New-York tribune., 1919-01-22


fled co-incident with the announcer
and McQuade had purchased a cont
t'onals from those interested in the
1t had been known for some time to
those close in touch with the situation
that several rival syndicates of local
business men were in the market for
baseball's most attractive proposition.
Indeed, two of these, at least, had ap-
preached McGraw on the subject, real
izing their best prospective interests
lay in providing for the man most re-
sponsible for the great financial sue
cesses of the Giants during the past
sixteen years.
Keeps His Head
McGraw ever has been man able
to keep his head about him even in the
moments of his greatest successes.
And this happy faculty, apparently, he
has maintained despite his exaltation
to the ranks of the magnates. For Nc
Graw, though vice president and gen.
eral manager Of the Giants under the
new regime, has announced that he
would serve again as field leader dur
ing the approaching season. He in
tends to be in uniform and on the
coaching lines, where his personality
always has been so directly associated
with Giant success.
But McGraw, who is mostly con-
cerned with the immediate future.
scarcely intended to hide the manager
al light of such a one as Pat Moran
under any such bushel as the ordinary
job of coach and adviser would be
Moran, in Philadelphia. proved him
self one of the most remarkable gen.
fuses of the past decade.
At an expenditure of some fifteen
thousands of dollars he gathered
together a rabble of cast-offs, and in
his first year as major manager won
a pennant for William F.. Baker In
the three succeeding years, with little
or no financial encouragement, Moran
landed his club second, rapping at the
door down the stretch every time. lie
could not have been expected TO &c
better than finish an also ran lasl
! season. The ownership sold the pal
club-Alexander, Killifer and Pasker'
under him. One canrfot have his PIE
and eat it.
That McGraw designs something bet
ter, eventually, than coaching or any
secondary position for Pat Moran seemt
borne out in an announcement iron
James J. McCaffery, president OF the
Toronto club, Of the lnternationa
League, yesterday that George Gibson
veteran catcher and coach of the Giants
would manage the Maple Leafs IN 1918
McGraw, in this city, declared he hat
given McCaffery permission to negotiate
for Gibson's service.
"I intend" said McGraw yesterday
''to give Gibson his unconditional re
lease, provided I can secure waivers
from all the major league clubs. HI
is entitled to this consideration aftel
his long years Of faithful service
Certainly l do not intend to stand IL
his way of advancement"
1t may be, of course, that McCaffer.
has spoken somewhat prematurely. Al
yet. the New York club has not secured
waivers on Gibson. Bnt in any even
| the veteran catcher will not be asso
ciated with the Giants, now that MoraI
is in line for the advisory post thu
coming season. With several majo
berths open, it is not likely Moran
would have tied up with the Giant
unless reasonably sure of improving
his position in the near future.
The only fly in the Yankee ointmen
at the moment is the story from Mary
land that j. Franklin Baker has de
cided not to return to New York thu
season Bakers term contract expired
last fall. Manager Miller Higgins, wh'
greatly strengthened the team by th
big trade with Boston a few weeks ago
was counting heavily on the bludgeol
of the Home Run King to put tn
Huggins doesn't appear perturbe
over the story that Baker has actuall,
signed with the Upland team of tn
Delaware County League.
81 saw Frank on my way over her
to the big conference" said littl
Miller yesterday. "We came to n
definite agreement as to his future
but Frank promised he would advise m
by letter as to his ultimate decision
I have had no word from him as yet
and I know him to be too conscientiou
and honest fellow to take such
step as that of signing with the Up
land club without first notifying me
Baker does not do business that way.
From his conversation with Baker
Higgins remains more or less san
guine of Franks ultimate return. J