New-York tribune., 1919-02-27
Schneider and Ferguson
Sign Contracts With Yunks
Two Right-Handed Pitch
ers Added to the Forces
of Ruppert-Huston
BY w. I. MaCLeth


Huggins two or three days back con-
tinusd yesterday in spite of the de-
narture South of Harry Sparrow, the
hallv-hoo man of the Yankees. Three
more players of the Rupert Huston
interests came through with signed
contracts. The Midget Managers smile
broadcned to a rosy sunrise. If things
keep coming the Yankees way in the
fashion they have of late New York
American League spring cares will have
been diss ipated by the weeks end.
1t was a rather formidable grist that
came to the mill yesterday. Pitchers
Pete Schneider and Alex Ferguson ard
Outfelder Hughe High Joined the list
OF eligibles. Schneider's presence was
particularly desirable. To begin with,
he Is a veteran of proven worth; in
deed Higgins already regards him as
certainty for regular box duty. In
addition Schneider is Cincinnati cast
off, and no ball player to rise to the
supreme heights of excellence needs a
better recommendation than this.
Schneider will be we'll remembered
in New York. He is big right-handed
pitcher, who not only can pitch well
but who packs g pretty hefty wallop
with the willow to boot. In his career
with the Reds he showed such great
effectiveness that the wonder is he
was ever waived out of the National
League.
Not at Best in 1918
Schneider aid not show at his best
in 1918, ii is true, but none of the Gin
cinnati players did. He was with q
club that cut little figure in the flag
race and one that was torn by internal
discussion. None of Matty's supposed
ly Big guns including Fred Toney. on
whom McGraw is banking so heavily,
would get very far if measured strictly
according to 1913 form.
Two years ago, however, Schneider
stamped himself as one of the most de-
pendable tossers of the big show. He
won close to twenty games with a club
that did little better than break even
He stood fourth among National League
pitchers in the matter of effectiveness
that is. percentage of earned runs by
opponents. In the matter of sheer
work-that is, innings pitched through
Alexander a fine heat.
Huggins is of the opinion that
Schneider's apparent shortcomings of
1918 were due solely to the influence
his surroundings, and that the COM
ing season he should return to his
sensational 1917 form with the Yam
KEGS. The pitcher has everything in
in his favor; youth and health, to
begin with. He has never suffered
any serious injury or accident and he
has the constitution of an iron man.
At any rate, now that he will be on
hand, Pete Schneider will be given
every opportunity and encouragement.
Alex Ferguson is a colt who may or
may not be ready for fast company
now. He went South with the Yam
KEGS last spring, but was then too
green and inexperienced for serious
trial AS d matter of fact, he was just
big kid who hadn't developed
physically. Ferguson was farmed out
to the international League, later drift
ing to the Connecticut. When the
latter circuit exploded Ferguson en-
gagged In semi-pro ball
He was called back to the Yankees
in the fall, when Hugginss pitching
staff had been shot all to pieces, and
finished a few games along in the fag
end of the schedule He was much
improved over spring form upon his
return. Indeed. Huggins believes him
worthy of further experiment, despite
the fact that the Yankees boast the
greatest array of experienced pitching
talent in the major leagues.
Weak With Stick
Outficlder Hughie High, who came
from Detroit shortly after the Rup-
pert-Huston interests invested in the
New York Americans, is not in the best
graces Of the local office. To begin
with he has not panned out to ex,
pectations in his four years at the Polo
Grounds. He Is fair enough sort
OF fly-ehaser, but has slowed up some
what and Was never IL desperate char
acter with the old ash.
Furthermore. High committed
breach Of discipline by refusing to
submit to a trade his employers had in
view. He took advantage of the war
time conditions to carry his point.
High. doubtless. will have to show
lot more than he has yet shown II he
wishes 10 lucer around Coogan, s
Buff-if, indeed he makes the grade
as far as Jacksonville, Fla.
In his determination to round out n
pitching staff that will stand the acid
test and prove up to the exceptional
strength Of the various other depart
ments Of his prospective challengers,
Manager John j. McGraw Of the
Giants has decided to take South with
e. him Frank Noel, big young right.
kander. who halls from the wilds OF
West Virginia.
Noel has Rad no professional expert
ence. but in school and college circles
he showed enough promise to tempt
Mc(rr
highly. Noel for the past couple Of
years has been an ensign IN the
United States navy. When last heard
from he expected to have been dis
charged by this time.