New-York tribune., 1918-12-18
Cleveland Case
Not Vet Closed
For A Time
Long Distance Bout Be-
tween Ban johnson and
Frazee Halls for Day
By w. J. Macbeth

the long distance stand-up-and- -take-it
between Battling Ban johnson and
knock-'Em Dead Harry Frazee. uarrv's
iast haymakcr for the head had to
traVel all the way to Chicago, and it
is possible it didn't connect in time
10 give Ban an opportunity to rally
himself for q counter lead. Perhaps
something from the other end may ar
rive to-day.
"hlie major league magnates who
hibernate in this vicinity generally de
plore the fact that this particular pet
feud has broken out anew. the fact
that it was renewed by Mr.. johnson
after he thought Frazee safely away
from Chicago has not attracted any
new friendships to the car of all the
bascbals. Indeed if what a number
OF American League delegates told us
after the Chicago meeting, Ban was
docllity itself when Frazee attempted
to hop him about the references to
gambling at Fenway Park, as read in
! the speech from the throne.
Itching for n Fight
Frazee is itching for fight. Nor
has he wasted all Of his ammunition.
There is, supposedly q certain close
connection between Mr.. Johnson and
the ownership of the Cleveland Ameri-
can oLague baseball club, which makes
all the more offensive Bans inactivity
/ Il l., -
velopcd from Cleveland's failure to go
to St. Louis to play the Labor Day
games. The owner of the Red Sox
does not care to go to extremities in a
baseball. But he win stand little more
underhanded abuse.
BY the by, the joint meeting in this
city the middle of next month is likely
to stir up q hornets nest on the same
proposition referred to above. The
Cleveland episode is sleeping, not dead.
The writer talked to number of
American League delegates in Chicago
last Friday, and without exception they
admitted the point would be pressed to
an issue when the warriors next as
sembled.
One of the most sacred principles
of the game was on trial, it was pointed
out A heavy penalty had been pro-
vided TO cover just such an incident
as the forfeiture on the part Of Cleve-
land.
"If the Cleveland club is allowed to
go unpunished," said one of the most
prominent club owners Of the American
League. "what is to prevent my club
refusing to go to Detroit or elsewhere
next Fourth Of July, should my team
be crippled and the Tigers travelling
at top speed? How can we expect the
confidence of the public if such fragrant
violations are countenanced? ?"
The Yankees and Red Sox are having
a mighty tough time of it trying tc
get together in that much discussed
deal. Miller Higgins, the New York
manager, was closeted for several
hours with President Harry II. Frazee
and Manager Ed Barrow Of the worlds
champions yesterday afternoon. At it's
conclusion everybody was mum, so it
is taken for granted there were no new
Developments.
There is reason to believe, however,
that the original deal has developed
new angles of gigantic proportions, so
that if q trade as now constituted hap
pens to go through it should prove one
of the most significant Of modern
times.
The writer is not at liberty to men
ton the names of the respective players
involved. as it might breed discomfort
in both teams if it failed to material
ize But it can be safely said that it
looks to be transfer that would
greatly strengthen the Yankees and
would in nowse impair the playing
strength of the worlds champions. 1t
is also safe to predict that the bar
gain if it materializes at all, will be
effected before another sundown.
Wherever else his fences may be
weak, it seems certain that Higgins
will open the 1919 campaign with
formidable array Of battery material.
There are those who believe that if
Higgins had had Bob Shawkey in the
early part Of the campaign, when his
pitching staff was sadly dsarranged,
the Yankees might have got a winning
Jump IN the early season or lJlo.
Shawkey has been heard rom and he
expects to be free to accompany the
Yankees South next spring. Bob is on
the Arkansas just now, but in excellent
physical condition. Last summer he
was a land ubber in his naval connec-
tons and had an opportunity to in
dulge in plenty of baseball. The years
lay-off, therefore, cannot have affected
him as it would if he had not had the
opportunity to disport on the diamond.
The presence of Shawkey will assure
Huggins sterling staff Of right
handlers for another veteran, Ray
Fisher is sure to return. Then there
is Pete Schneider, recently secured
from the Cincinnati Reds, not to men,
tion a flock OF others who have had sew
cral years experience. Thormah en-,
the young southpaw, developed rapidly
last season, and Higgins expects MIN
to be wizard throughout the next
campaign. Mogridge, too, was very de-
pendable till he began to be annoyed
with offers from shipyards
Slim Love was disappointment who
flashed in spots. He is Of a peculiar
temperament and it is just possible
that, like Rube Marquard, he may fash
brilliantly with another trial. He is
big enough end is strong enough He
has the stuff AS il is he is Just q
temptation. But if Mog~idee and Thor
mahlen deliver up to expectations. be-
tween them they should be able to take