The Washington herald., 1917-01-28
GRIFF TRADES Three
PLAYERS FOR Crane
Bentley. Barber and Williams Given in
Deal for Baltimore Shortstop.
By JOHN A. DUGAN.

Early last fall Manager Griffith made
a statement that he was going to do
a little house cleaning before the OPEN
ing gong sounded for 1917, but the local
fans did not look for any trades or pur-
chases until after the training trip to
Augusta was completed or until after the
fraternity had settled the dispute now
going on with the organized baseball
magnates.
But the Old Fox, who is known to
always obtain something of the edge
in all these give and take transactions,
quietly pulled deal yesterday with the
Baltimore International League team
whereby the Nationals obtained the SER
vices of Sammy Crane, the fast short
fielder of the Orioles, in exchange for
Turney Barber, Jack Bentley and Alvan
Williams.
Grifr is all praise for the work OF
young Crane and is confident that he will
make good In the big show. The three
players that the Old Fox handed Jack
Dunn in exchange for Crane should be a
big help to the Baltimore club in its
campaign this summer. Barber came to
the Nationals from the North Carolina
League. He was an exceptionally fast
youngster and could hit better than the
average rookie, but he needed a little
more seasoning and the Old Fox shipped
him to Jack Dunn's club during the
middle OF last playing season. Dunn
shifted Turney to the infield and the
Carolina speed merchant was big
factor inthe teams showing last season.
Jack Bentley, the Silver Spring south
paw, has been with the Nationals of and
on during the past three seasons and
finished out the campaign last year with
the Baltimore Internationals. Jack hit
like demon in the Class A A circuit
and was played in the outfield by the
Dunnmen As Bentley is still younGster
he is sure to again be heard from in
the major league.
Alvan Williams, who helped make local
history with his pinch-hitting ability
should be up among the leaders in the
International show when it comes to
welding the willow. AS Griff was well
fortified with catching material. Alvan
could easily be spared from the local
club.
Young Crane has been one of the sem
sations of the International League 1ur-
ing the past two years. Crane first hook
ed up with Jack Dunn when Jack was
managing the Richmond team of the In
ternational League. In 1915 Crane led
the shortstops at fielding and clouted the
old pill for a 2s3 count. Last season
Crane did not meet with such a great
success at the bat, as he hit for a .27
mark while he again lead the league in
fielding.
Cranes home is in Scranton, Pa. In
the fall of 1915 he was given a short trial
with Connie Mack. but as Mack picked
up young Witt Crane was sent back
to Dunn's Baltimore club for a little more
seasoning. Local followers Of the sandlot
game will remember Crane as the Young
ster who beat out "Kasty' Dean and
Tots Long, two local boys who were
given a trial with Jack Dunn's Richmond
team in 1915.
Al Mamaux, the young Pirate pitcher
isn't worrying his head over the baseball
strike. Mamaux lives in Dormont, a
Pittsburgh subj D, and has a contract
with another year to run. He said the
other day:
This strike business isn't bothering
me in the least. I am signed for next
season. And when the time comes for
reporting, you can bet I will De on the
Job. Moreover, I am going to work
harder than ever beforeF Mr.. Dreyfuss
and had a few differences last season,
but 1 realize now that I was in the
wrong. I was not as earnest about my
work Is 1 might have been. But that is
all past. I am going to give the club
my best efforts this coming summer, and
] think I'll be able to win lot or games -
Oscar Stanage has been expelled from
the Players Union, but there turks a
suspicion that Oscar heard no news when
Informed that he was out Before there
was any occasion to take such action the
veteran catcher of the Tigers expressed
some very harsh views about the organi-
ration, declaring that he could see no
reason for continuing to pay dues. 1t
looks as IL Oscar knew he was out be-
fore informed Of It.
Ban Johnson's plan for home for aged
and helpless ball players calls for the
setting aside each year of a sum by
zach club in the two major leagues and
a percentage Of the receipts from the
world series to support such a home.
Johnson does not mention any contribu-
ton from the players, but tax OF some
kind undoubtedly would be paid by play
ers to help the proposition along.
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