The sun., 1919-03-14
GIANTS DICKERING
FOR MIKE GONZALES
Hickey Will Trade One Of His
Star Catchers if He Can
Strengthen Cardinals.
ny FnEpERICK G. LrEp.

There were more interesting develop
nrents yesterday In the rumored three
cornered deal among the Giants. Car
dinals and Pirates. Branch Hickey,
president-manager of the Cardinals. de-
clared he is anxious to strengthen his
team and is willing to arrange a deal
for one OF his star catchers. Hickey
would not name the catcher he is anxious
to dispose of. but 1t was learned that
he will release Miguel Gonzales, his
crack, Cuban catcher. to the Giants II
the proper terms can be made.
The Giants stand ready to trade
Davey Robertson. who has declined to
return to New York. where he would
have to fill a utility role, It was printed
in these columns several weeks ago that
Davey Robertson went to see Clark
Grif1ith and asked him whether he could
make deal that would enable htm TO
play in Washington. Griffith wrote 10
McGraw and McGraw informed the
Washington leader he would arrange a
deal provided Robertson could he
waived out Of the National League.
Barney Dreyfuss, owner of the Pirates,
Informed the New York club point blank
that he never would consent to waive
on Robertson. Hence McGraw figures he
can land Gonzales through three
cornered deal in which Dreyfuss would
figure.
hickey said yesterday he needed
pitchers and the three cornered deal
apparently rests on what Dreyfuss is
willing 20 give up TO get a chance to
dicker with Robertson.
Mickey and Drcyfus Confer.
hickey held a conference with Barney
Dreyfuss here last night, after which
Hickey LEFT on a late train for the West.
He said II he did succeed in making a
deal II probably would take several days
before he could make public the terms.
II will be frank and say that l am
anxious to trade one Of my catchers,'
said Hickey last night II have four
men whom consider high class
catchers--Frank Snyder, Mike Con-
zales. Pickles" Dilhoefer and Vernon
Clements. 1 offered the last named to-
day in deal with the Louisville club.
1 had Clements on the st. Louis Browns
when he was only n kid and he will
make high class catcher.
Il do not need so many high class
men, and I will be glad to make a deal
by which I can strengthen my team In
some other position. l even would be
willing TO give up one Of these men for
player l would consider not quite as
valuable If by so doing / could improve
my team. But shall not make a pres
ent Of these catchers TO any club"
Hickey seemed rather annoyed that
National League clubs consider the
Cardinals the soft mark OF the league
There are seven clubs In the league
who claim the pennant or suiiIt tno,
will be in the running" said Branch.
They all say they will win the pen
nant II they can beat out such and such
club. The club they must beat out
varies sometimes. but they are unani-
nous on one point, namely, that the
Cardinals will finish eighth. Why. even
Ebbets tells me the only club in the
league he fears is the Cubs. Well give
me couple of pitchers and we will sur
prise lot of them"
There ii little chance OF Derril Pratt
returning TO the Yankees, according to
one of that players close friends, who
was in New York YESTERDAY.
Pratt really is not holding out in the
old sense" said this man. Tile is doing
mighty we'll at his fob in the steel plant
at Lebanon. Pratt is a very capable
man. who picks UP things readily, and
he is now assistant superintendent al
salary Of $4,000. The job he now holds
has possibilities besides It enables Pratt
to be with his family all the year round
I would be surprised to see the player
play big league ball next season"