Evening journal., 1918-01-23
HIGGINS makes BIC
DEAL FOR YANKEES
GivtS Five Players and Cash
for Pratt ard Plank,
of Browns
TRADE v ILL HELP
EACH BALL CLUB

Baseball fans have had plenty OF win
ter fodder for the stove league" since
President Baker, Of the Phillies. started
the 1re burning b. chucking Alexander
Rand Killefer into the furnace Of pub
licity in his big deal with the Chicago
Cubs. Connie Mack contributed COLI
pie OF deals which rekindled the blaze
until the fuel administrators gasped
and now the New York Yankees aud st.
Louis Browns have started sparks fly
ing with a trade that gives the New
York Americans the veteran pitcher,
Eddie Plank, and Derrill Pratt, recog-
nized as Eddie Colllnss closest rival as
a second bascman. for Shocker and Gull
lop, pitchers; Nunsmsker. a catcher,
and Gedeon and Malsel, innelders.
The New York Yankees have been
after Dell Pratt for the last two sea-
sons and Miller Huggins, the new man
ager OF the Yankees, was forced to out
bid the Cleveland and Washington
clubs. which were ready TO make biz
offers for Pratt. In addition to the
players given by the Yankees for the
two ST. Louis players, II Is reported
that the Browns received s25,O00 in
cash The deal, which was closed yes
terday, was hastened by Piatt refusal
70 sign a 1918 cont act until his suit for
slander b ought against President Phil
Ball. Of the st. Louis club, was settled.
Business Manager Quinn, Of the
Browns, said that two other important
trades may be made this week.
Miller Higgins, OF the New York
Americans, assumed all responsibility
Tor the trade and for getting p att 70
sign o contract this year. also for get
ting Eddie Plank 10 return TO baseball.
Plank quit the Browns in the middle Of
the season last year, declaring he was
Though with the game, but 1t was be-
licyed al that time that he was di-
gusted with trying 10 win with the
poor team behind him. A few days
ago it was reported from Getlysbu g.
where Plank lives, that the veteran
pitcher would return to the diamond
this year.
While Pratt is considered the best
second baseman in the major leagues
next 10 Eddie Collins, If New York paid
S25,OOO in addition TO giving ST. Louis
Ave players for Peott and Plank, the
Browns certainly appear 10 have profit
ed most by the deal, but the trade
should strengthen both clubs. if Planl
Joins the Yankees II will be his eigh'
teenth year in professional baseball
fourteen Of which were spent with th'
Athletics, where he won recognition
as the best left-hand pitcher 10 base
ball. Plank Joined the Browns two
years ago after the Federal League dis
banded. he having quit the MJckmeI
at the close Of the 1914 season.
Nick CullOp is also an ex-Fed star
He was with Cleveland, Of the American
League in 1913, and during that seasoI
Jumped to the Kansas City Fedsrals. II
1914 his pitching in the last gam
against st. Louis permitted Chicago 4
win the Federal League pcnnani
Kansas City won the game and ST
Louis lost the championship by frac
ton. When the agreement betweel
the Feds and organized baseball wa
made Culop went 10 the Yankees an
It Is uldeistoo the latter team pai
Harry Sinclair, who held an option
$4,000 for Cullop.
An unofficial report was received Il
this city yesterday announcing tha
Plank had not changed his mind abou
remaining out Of baseball and that h
would not play with any club this yeal
Plank lives on a farm, and, while h
may have decided not 10 return 10 81
Louis, it is likely the trade which take
him 10 New York will please him, an
II Hugglns offer him a liberal salar
the veteran southpaw is not eXpecte
TO turn 1t down.