New-York tribune., 1918-01-23

consideration was not made public.
This deal, which consumed as much
time and furnished almost as many
laughs IS the sale Of the Yankees to
Messrs. Rupert and Huston through
out the dull winter of l914I5, was
officially confirmed from St. Louis yes
terday by telegram from Manager Hug
gins to President Rupert. Each Of
the contracting parties assumes full
responsibility for whipping into line
in their new surroundings the seven
players involved in the transaction. 1t
was the eighth stupendous trade Of an
unusually active off season, and from
a Yankee standpoint quite the most i'm
portant of the clubs history.
Time alone will tell which side used
the sharper judgment, if indeed both
have not benefited by the wholesale
transfer of talent. There are mighty
argumentive points both ways. st.
Louis unloaded supposedly fine sec
ond baseman, who had become so in
volved with the ownership that his
days Of usefulness to the Mound City
had passed to q city badly in need Of
just such an asset and one whose well
cral welfare Of the American League.
By the same token New York unloaded
lot Of driftwood or what had been
driftwood for several seasons anyhow
in Nunamaker, Maisel and Gedeon.
Higgins Smart Trader
In the National League Miller Hug
gins earned the reputation Of being a
smart trader. He didn't impress his
new American League associates very
favorably during the joint meeting in
trades fell thick and fast around the
new Yankee boss. Players that might
have helped his cause quite as much
as Pratt can ever hope to do passed
on to other and stronger clubs. New
York, in crying need Of an outheld,
saw Strunk go to the already formida-
BILE Red Sox and Bert Shotten con-
signed to Washington. Later, Stufy
McInnis, who would have been an ideal
man for the keystone position, followed
after Strunk
These facts are mentioned only be-
cause of their possible significance to
the future. In whether or not Higgins
was asleep at the switch fandom has
no concern. 1t will Judge him by next
years results, and the trade consum-
IudCeO yesterday Will QOUDLlcSS 1uIulSi
the perspective point.
In the opinion of the writer Higgins
did not make smart trade this time.
He gave up much more than by any
stretch Of imagination, judged on last
seasons performance, Pratt could be
worth. For he is getting practically
nothing but Pratt. Eddie Plank. forty
three years of age and hero of seven
teen major league campaigns, slipped
badly last season. He declared en-
phatically yesterday. when informed
Of the trade, that he was through with
baseball for all time. Granting he
does come back, for the southpaw re-
tires Systematically every winter only
spring weather, Plank can be little bet
ter than shadow of his former great
ness. Championship pitching stats
are not built up from candidates for
the Old Mems Home.
Big Cash Consideration
The writer believes New York would
nave had the worse of the trade if
no cash consideration had been passed d
along with the FIVE players. And it is
said the cash price was no inconsider-
able amount; some folk estimate it as
high as $4,000. Maisel and Nunamaker
may be dsregarded. Fritzie was dis
gruntled here, while Les was Just a
temptation, dead from the neck up.
But Huggins passed along two pretty
tine pitchers in Cullop and Shocker.
When handled properly in 1916 Cullop
proved one of the southpaw sensations
of his company. Shocker was one of
the most promising young right-hand-
ers in the business. He is a lad who
should be worked every third or fourth
soL
week VA
1t must be confessed that Pratt saw
his worst season in 1917, when he hit
only .247. 1t must also be remembered