The sun., 1919-03-16
HOME RUN BAKER
AT HIS OLD STAND
Trappe Mauler Consents to
Guard Third Base for
Yankees Again.
COL. HUSTON LANDS HIM
VIII Not Take HNo" for An
swer and Leads Frank
Into Fold.
COL. HUSTON LANDS HIM
ny FREDERICK G. LIEB.

at the Polo Grounds next summer after
all. The renowned third baseman has
consented to return to the New York
Americans for another year and Yankee
stock on the America League exchange
took a twenty point jump last night.
Lleut.-Col T. l.. Huston. secretary
treasurer of the Yankees. and Miller
Huggins, manager of the club, returned
last night from Bakers farm in Trappe.
Nd, with the cheerful news that the
home run specialist will be back on the
home stand next season.
Nothing but n perseverance seldom
equalled in professional baseball en-
abled the Yankees to induce Baker to
change his mind about quitting the
game. The Yankees simply would not
take the third basemans mo" for a final
answer
Higgins could have saved money had
he bought a communication ticket to
Trappe early in the winter. He went
TO see Baker before Christmas, when ].
Franklin told him nothing doing" Hug
gins waited and called on the Baker
farm again about fortnight ago. when
again he got little encouragement.
Huggins wouldn't Quit.
story. He just refused to admit that
Baker would not play. So last Friday
he made a third visit to the Baker farm.
This time he took his boss, Lieut-Col.
Huston, along, and then Baker yielded.
Baker and Huston took a fancy to
each other the first year Frank came
to the Yankees in 1916. The soldiery
Huston admired the Marylander's frank
ways and the conscientious manner
with which he always tried to live up
TO his contract obligations. and Baker
in turn felt a warm friendship for his
big hearted employer.
When Huston, after eighteen months
on the other side. threw pride to the
winds and took the jerk water line to
Bakers farm in Trappe. the home run
specialist was overcome with emotion
and gave his consent to join the team.
Excused From Training.
Baker will play with the Yankees be-
cause he thinks II is his duty to do 30.
He has not yet signed, but Huston says
that is mere Formally. as it never was
q question OF money merely whether or
not Frank would play. He may not ad
just his business affairs in time to re-
port for spring training. but will Join the
club as quickly as possible. Higgins
already has excused him from the train
ing trip.
In his talk with Huston and Higgins.
Baker expressed his sense of loyalty TO
the team in the following terms:
"If l return 10 the game" said he, at
will be because Of my deep sense Of duty
TO the owners, who have expended a
great deal OF money for my release
from the Athletics ana who not yet have
received due return from the investment.
because of tough luck in the matter of
injuries both to myself and other players
and the bad conditions surrounding base
ball in 1917-1S. The consideration OF
money has never entered into my calcu-
latons.
Because Of the world war the bust
ness of professional baseball has not been
normal since Joined the Yankees. and
last year was particularly trying to the
promoters.
1T feel I owe the game of baseball a
great deal, for It has done me a great
deal OF good physically. morally and
financially. 1t is because of my sense
of duty and devotion to the game that
feel 1t almost obligatory on my part to
return. because old time stars would
help effect the come back Of the game.
In helping to bring back baseball to its
old time popularity feel am likewise
doing my duty to my country, because
that will have strong tendency toward
normalZing conditions"
Ray Fisher the veteran right handed
pitcher OF the Yankees, yesterday was
released to the Cincinnati Reds. Fisher
goes to the Concinnati club in exchange
for Pete Schneider. the tall Redland
Highlander, who was acquired by the
Yankees early in the winter.
Fisher was the veteran player OF the
Va IN 30
as re Joined the team in 1909 under
Stallings. Fisher is a college man, a
graduate of Middlebury College, and in
the off season is employed as an athletic
director. Fisher at times in his career
gave signs of becoming a real top
notcher. His best year was 1915, when
he won Is games and lost only II.
Had Many Close Games.
With a first division club Fisher might
have made a reputation, as he lost many
close games. There was one stretch
during the season OF 1918 In which he
lost five straight games by scores COM
ing in the order named, 6-5, Sd, 81.
81, 10 The better Fisher went the
less runs his team would get him.
During the Federal League war Fisher
got the only real contract out of the
Farrell ownership, which later was
taken over by Huston and Rupert. This
contract expired in 1917. Fisher enlisted
in the army short time later and was
assistant physical director at Fort
Slocum, He has been a holdout this
spring.
John Heydler yesterday waxed en-
thusiastic over the coming season. I'll
am delighted with our progress" said
Heydler yesterday. II had occasion tn
zee most of our club owners during thu
finished the 1918 season. However, 1918
a general outline of how their teams will
line up next season.
II was surprised at the strength of the
different clubs, especially when I con-
trasted them with the teams that
finished the 1918 season. However, 1918,
Is baseball season we all would like 70
forget.
THE balance of the different teams
also Is a SOURCE OF much satisfaction.
While some teams are particularly
strong in some Northumberland
and Brooklyn in pitchers and New York
in the outfeld--I do not think any team
or group OF teams stand out by them
selves Indications are good for a close,
tight race.
I'VE still have some unsigned PLAYERS,
but / will confess this situation is much
more satisfactory than we expected
Most people understand what we have
been UP against. and the manner In
which sc succeeded IN rounding up tho
great percentage OF our players proved
highly gratifying in view of present con-
ditionAr