Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-12-12
PILLS SELL ALEXANDER
AND KILLIFER TO CUBS
FOR HIGH CASH PRICE

New York, Dec. 12.-Grover Cleve-
land Alexander, premier pitcher of
the National League, and his battery
mate, William Killifer, maskman,
both members of Pat Moran's Phila-
delphia team, were sold last night to
CHARLES Weeghman, president of the
Chicago Cubs, for the sum of $4,000,
In return the Phils will get the serv-
ices of Pitcher Prendegast and Catch
er Didhoefer
President Baker, of the Phillies,
made announcement of the trade with
Chicago and produced Mr.. weeghman
to back it up. Neither man would
say what the consideration was, but
Mr.. Baker said that the amount
would be put aside into a fund to be
used exclusively for the purchase of
new players for the Phillies. Mr..
Weeghman said the money was being
paid out of the fund made up by his
club for the purchase of new players
10 strengthen the team so that the
Cubs might compete with Comiskey's
White Sox for Chicago patronage and
prestige.
When asked to say how much cash
die had parted with. Mr.. Weeghman
smilingly replied that when he wrote
the check his heart stopped beating.
Thus the Phlllies lose their two
most valuable players, who constitute
the greatest battery in either big
league to-day. Mr.. Baker in parting
with his only famous players stated
that he expected to be very severely
criticized, but he was sure that time
would show that the move was a
wise one, even if the Philadelphia
team was wrecked for the time be-
ing.
Moran Ignorant OF Deal
The deal was made by Baker and
Weeghman without consulting their
respective managers.
Pat Moran was not Informed of the
trade until last night. What he told
President Baker then is not record
ed, but to-day he was taking things
easy and openly admitted that he did
not see how the Phillies could be
considered a contender for the pom
nant next year.
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
Alexander and Killifer. he has not
only obliterated any chance the Phil
lies had of coming back next season,
but 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 Chicago. No
matter how many capable players
Manager Moran is able to obtain with
the pot of gold, estimated to be s75,-
o00to SS5.000. handed over by the
Chicago capitalists, headed by Mr.
Weeghman, even Mr.. Baker admits
~ would be unreasonable to except
Manager Moran to turn out a win
ming cl''
Sc" .lu or eighth place is freely
predicted for the Phils next year.
Moran has nothing to say about that,
but Mr.. Baker contends that a first
division club can be built up.
Draft May Prevent Deal
There seems to be only two things
that might prevent the Cubs from
getting the Phillies' star players. One
is that the players themselves will
refuse to go to Chicago, which is
Very unlikely. Killifer has already
shown his preference for the Windy
City, and it is believed that Alexan-
der will raise no objection to the
change. The other thing is that the
players may be called to war in the
draft. According to the agreement
with Weeghman, the deal does not
go il either or both of the players
are called to arms thirty days before
the start of the playing season. But
in either case and at best, the stars
are lost to Philadelphia.
killifer's contract calling for $4,000
expired with the close of the last
playing season. Alexander's S12.5OO
contract still has a year to run and