The Washington herald., 1917-08-22
GRIFF Wants entire
LEAGUE FOR JOHNSON
Old Fox Would Not Sell Walter
But Would Consider Trade.
Naming Cobb and Sisler.

st. Louis, Mo-, Aug. H.-Evading the
annual question for years: viii you
sell Walter Johnson?'' Manager Clark
Griffith, Of the Nationals, was placed
against the wall in his room at tho
Buckingham Hotel this afternoon
after rain interrupted the matinee
performance with the Browns, and
asked for a direct answer.
When Walter showed faint signs Of
slipping a month ago. when he owned
a record of seven victories and thir-
teen defeats, II was rumored among
the inside followers Of the box score
that the famous smoke-ball was los
ing some OF its steam; further, that
Walter was not the mighty mana
mountain of the mound.
Just as the release slip was penned
for Walter he turned around, and
here he is on a streak Of eight straight
victories. So Griffith. answering,
"wm you consent to a deal for John
SOM" offered the following answer:
81 will not sell Walter johnson.
will not sell him for S5O,0O0-not for
s75,oOO-not for 10000. He is not for
sale for cash"
Then Griffith was reminded that
Coniskey had paid $4,000 for Eddie
paid $4,000 for Iris Speaker. and pos
sibly the St. Louis Browns would
equal this $4,000 price for Walter
johnson.
st. Louis is a prosperous ball town
with a winner. The Browns have dis
appointed this season owing to in
juries and are down in the race. They
must be rebuilt for 1918. and they will
be reconstructed by Fielder Jones.
who plays several big deals.
But the Browns will not get johnson
for cash. No other magnate will get
Walter BY waving again green and
gold pieces of paper in front of Grif-
nth,
A trade-players for johnson, re-
ceived the following from the mana
ger OF the Nationals: Now, remem-
Der. am not asking my rivals to Of
fer a trade for Johnson. He's good
enough for me and I guess he'll finish
his career right in Washington, but II
they insist-but they must offer me
something which will strengthen and
improve my club-why, of course
will not oppose or object to a deal
that will mention johnson.
Now something like Cobb with the
Tigers, and maybe Sisler and a few
other players with the BrOwns-weH.
that listens like something. but as for
anything else-nothing doing with
me"
It will be noticed that Griffith has
picked the two stars of the American
League In naming Cobb and Sisler
he did not say a word about Eddie
Collins. Joe Jackson, Iris Speaker or
Frank Baker The only names men,
toned by Griff were Cobb and Sisler.
If the price of Johnson is to be George
Harold Sisler the Browns will not
acquire Walter, because Fielder Jones
has announced that Sisler is not on
the market for trade.
Griffith is well satisfied with him
self, especially the last month. With
his Nationals winning twenty of the
last twenty-nine games they have
dropped two straight which is con-
sidered a slump. For any one but the
Nationals and this streak would not
cause any excitement, but it has Grin
worried. In the two defeats the Cluu
has scored one run, and the defeats
have arrived with Joe Judge a
cripple
A double-header is on the program
for tomorrow. and Grif probably viii
shoot johnson and Harper to the hill.
while Bob Groom and Tom Rogers
are the selections for the home side.
The game was not called off until
half an hour before the usual starting
time The rain was unexpected as
the sun was shining throughout the
morning
Griffith does not expect Judge to
play any more this season and is
looking for a young catcher as
Charity has been handed the first
bsseman's glove.
In winning yesterday the Browns
tied their winning streak for the sea-
son, which runs three straight
triumphs.
Three players will join the Browns
September II from the Columbus A
A. Club. They are Grover Lowdermilk,
Walter GOber and Ray Demmitt. who
have experienced previous trials in
the majors.
Griffith is confident that he will win
the protest OH Sundays game in
Detroit, when Ty Cobb touched
George Burns rounding third base,
and scored the winning run in a 2-to-1
defeat
Walter johnson has not lost a game
since he was beaten here July 10.
5 to >.
The five-hit game Ernie Koob
tossed out was a surprise to the locaI
fans. 1t was the best game from
Koch since Nav \ wbap he scorao