Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-12
SALE DEATH BLOW
TO PILLS HOPES
Baseball Writers Say Deal
Has Virtually Wrecked
Local Team
BAKER Is CENSURED

The sale of Grover Alexander and Bill
Killefer to the Chicago Cubs for prices
ranging anywhere from $4,000 to $780,
900 is generally regarded as one of the
most sensational affairs in the history
OF the game The consensus of opinion
Is that 1t virtually makes the Cubs n
pennant winner next year and wrecks
the Phllies. While the move is re-
earded as an effort on the pirt of the
Phillies to face the war situation with
sails trimmed in the event of bad year
In 1918, there are others who believe
that Weeghman Is the better guesser
and the war will not affect the Phillies
any more. than it will the Cubs. Connie
Mack was severely censured when he
disposed of his wonderful players. ana
the feeling is growing that Baker has
done the same thing to the Phllies. for
Philadelphia fans believe that at least
80 per cent Of the team was the famous
battery that mas been sold.
That Alexander has been in class by
himself for a number of years no base
ball fan will doubt. and whether the
Phillies can win games or attract any
sort of crowd. to the games without
him is very doubtful. Here is the pin
ions of the baseball writer's:
''The consensus of opinion among the
laymen as well as some OF the magnates
was that Baker had dealt baseball in
Philadelphia death blow. Manager
Moran, who first learned of the deal
when he arrived in New York Monday
night for a talk with Baker. was fairly
dazed at the news.."--George NJ. Young,
In Public Ledger
'"rhe news was "a genuine surprise to
tho baseball world because no one
dreamed tn 1t William +. Baker president
OF tho Phillies. would think of selling
4. IL. 4 L
the greatest pitcher in the game at the
present time. This season he won more
than thirty games. and in accomplishing
this feat for the third time he equaled
a record which has been made in major
league baseball only by Christy Mathew
son when he ~as with tho Giants. The
Alexander r-killcfcr combination is con-
sidered the best battery In baseball
The New York World.
'As camouilage for Philadelphia fans,
Pitcher Prendergast and Catcher Dill
hoefer, two obscure, mediocre cub play
ers, are tossed to Philadelphia. That
the deal makes the Cubs IL pennant con-
tender and virtually wrecks the Philies
is the universal opinion of baseball
sharps attending the meeting. President
Bakers queer deal tends to confirm the
impression that all good players some-
time or other are shipped to New York
or Chicago. and that the other cities arc
merely feeders for the two largest cities
in America."-J. c. Isaminger. in North
American.
ut was rumored at the Waldorf that
William F. Baker. president of the Phil
lies, contemplated retiring from baseball
inasmuch as ne disposed % his two star
players. but Mr.. Baker denied this
New York Hera d.
so 1t was, as one baseball critic put it
Pat Moran lost his ball club And so
1t was that Charley Weeghman put Fred
Mitchell and his Cubs in line to win a
National League pennant. Mr.. Baker
seemed to have somc doubts as to how
tho news would be received in Philadel-
phia, so that in an effort to break the
news as gently as possible he invited the
Philadelphia newspaper men to a little
dinner In tho Waldorf last evening and
then told his story."-George Daley, in
New York World.
"All they gave for this fortune and
the two uncertain quantities in the shape
of players was nothing less than so per
cent Of tho ball club from the playing
riewpointa according to a Philadelphia
partisan, who was SO disappointed at the
sale of these two stars that he asked
President Baker whether the Phillies In
tended to close their gates during the
1918 season."-James w. Gantz. In
Philadelphia Press.
president Baker with. as he said
the consent of the controlling stock
holders OF the Philadelphia club. has
deliberately chased the Quaker city off
the baseball map. In parting with Alex
ander and Killefer he has not only OBJ
liberated any chance the Phils had OF
coming back next season. but he has
given to Chicago the players who will
doubtless make the Cubs the only rival
to the Giants. In other words, the trade
Is centering the greatest players in two
cities of the league. New York and Chi
cago No matter how many capable
new players Manager Moran is able ia