The Washington herald., 1917-01-12
lee FOHL SLIPPED
PACKAGE" in TRADE
Announcement of Danny Moellers Re
lease Recalls Clever Deal odd
Fox" Pulled Last Summer.

The local fans were puzzled during the
middle of last playing season, when the
Old Fox pulled big trade deal with
Lee Fohl, the pilot OF the Cleveland Club.
Griffth, It will be remembered. gave
Fohl, Joe Boehling, the Richmond thun-
derbolt, and Danny Moeller in exchange
for Elmer Smith. a hard-hitting outheld-
er. and Joe Leonard, an infelder.
In this exchange Griffith was handing
the Indians a seasoned southpaw hurl-
ing m Boehling, and a veteran fly gath
erer in Moeller. Although Elmer Smith
had established quite n reputation In the
Sixth City as a fence-buster, many local
fans figured that Grifith was taking
big chance on this exchange for these
youngsters.
Leonard had established quite a repu-
tation in the minor leagues, but Lee Fohl
could not see where he would Mt in the
Indians infeId and when the rade deal
was talked over he willing accepted
Grin's offer
1t now appears as If the Old Fox had
something up his sleeve when he pulled
this deal as Cleveland baseball writer's
credit him at that time with slipping
Fohl package"
It seems that these Cleveland experts
had figured ahead on the fine points Of
this deal as the dispatch last night
stated that Danny Moeller the veteran
as waivers have been obtained upon him
ana from present indications the Roches-
Ter rambler Is bound for Portland Ore.
GRIN sure got all the best of this deal,
as Leonard and Smith are almost sure
Of regular berths with the Nationals this
season. OF course Joe Boehling will give
the Indians a great amount Of service
during the coming campaign. BoehIing
IS not through as a major league pitcher
and will win many games for the Indians
this season. But until the blonde headed
Richmond sidewheeler shows his old-time
form or establishes new record 1t must
De conceded that the Old F X slipped
Fohl big package"
The passing OF Danny MoeIler Is deeply
regretted by Manager Griffith, for when
the Old Fox had him under his wing
since he took hold of the club in 1872
Danny had always given the Nationals
his best efforts
In speaking OF MoeIler's release last
night the Old Fox said: "I hated to part
with Moeller last summer, but I realized
that he was slowing up, and tn 1t his days
as major Lacquer were about numbered.
Moeller is the highest type Of a ball pla =
er, conscientious in his work, takes good
care Of himself, and Is always ready 20
do just a little more than his share He
is a credit TO the game and I never will
MoeIler said himself last fall that he
did not expect to be in the major leagues
this year and was even then Planning to
get a job as player-manager with some
minor league aggregation. II is believed
that II Moeller does not grab OF a minor
league managership that he will go to
the Portland club. II is known Lee
FohI is anxious to establish a working
agreement with the Pacific Coast team.
Manager Grif1th when asked about the
Brooklyn club being after Ray Morgan.
claimed that he knew nothing OF the
deal. Griffith stated that the St Louis
Cardinals were more than anxious to get
Morgan, but that to date he had not
been approached by the Ebbets clan in
reference to a deal for the watch-charm
second-sacker.
OF course, / VIII consider a deal for
Morgan or most any of the players 1
have on my roll, but It is my honest opin-
ion that Morgan would never go out OF
the league, as know Of four teams that
would not waiver on Ray.