New-York tribune., 1918-12-13

John J. McGraw. manager of the
Giants, and Jim Gaffney. the local con-
tractor and former owner of the Bos-
ton Braves, have made an offer for
Harry N. Hempstead's stock in the New
York club Gaffney and McGraw have
been in conference on several different
occasions since last Tuesday, and it is
said that their offer is liberal one.
1t was first spread about our fair
village that John j., often called the
Little Napoleon" was going to leave
the Giants fiat and buy Garry Herr
mann's stock in the Cincinnati Reds.
When approached upon this subject
McGraw chucked a bit and remarked
that he wouldn't purchase the Reds at
any price.
However, the manager of the Giants
is particularly anxious to become a
stockholder in the Giants, and may
eventually have his wish gratified. He
was promised per cent of stock in
the club not so many years ago, but
instead was given an increase in salary.
Gaffney on Deck
Gaffney wants to get back in base
ball and has been trying to buy club
in the National League ever since he
sold the Braves to Percy Haughton, the
Harvard football coach, and his as
sociates. After the contractor dis
posed Of the Boston club he and Harry
Sinclair, the oil magnate. offered a
million dollars for the Giants.
This deal came nearly being made,
but finally fell through. Gaffney was
at the Waldorf yesterday, and so was
McGraw. The Hempsteads own 65 pei
cent of the stock. This would give
McGraw and Gaffney controlling in
terest in the club.
If McGraw and Gaffney are success
full in their attempt to purchase Hemp.
stead's interest John J. will continue
as commander of the team and Patrick
Moran, of Fitchburg, Mass, and late
manager of the Phillies, will be signed
to coach the pitchers.
+ Charles H. Ebbets, the Squire o1
Flatbush and president of the Brook.
llyn club, admitted yesterday that Jake
Daubert, his first baseman, was going
to the Giants for lIolke and Smith, but
declared that as yet the deal had not
been consummated. 1t was whispered
about town yesterday that a small
| cash consideration was responsible fol-
the deal being delayed.
Daubert said yesterday that Ebbets
didn't want to see him and that he
would not play with the Brooklyn team
next season. Jake is going to stay ir
town until Sunday, and by this time
he may have signed contract to cover
first for the Giants in 1919.
Reds to Reorganize
1t is almost certain now that tn,
Cincinnati club will be reorganized ant
that Hermann will be forced to sci
his share of the club. After the meet
ing the other day the chairman of the
National Commission told several O.
his friends that he had no idea of dis
posing of his stocks in the Cincinnati
team
But the National League owners in
formed him in polite way that if he
refused to "get out" he would be de
feated for chairman of the National
natl next month. Several of the Ma
have at the head of the commission q
man who has no interest in any or
ganized baseball club.
The baseball folks, big and little
near-great and not-so-great. deserted
/ Peacock Alley yesteday and are now on
their way home. The only baseball
men seen stroling up and down the
corridor yesterday were McGraw, Joe
Kelly, Wilbert Robinson and Dicl
Rudolph. Kelly will act as scout again
next season for the Yankees.
John Heydler, the new president OF
the National League, was back at his
Office yesterday. John has been so busy
of late that the official batting and
pitching averages of the National
League have not as yet been released
for publication. In the opinion OF
President Heydler, if the owners for,
get about their petty squabbles, the
, 1919 season will be one of baseball's
greatest.
Heydler has not as yet received any
reply from the owners in the American
League about the joint session be-
/