New-York tribune., 1918-12-03
Red Sox Head
SaysHe Wouldn' t
Sell Red Sox
Owner of Title Holders Has
All Players Under Con-
tract for Next Year
By w. ]. Macbeth

stripe of the various other brands. One
must not credit too much what thew
say; neither how they say it. An an
nouncement from Boston that Harry
II. Frazee intends to dispose of the
world champion Red Sox would carry
far more weight if Frazee were only
willing to admit the fact He denies
the allegation most emphatically. Now,
he may be denyin.; for political rea
sons; this is not new to baseball. But
it is equally true that the report may
have been inspired by those unfriendly
to Frazee at the Hub. We will have to
wait and see.
1t is we'll known that Frazee is un-
popular with certain powerful interests
IN the American League. A little more
than week ago he got in very bad
with Ban johnson and his supporters
by championing William H. Taft for
hlgh executive position in baseball's ad-
minlstration. Which fact stirred up
all the bile and resentment of an early
squabble between the factions and
brought forth the predictions from GER
tain of Mr.. Johnson's press agents that
frazee was to be handed his quietus
VI one thing the public may rest as
sured. Frazee is no simpleton. He
IS foolish just the same way that
Charles Webb Murphy was foolish
They got Murphy out of the Cubs and
out of baseball at last, but only after
the Chubby One had been given his
price. Now, Frazee may sell the Red
Sox. Every one has his price for an
article of merchandise. But | am one
inclined to believe that Frazee is not
gong to be driven from the game.
Steals March on Colleagues
He may be an upstart, newcomer
and limelighter, as Connie Mack
would have one believe. A year ago he
stole march on his colleagues by corr
railing all the available talent of worth
to replace heavy losses to war activities
tie spent his money lavishly for the
best of Connie Macks playing timber
but he got it back through a success
tul pennant run and the resulting
worlds series.
In one particular at least Frazee in
his alleged rambling has shown more
gray matter than the. great majority
of his colleagues. He was too smart
to ridhimself Of contract obligations
In the face of the big war scare Of last
summer by cutting anchor from his
baseball players through the instru-
ment of the ten days notice of release,
as so many operators did He assem-
bled his cohorts and made q bargain
with them. BY paying their salaries in
tull to September Is he was enabled
to get options on services against the
reopening of organized baseball, ire
spective Of the duration of the war.
Frazee therefore is assured the full
strength Of the club that won the world
champi onship of 1917 in case organized
baseball cuts in again in the spring, as
now seems certain. The men who
fought the Cubs last September are
bound to him by contract that cannot
be assailed--and not by gentlemen's
agreement. He will have, too. avail
able the many stars who quit the Red
SoX year ago to enter the service for
these he holds by the reserve clause
of their 1917 contracts.
1t can readily be appreciated, then,
that Frazee is pretty we'll fortified
especially so as his Fenway Park has
doubled in real estate value since he
bought franchise and appurtenances
from Joseph j. Lannin. 1t is not likely
that any big stick is going to chase him
to the tall and uncut.
Intends to Recoup
Frazee, indeed intends to recoup
some of last seasons investments from
the sale of players this winter when
his warriors return to swell the ranks
of the aggregation that won a double
championship last year. In case the
American League should put through q
close roster limit of eighteen men, as
suggested, Frazee then could present a
real bargain counter to his associates
For the Red Sox eligibles of 1919 would
give him n team far too topheavy for
its company, and the stars that will be
put on tho auction block are of such
approved worth as to strengthen most
any rival Of the circuit.
There is a possibility, of course, that
one or two Of Frazee's stars of 1917
who did rot take part in the champion
ship drive of last season may not be
available to service or barter.
Ernie Shore, the elongated pitcher,
expects this week to take his eXamina-
ton for ensign. He says, if successful,
he will not apply for release, as he
wishes to take several cruises before
returning to professiC nal baseball,
Jack Barry, former manager of the Red
Sox, is likely to be discharged from
the navy at any time. His class will
graduate in February. But Jack, since
he suffered an aggravated case of water
on the knee, has been forced to fall
behind in his studies