El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-12-31
BAKER DID WELL
WITH WEEGHMAN
IN CUB TRADE
Sale of Star Battery of the
PhiIlies StarGles Mil
lions of Fans.
RECEIVES LARGE
SUM FOR PLAYERS

Few YORK, Dec. s1-President
M William F. Baker, OF the Phil
4 lies, startled the baseball
world IN general and Philadelphia
in particular when he sold Grover
F Cleveland Alexander and Bill KiIlife-
TO the Cubs.
No one had dreamed that any rival
club had enough money in these war
times TO purchase the star battery Of
I the Pills. And no one had guessed
that Baker would consent to part
! with his greatest star.
But il IS ofteA the unexpected that
happens, and baseball has seen q good
T many things occur that came as BIZ
surprises. The effect OF the sale or
Alexander on Philadelphia would
have been argument enough against
IL before IL was announced The ay-
erage baseball expert would have
opined that Baker would never see
his way clear 10 take q chance OF
getting in bad with the baseball pub
lie Of QuakertOwn.
Good for Baker.
Yet the Alexander sale, despite the
attitude Philly fans may take regard
ing Il for time. was probably a BET
ter deal for Baker than Il was Tor
the Chicago CLUB
Alexander is thirty-one years OF
age. He is at the crest Of his career
and he VIII never be o better pitcher
than he has been for the past three
or four years
II he has three years Of brilliant
pitching left in him the Cubs viii
get their moneys worth. and
whether or not he cGn win Hs con-
sistently for the Cubs rs he has
for the PhllIies depends on what
kind Of n ball club Fred Mitchell
can put in the field behind him.
On the other hand, Baker got an
enormous sum Of money for his pitch
ing ace. The cash consideration Tor
Alexander alone was 100000 or better.
and the sale OF killifer with him gave
the Philly owner chance to get
more for his red-headed catcher than
had he sold them separately.
Outlook Uncertain
The outlook for baseball, while
taken optimistically by most mag
mates, IS. nevertheless. uncertain. and
for this reason the great Alex might
not have brought half as much money
a year from now as he brought to
Baker.
Alex VIII be a great attraction in
Chicago. He viii undoubtedly be a
great asset 20 the Cubs and he may
help Weeghmzn capture @ National
league penu2nt. But he will pitch
perhaps three or four times in Phila-
delphia net season, pitted against
his erstwhile teammates, and he VIII
IN this way be q drawing card at the
gate for the Philly owner.
Say what you like, think what
you may, the sale Of Alex the
great was not the bone play that
II looked to he ut first sight.
Had the National league failed 20
re-elect John K. Tener at its recent
meeting here, Il is practically certain
that John A Heydler, who formerly
held the office Of president for a year,
would have been the unanimous
choice.
Heydler Is Popular.
Heydler is one of the most stead I
fast and consistent men connected
with baseball. He has never been
known 20 make the wrong play" in
any emergency that he has faced. and
as secretary Of the National league
he has proved himself so highly eff
cient that the club owners could never :
see their way clear to attempt 70
get along without him.
Heydler is among the games great /
est statisticians. He IS thorough IN
everything he does and he is a foun-
tain Of baseball Information that
never gives out.