New-York tribune., 1918-05-15
Believed Players Fall
For Exemption Promise
Browns, With Many Former
Yankees, Make Inaugural
Bow To-day
BY Louis Lee Arms

6y LOUIS Lee EAIIlS
Miller Higgins, manager Of the New
York Yankees, said last night that be-
cause of the efforts of shipyards men
to obtain big league ball players as So
called workmen the status of major
league ball, so far as its playing per
sonnel is concerned, was in more crti-
cal condition than it has been at any
time since the Federal League baseball
war.
"In the last week the scope of the
possible player losses faced by major
league clubs has grown to alarming
proportions" said Manager Huggins.
IA half dozen players on my club have
been approached by men who presuma-
bly, are conducting the welfare work
for the Bethlehem Steel Company, and
have authoritative knowledge that
players on virtually all the big league
clubs who thus far have played on the
Atlantic seaboard. have received offers
similar to those made to my men.
Admits PROSECUTING Charge
"I met two of these shipyards agents
in Philadelphia. I cannot remember
their names, but one of them was con-
League. They admitted that they were
attempting to proselyte players from
the big league teams, and the players
to whom these offers have been made
intimate that the conditions under
which they go to the shipyards and the
position they will occupy when once
there are most fattering.
Zone of my ball players explained to
me, after a conference with these
for going to one of the Atlantic Coast
shipbuilding yards to play baseball and
learn a skilled trade than his Ameri-
can League baseball contract called for.
He was assured that the paramount
purpose in obtaining him was to play
baseball and that he virtually could
learn the shipbuilding trade at his
leisure.
II believe the big league baseball
that they are gratified when any of their
men go into active service, and suffer
these losses gladly, but I am equally
certain that playing baseball under
the guise of building ships is an en-
tirely different thing and will be so
treated. In the meagre investigation [
have made into it have found that the
genuine workmen at the shipyards have
the same idea.
Whatever the ethics of the thing
may be, it remains for the National
with the proper military authorities
and ascertain if big league baseball,
which is an institution the continuance
of which during war time is advocated
by our President, is to be jeopardized
as it is at present by the avtivities of
the men who are behind this baseball |
shipyards movement
Team Morale Destroyed
ITO begin with, it wrecks the morale |
of our clubs and puts baseball person
mel on transient basis that may be
likened to the demoralizing days of the
Federal League baseball war. 1t is |
evident that many of us did not realize
the seriousness Of the situation, and
there have been no arrangements made
to cope with it, The report that Joe
bring the big leagues to a realization |
of the possibilities Of this newest war
time development"
While Manager Higgins did not wish |
to be quoted upon 1T, he indicated that
many of the ball players are going to
the shipyards under the impression |
that their draft status will be altered
by so doing; this, as an additional en-
eouragement to the salaries and oppor-
already offered.
name the men on his club who had
been approached, but it is believed |
that Pipp, Mogridge and Fewster, all
Of whom are rated in Class l under
the draft regulations, are among those |
who are at present considering offers |
made to them by the emissaries from |
the shipyards. Pipp, the Yankees
leader said, had promised he would do |
nothing until he talked the matter over
with his manager.
First Tempered With Mogridge
The first intimation that the Yankees
we're being made target for baseball
shipbuilding activity came a fortnight
ago. when George Nogridge, one Of the
to leave the team to build ships. That
his sudden determination may have
been influenced by monetary reasons
was indicated when a succeeding an
nouncement declared that after con-
ference with the Yankee management
Mogridge had promised for the present
to stay with the local American
Leaguers.
Whatever the precise reasons for
comes fairly evident that the patriot
ism attributed to some of the hopeful
shipbuilders is far fetched, for the lat
est development puts shipbuilding, or
Notwithstanding, in a new and in
teresting light.
The scheduled game at the Polo
Grounds yesterday between Detroit and
the Yankees, which was to have been
the last of the series, was postponed
because of wet grounds. The Tigers
have left for Boston and the Yankees
make ready to-day to entertain the st.
Louis Browns, an ancient and respected
rival, SO far as the Yanks are con-
cerned.
The series between the Yanks and
the Browns should be of exceptional
interest. because for the first time
stree the mid-winter trade between the
two clubs the men who were involved
in it will face one another.
1t has been a moot question which
Club got the better of the deal that
alphabetically brought Pratt and Plank
70 New York in exchange for Maisel,
Gedeon, Nunamaker. Shocker and Cul,
Top and $4,000. Neither Plank nor
Iuiiop have reported to the clubs to
which they were traded, while Shocker
is on the useless list through injury
to his pitching hand
Whatever the merits of the big trade
pulled by Huggins and Bobbie Quinn it
remains as fact that the Harlemites
arc az present running second in the
american League, while the Browns are
At their accustomed level of the sec.
ond division
Squad Of ex-Yankees
The advent of the Browns to the
Polo Grounds brinpS Caorcc SieIo~ do~.