Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-02
HUGG|NS DEFENDS
DEAL FOR PRATT
Says He Obtained Player Yankees
Need-Declares Trade Will
Help St. Louis

Miller Huggins, Yankee manager, is
willing 10 stand pat on his famous deal
with the st. Louis Browns, through
which he gave up five players and cash
for Derrill Pratt and the privilege to coax
Eddie Plank out of retirement. Little
Miller blew in from the West yesterday,
and will remain in New York until the
Yankee team leaves for Macon early In
March
II am perfectly satisfied with the deal
| made in st. Louis, despite the TACT that
out in St Louis they seem to think that
Boblie Quinn took me in, said Huggins.
II got the man wanted to round out my
infeld and think Pratt is rafting fine
hall plaver, q vicious long distance slug
ger and alwavs a bad man IN the pinch.
II found out from Pratt that his wrist
again is as strong rs IL ever was, and he is
delighted with the change that will bring
him 10 New York. Pratt has played some
rrcat ball in St Louis He still rs q young
man and should be At the top of his
career. He had reached point in his
career where a change of scene Will do him
"A lot of good. If Pratt hits .275 for us next
season. and he may do much better, ]
think il will be splendid deal for the
Yankees There is nothing helps team
IS much IS 20 put another player into your
lineup who can come through with the
punch.
BROWNS ALSO rRoFTr.
j want 10 say, however. that I also
regard II as a splendid deal for st. Louis.
do not think got the better of it, hut
got the player | wanted. and WAS willing
20 give up good players 10 get him. The
men turned over to St Louis should be OF
COZ sidCral L. assistance to the Browns, and
= L al hss
20 the advantage OF the players we have
sent to 81. Louis
u have heard informally that Plank
really intends 10 remain retired sincere
L. hope We can induce him 10 change his
mind have written him letter. telling
him we will be greatly disappointed If he
j. not with us on our training trip think
1T the time tho warm weather comes
around Plank Will he with us. know how
feels
"FvcrD fall would decide had enough
az baseball and would honestly make UP
nv mind 10 retire. but each spring would
1c back Tor more punishment. think
that = m experience which comes into the
iltc III cvery veteran ball PLAYER. If Plank
s with rs | rcallS expect him to win y lot
81 games for New York. rs he pitched some
fine bah for the Browns before he retired
last August
As 10 my outficld VIC have nine men
20 select from ] have seen only. Marsans
and Miller play. but admit have heard
rumor> about some Of the others which
were not exactly favorable As MarSans
has been PLAYING IN Cuba all winter, |
Judge has broken leg has mcnded. He will
plav centre field for us. That Is n certainty
Il he retains his former speed. regard him
IS one OF the greatest centre fielders ] ever
saw in the National Leaglc. He is es-
pccally clever in catching low line drives
MAY GET NEW oUrF1ELDER.
Il NAV have chance TO make some
kind Of a deal for another outhclder before |
the winter Is over II there is any chance |
- swing deal Tor a certain player We are |
after. -ve viii yet him. If / obtain one more |
outhelder the Yankee team Will look very |
good 20 me"
Hugglns sa vs. he cannot understand the |
failure Of Lee Magec 70 make good in New
York Niagcc PLAY ed the outfeld for St. |
Louis under Huggins before he jumped to
TIC Federal League.
Aagec play ed great ball for me,
slid Miller, and was constantly on bis
to,s and one Of my most aggressive play
,rs lie also hit we'll and ran the bases,
though ! never cared much for change
around batsmen. ] watched Lees per-
torrance with the Yankees with consid-
erable interest after New York pur-
chased him, and was as much puzzled over
ms failure 10 make good here as anv one
else. saw him IN the fall series between
the Cardinals and Browns last October
and he did not look like the same player
who starred for us IN 1914
Huggins saws he will leave here for
Macon on March with his battery men
and youngsters. The regulars will report
II the training camp a week later.