New-York tribune., 1918-04-07
Pratt the Man
ToFill Great
Cap at Second
Higgins, Pipp and Baker
Sure Browns Star Will
Make Yanks a Winner
By Wood Ballard

When the rejuvenated Yankees re-
turn to the Polo Grounds with dan
Cling kilt effect of Braves scalps won
on the homeward trip, Del Pratt will
be seen cavorting about the keystone
sack.
And it is the same prancing Pratt
who is going 70 play a big part in the
American League pennant race this sea-
son, because Del has filled vacancy
in the Yankee infeld which will make
the team one of the best balanced in
the entire circuit.
Another reason why Pratt is going
to help the Yankees is that he wants
to play in New York. And again, the
rest of the team is going to depend
upon Pratt to fill a long~~felt want.
Other than Eddie Collins there is no
better second baseman in the Johnson
circuit, and Colonel Rupert is certain
to have a run this year for all the
money he has invested in the big pas
time.
Wanting to play in New York will
make Del the best man that Higgins
has on his team. Pratt knew Miller
James IN St. Louis and has every con-
fidence in his ability as manager.
Del says if the Yankees won't work
for Hug they won't work for anybody,
and this is one of the reasons why the
Yankees should be up in front this
season.
Pratt Praises Hugglns
'I have known Hugglns for num-
ber of years." Pratt told me at Macon.
"He isn't the driver that Bill Donovan
was, and you will find before the sea-
son is started that he will have all his
players we'll in hand.
"The best move l ever made in this
life was in coming to New York.
feel that | was unduly criticised for
the alleged holding OUT but as had
an offer to coach the teams at the Uni
versity of Alabama 1 considered
Colonel Rupperts offer for number
of days before I finally decided to ac
cept the terms.
"The offer from Alabama would have
paid me as much money as l was
offered by the Yankees, but my love of
baseball induced me to accept the
terms that Higgins offered.
"Red Smith and myself were chums
at college. We both were members of
the same fraternity Fthe Alpha Tau
Omega, and we both played ball in the
public schools at Atlanta. And while
j: Carlyle and I were friends, the
"Tn the spring of 1906 Red and I
joined Georgia Tech. And that year
both of lis batted 316O
In 19o7-'os'o9 Pratt played both
baseball and football for the Univer-
sity of Alabama. He ctarred in the
100-yard, 220yard and 44O-yard runs
for that school, and he started also in
the May Day events of the university.
From Southern Association
Derrill Pratt entered his professional
baseball career in 1910. In that year
he played third base for Montgomery
in the Southern Association. In that
year he "lost" his arm-threw it out
on ball hit by Frank Chance in an
exhibition game with the Cubs, which
team Chance then led.
With a lame arm Pratt was out of
the game for month. Then he was
sent to Hattiesburg, Miss, in the Cot
ton States League He was in that
league until August and batted for an
average of .465, his best record thus
far in professional baseball. He re-
turned 10 Montgomery, remaining with
that club for the entire season of 1911,
in which he led the Southern Associa-
ton.
Last year the keystone position Of
the Yankees was off color. When Pratt
reported at Macon and signed with
Higgins there was just a bit of con-
fidence instilled in the other players.
Pipp was a little wabbly when it
came to the point of talking about the
chances of the Yankees, but when he
found out that Del Pratt was to play
the second station he expressed himself
as being confident of first division
berth.
Home Run Bakers View
And so was j. Franklyn Baker. j.
Franklyn said, after coming from lis
Trappe, Md, farm: "The one man the
Yankees need is some one of ability at
second base"
Miller Higgins is Of the opinion that
a combination infield can win more
games than the big calibre battcrs
while Peckinraugh may be the
greatest shortstop in the game" said
Higgins not many days ago. CHS abil-
ity would be. slackened by so per cent
unless he has an able side partner at
second base.
pratt will fill this bill. The way
he picks up the balls from the short
;nfeld and covers the ground between
first and second shows that ne is the
impressed with Pratt, because he will
irstil into my scheme just the little
bit Of pep that it necds-and has lacked
heretofore-to make it a winner"
1t is the writer's serious conviction
that Pratt WILL FILL THE BILL to a