New-York tribune., 1918-03-02
ProdigaI Sons
OF the Yankees
Fall Into Line
Signing Contracts One by
One, Gilhooley and Ruel
Latest on List
By w. ]. Macbeth

Miller Higgins, manager of tbo yon
KEGS, will soon be in a position -
full nine on the field if contract an.
nouncements. continue to occur viii, H..
frequency of the past couple Of d.
The boss of the Rupert forces =,
nounced yesterday that Franz cn
hooley, outfelder, and Harold (N,dd,.,
Ruel, catcher, had forwarded H..
signed contracts to local hcaaoua,to,.
This brought the total Ct rot,,x
prodigals TO five within forty-e;cbt
hours Sim Caldwell, Slim Lovo 81
Allen Russell having been buslet;nod ~.
previous afternoon.
Three Yankee players are bound over
from last season by term contracts-r
Franklin Baker, WalIy Pipo and Rob
Shawkey. When Peckinpaugh and pr.+t
come in (Which is matter of only
few days. probably. Higgins will havs
his full infield strength Marsans Tho
Cuban, has no grievance and IL ex.
pected to sign as soon as he reports at
Macon. According to gossip Hugpjnx
IS soon to secure another seasoned ou,.
fielder, presumably Tillie Walker. now
Of the Athletics. Such IN acquisition
would secure strong picke. line.
Ready for ODrr.ay
Furthermore, Higgins int.matcs that
his team is quite as we'll prepared as
most for the opening of the season:
meaning, of course, in regulars avail
able through signing Of contracts.
This, if true. means great many play
ers whose names have not yet been an
terms or signed for 191G.
Huggins is banking heavily on Gil
hooley and Rucl for the coming cam
paign. Il know these players from
hearsav only" he said. But every
one tells ne little Gilhooley would al
ready have been star OF The first
magnitude had he not been so unfortu-
nate as to break leg in 1915 and shat
ter a collarbone early in 1917. Natu-
rally two such accidents prevented the
development of his skill to the point
that might be expected had he gone
scathless both years.
"Stil, am told he is young man
OF exceptional nerve and is rot likely to
be gun-shy when he comes back. Be-
cause Of his size and speed he's an IDEAL
man for the lcad-ofr position. II he
escapes injury this year he should be
heard from, am told by competent
critics"
Huggins had Gilhooley cut ia s.
Louis some years ago. but 81 that time
little Frank was green as grass and
had to be turned back for further sea-
soning. Miller knows ab solutcly moth
ing Of Ruel, save what has bcen told
him. Ruel. however. has the haarties.
Endorsement of Bob Gilks. tho Yam
kee scout who sent up both Ruel and
All Walters. Ruel, who is hut beard
less boy handled himself well behind
the bat in his trial here last fall. but
failed to hit up to his mirror league
specifications.
No Need to Worry
''You do not have to worry about this
kids hitting" Gilks told Colonel Jacob
Rupert at the time Give him tn
benefit of one springs training and
he'll be just as sleek an art'cie as
Walters. And remember, thnk N'ai-
ters one OF the finest proc cts siuce
tho advent Of Ray Schalt q as is
-
Frank Gilhooley winte- Toledo.
Lately he joined the Tar te bene-
diets. There is little Il oad of his
being called 20 the co,or5 c--orc year
at the earliest.
The winter league IS just about ready
to close shon. Two harbingers Of
spring fed the city Yesterday morning
in thc persons of jeff Tcsreau and
TIeinie Zimmerman, the vanguard Of Nc
Graiv's cripples. who Will boil out n
couple of weeks at Hot Springs, Ark.
Lew McCarty was to be picked up at
llarri burg, Penn, while Demarec,
Rariden and Sallec are to join al ST.
Louis to-day. Larry Doyle and Rube
Benton are supposed 10 be en- route
rom their homes.
The Giants heard nothing from Nc
Iraw yesterday Mac has taken to the
sticks in quest of alleged hold-outs and
t is generally believed to make his first
ack down into Virginia to talk turkey
o Davis Robertson. Underground wires
lave it that both Robbie and Fletcher
viii be in good standing before the club
caves for Marlin a week from Monday.
Bill Brennan, former National League
md Federal League umpire, Will Off
,iatc in all the anteseason games be-
ween the Giants and Cleveland In
lans during the joint exhibition tour
If these teams this spring. Brennan
handled the series between New York
md Detroit year ago. He gave such
inc satisfaction that Secretary John
1ostcr. of the Giants requested his
presence this year Mr.. Foster yester-
lay received wire from Brennan
saying he would be glad TO make the
rip.
Willie Manlcy. for many years secrc-
ary of Edward G.. Barrow. former
president of the international League.