The Washington times., 1917-02-19
Believes Diamond Activities Will
Aid Him in Movies for
Next Winter.
MACK WILL RETAIN BUSH
Philadelphia Manager Says
He's Through Selling Star
Ball Players.
By LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

By LOUIS A. DOUGHER.
Carl Sawyer, the only .tumbling ball
player known to the major leagues,
will not forsake the national pastime
for the movies. He will be found at
the old stand behind first base next
original stunts.
According to information from Los
Angeles, where Sawyer is perform
ing before the camera, a handsome
offer has been made to him to re-
main in the movies all summer. He
has turned it down, however, for
baseball.
Sawyer has been advised that his
popularity in the movies depends
largely upon his popularity on the
diamond. In baseball he has become
known TO thousands, who will rush
10 see him in the pictures. 1f he
passes up baseball. publicity will be
lacking and, not being in the same
class with Charlie Chaplin, he will
never get the big money.
Remaining with the Washington
club, Sawyer will increase his value
for the movies and, vice versa, the
pictures will increase his popularity
around the American League. Saw
yer expects therefore. to report 81
Augusta, Ga, and at the close OF the
season to go back to the movies.
VIII Keep Bush.
Joe Bush will play with the Ath-
letics this season, or not at ALL
During the New York meeting last
week Connie Mack was approached
for his price on the rebellious
pitcher.
Il would not sell him for $500. .OOO,"
was the reply. "I have made up my
mind to keep Bush. Strunk, and
SchanE, who are holding out for big
salaries, no matter how much I can
get for them.
II am through selling good ball
players. I got $4,000 for Eddie COL
lins and a good bunch of money for
Baker, Barry and Eddie Murphy. But
baseball conditions are different from
what they were two years ago.
NobodyII Get Them.
IF Bush, Schang and Strunk are
not satisfied with the Athletic clubs
terms, they can rest assured that they
will not be sent to any other teams
in the American League.
and these men are too valuable to
lose. They have been well treated in
the past and the salaries I have Of
1ered them are eXtrmely liberal No.
] will never sell a first-class player
again. I've had enough trouble and
now 1 am determined to manage an
other winner at Shibe Park"
II has been decided that when the
various clubs are Obliged to cut down
10 twenty-five players. Connie Mack
will be given first choice. Ban John
son is determined to strengthen the
Mackmen until al leight clubs in the
league can be in the flag hunt.
Leaked Out At Meeting.
at the league meeting there was
leak on the shrewd manner in
which organized baseball kept Walter
johnson after the latter had signed
a contract to play with Charles
weeghman's Chicago Federal League
team, says Jimmy Isaminger, in the
Philadelphia North American.
'Weeghman let Johnson sign at his
own terms, the salary not being very
much below the 100000 mark. Clark
Griffith was in despair, for he knew
he could not meet the figurt5 by
many thousands. and he feared that
the clubs biggest asset was irredeem-
ably lost.
Griffith went to Chicago and told
his troubles to Ban johnson. Charles
Comiskey happened to be present at
the time. Now COmiskey was no less
worried than Griffith. for he knew
that a big drawing card as Walter
johnson was would divert thousands
of White SoX patrons from his park
to the Federal League. especially on
Sundays. when WeeGhman proposed
10 use Johnson.
ComIskey Aided Grin.
TO cut it short. Comiskey asked
Griffith how far he could go in salary
for johnson. The Washington man
Rger named his figure, and then Com
iskey declared he would pay the diff
ference out of his own pocket. Agreed,
they got in touch with Fred Clarke.
Kansas himself. Fren went to the
pitchers stock farm and induced him
TO stay in the ranks OF organized
baseball.
When he saw that he would draw
Rs much money as he was to get from
the Feds. johnson agreed and signed
Washington contract. The next day
Walter sold a drove OF steers and re
turned to Weeghman sevej j thousand
dollars bonus that was Handed him
for signing a Federal League pact.
Manager Griffith denies the truth
OF all stories that johnson draws
more xhan ST.. 500 a year, but johnson
himself admits that he was given Il
big cash bonus to hop back from the
Feds This is one of the stories that
Grif doesn't like to discuss.
VIII Leave Tomorrow.
The first major league team to leave
for the training camp is the Chi
cago Cubs. who start tomorrow for
PASADENA. Cal.
The Giants leave Friday and the
Yankees Saturday.
On Tuesday of next week the
NIackmen will start for Fort Pierce.
Fla. where the pitchers will work for
Two weeks before going to Jackson
willie.
The Griffmen may have to send an
other player TO Baltimore. Jack
Bentley. included in the deal for Sam
Crane. says he will not report. He
prefers his farm at Silver Spring, Nd,