The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-01-19
PEACETIME
CONTRACTS
FOR GIANTS
Alacrity With Which Stars
and Recruits Are Signing
Up Shows That New York
Didn't Weld the Knife
Fat Salaries on Other
Teams to be Sliced.

New York, jan 19-The speed with
which the Giants are signing their
contracts this winter seems to be a
! fine omen for the players. The New
York players are breaking all winter
records for falling into line. Des-
pite the fact that contracts were
mailed to players only a little more
than two weeks ago, already every
regular on the club with the excep
ton of Robertson, Burns, Fletcher,
McCarty, Sallee and Perritt and prac-
tically every youngster is under con-
tract A year ago Sallee was the first
Giant to sign
Obviously the Giants are sending
out peace time contracts or there
would not be such a rush to get on
the band wagon. 1t is true that many
clubs have not as yet sent out con-
tracts for the coming year and per-
haps are not in a position to write as
high figures into contracts as the
Giant Golfers permit However, such
clubs as have sent out contracts are
having quick responses. Both Cicotte
and Faber, the leading Chicago White
stox pitchers, were signed with little
difficulty. Sttuffy McInnis signed q
Boston contract as soon as the deal
was completed by which he went tc
the Hub.
Ebbets of Brooklyn has not yet sent
out contracts, but recently signed
Rube Marquard in his Office, although
Rube was supposed to be in the bat
graces of the Flatbush owners. The
Yankees mailed contracts only early
this week and have not had time tC
get responses.
1t is known that this club will cut
some contracts, but these will be
only justifiable reductions. For in
stance no one would expect Cald-
wells $4,000 contract renewed.
Griffith of Washington recently an
nounced there would be no general
cut in Washington salaries, though il
is reported that Walter Johnson's sti-
pend had a big chunk hacked off it
1t even is said that Johnson's salary
- has been cut in two.
Speaking of contracts, one of thu
few Federal League contracts to holC
over for 1918 was the four-year con
tract signed by Les Nunamaker, thu
Yankee catcher, just before Ripper
and Huston purchased the club. Tit
old Farrell regime took no chance o
the Feds getting its catching staff
with the result that Big Ed Sweeney
and Nunamaker drew a pair of thu
most sugar coated contracts ever Of
fered to a backstop.
Sweeney got a $4,000 per annun
contract for the seasons of 1914, 1911
and 1915, while Nunamaker drew
down $4,000 per annum for the sea
sons of 1915. 1916, 1917 and 1917.
Dick Hoblitzel. the former Red So
first baseman, is convalescing rapid
from the effects of an operation in
Cincinnati hospital which he under
went so that he might be eligible TO
service in the Dental Corps. 1t nov
is said that Dick has lost some of hi
ambitions for service with Uncl
Sam, and he now is being mentione
as the war manager of the Red So1
One wonders what will happen t
all of the Boston firss basemen, no.
that McInnis is a fixture on the Bos
ton team. Hobby and Gamer alter
mated at the bag during the last thre
seasons, but Gamer is now in tn
navy. McInnis could be shifted t
some other infeld position, as he OF
iginally came into the America
League a shortstop, though he is e1
pected to play first base in Boston.
When peace comes it likely will b
discovered that either Hoblitzel {
Gamer will be sent to the Athletic
along with Hal Janyrin and Till
Walker. Mack never gave up M
Innis without getting his full equiv
alent in players and cash.