The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-04
BOSTON FANS
 CLAIM GIANTS CONTROL BRAVES

Announcement was made last night that Pitcher Arthur Nehf of the Braves has been sold to the New York Giants by the local club, the deal in volving transfer of four players from New York and an amount of cash stated to be a "big bundle"
 This transaction seems to give ere dence to the report that the Braves are really owned by the men who own the Giants. For a long time the actual ownership of the Braves has been shrouded in mystery. Those in the know say that Grant is merely a straw man for the Giant interests The selling of Nehf can be explained only by that fact. No real Boston owner in his sober senses would ever put over such a deal. It is the last nail in the Braves coffin. The fans now have the measure of the aIIeg- ed owners.
 In return for the pitcher, consid- cred to be one of the best if not the very best southpaw in the National League, the New York club turns over Pitchers Joe Oeschger, Red" Causey, John Paul Jones and a catch CT named O'Neil.
 But two of the four will report to the Boston club at once as Jones NAAAo V -HV4A el ' SiI present. I1eInDeTS of the IntrnationaI league clubs, the former with Toronto and the latter with Rochester. They will not be available for use with the Braves un- til the termination of the minor lea que season.
 The transaction removing Nehf from the Boston club has been ex- pected more or less for a long time. This, despite the reiterated denials by both Owner Grant and Manager StaI- HnSs that they would consider part ing with a pitcher of his calibre under any circum stances short of an oppor- tunity to improve the makeup of the roster. Whether this is to be con- sidered as having transpfred is some thing for the fans to consider
 As for the average fan in these parts he will be very apt to conclude that McGraw has got his way with another National League club. Moth ing of a novelty this year. At any rate, there fs bound to be much cri- ticism of the deal all over the cir cult, saving in New York There is bound to be much satisfaction with the trade which practically as sures McGraw of the National league pennant.
 Earlier in the season, much ear
 
 York club approached Grant with a proposition involving the trading of Nehf to the Giants. At that time the Braves were in the field for out field material and sought the services of Outfielder Davy Robertson, then a holdout of the New Workers.
 After much conferrlng and discus sion the matter finally fail come to a head, as the stalmate consisted of the refusal of the Boston club to swap Nehf for Robertson on a straight trade basis. Since that time there have cropped up from time to time rumors that the Giants would even tually secure the crack southpaw. To every one of those there was given the same denial by the local men most concerned. There was noth- ing doing in the case of Nehf and moreover there would be nothing do- ing However, there Is the deal as 1t stands and as made with the local public which supports the game here abouts having the privilege of con- cluding just where Boston fits as suburb of New York when it comes down to delivering the baseball goods.
 One thing that stands out in the matter is that the building up of the Braves isn't quite as apparent as it might be. In fact, from an estimate of the quality of the men who will come to the Braves in return for Nehf it is difficult to see just exactly where the Boston club fits Both Causey and Oeschger are fair right handed workmen. Jones, an unknown quantity, and O'Neil in the same boat
 Nehf, though, will go to a club with which he desired to be ever since he first learned that he. was sought by McGraw. This is no secret as the star southpaw was much chagrined when the Braves earlier in the sea ason failed to make the arrangement that would have sent him 10 the Giants Whether or not this made any diff ference in his work is something else again.
 Ever since his first appearance with the Braves in 1916 when he was se- cured from the Terre Haute club of the Central league, Nehf has proved himself a workman of the first order ,f excellence. He was bought by the | Braves at that time after Fred Nit l chell, then scouting for Stallings, had | looked him over and placed the stamp | of approval on him.