Drink
From Town Pump.
DOUBT PRICE FOR JOE WOOD
Many Players Holding Out Will
Be Sent to Minor Leagues
This Year.
DOUBT PRICE FOR JOE WOOD
By LOUIS A. DOUGHER.

By LOUIS A. BOUCHER.
Folks in Bloomington, Ill. don't
know 1t yet. but they have reason to
remain in town on May %. 1917.
About sixty. or seventy. or eighty
years ago-whichever it may be-one
Clark Griffith first saw the light OF
day in Bloomington. He hasn't seen
moons since, though. Been too all
fred bust skyhootin. through Chi,
NYork. Cinci. and even Washington,
that's ALL
But on May %. 1917, the Washing
ton ball club. including the fast
Eraying Clark Griffith. will hesitate
IN Bloomington, while en- route East
from st. Louis. Sure, there'll be some
kind of ball game between the big
leaguers and the town boys. by heck,
but that isn't the main thing.
What He Would See.
Clark Griffith, the Bloomington
kid, wants to investigate several
things while in town. He would take
a look at that big barn where he
smoked his first corntassel cigaroot.
He would gaze once more at the
venerable town pump.
Griff wonders IL old Doc Jones, the
long-bearded man who spanked him
for stealing rum cherries back in the
long ago, is still catering to the sick
folks of Bloomington. II SO. there1l
be some hand-shaking.
And the oil swimmin' hole-of
course Griff will make a rush for
that. IL only to see IL other little
Grifdths ara using IL TODAY
After the Old Fox has feasted his
eyes on the town sights, and the ball
club has trounced the home team, the
trip East will be resumed. That's
all.
But II you're from Bloomington, Ill,
hustle home for May %. 1917, for it's
going to be great day.
Doubt That $1,000.
Wise baseball men doubt that $751;
900 said to have been paid by Jim
Dunn for Joe wood. 1t is even limited
that $500 is more like the real
money handed over for a pitcher who
must remain an unknown quantity
until tried in the fire of a big league
season.
HAIRY H. Frazee, who gave out the
price paid for Wood, is a newcomer
in major league circles. Therefore,
he may not know that exaggerations
OF this type are partly to blame for
the insane idea of outsiders that mil
lions are made yearly in baseball.
Such tales induced the players to at
tempt to hold up their wartime sal
aries.
HOId-Outs to Go Back.
Many players holding out this
fpring will find themselves sent to
minor leagues. That is the policy
adopted by both major. organizations.
All bushers who decline to sign will
be allowed to remain in the tall grass.
All major leaguers will be given Itp
to the last minute, and, IL still un-
aligned, will be shunted to the minors.
Connie Mack, who needs players
about as much as any manager in
the game, recently asked for waivers
on Grover and Bates. two youngsters
with chances of making the team. He
fully intended leaving them in the
bushes, but they escaped this fate by
signing. Every other manager is
pledged to do the same, too. The
time for fooling around by ball play
ers has gone with the Federal League
and the fraternity.
Won't Part with Witt.
Connie Mack hastens TO deny the
Chicago tale that he will take a bar
rel of money for Lawton Witt, his
young shortstop.
lust because Comiskey bought
CoSjns, Murphy, and Lapp from me
means nothing" says Connie. "He
can't get any of my players merely
by waving banBnotes before me. Witt
will play for my club this year. He
will eventually be the best infielder
In the league, too, or I'll be sadly
mistaken"
The pitching squad of the Mack
men will start for Fort Pierce, Fla,
tomorrow to prepare for the regular
practice season at Jacksonville.
Wagner No HoId-Out.
Five Pirates, including Hans Wag-
ner, have yet to sign up for 1917,
but it is wrong to say that Wagner is
holding out. In all the years he has
been with Dreyfuss Wagner has new
er signed until the last minute. He
Is simply living up to his custom.
He has never had to demand more
money at any time and so signing
q contract is a mere detail in his
young C?) life.
The other Pirates yet to sign are
Douglas Baird. third baseman: Max
Carey. outfieIder, and two catchers,
Bill Fischer and Walter Schmidt. The
first two have refused to sign, but
nothing has been heard froP the
others.
ROOTERS ORGANIZE.