Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-13
BIG DEALS CONTINUE TO
Be MADE IN BASEBALL
Purchase of art" Nehf by Giants
Sets High-Watcr Mark in
National League.
COST $4,000 IN COLD CASH
Talk of Real Money in Great Ameri:
can Pastimc Still Goes on In Spite
of Failure of Federal League and
War Losses.
ny JAMES j. CoRBETT.

HI IA MES a. CohbETI.
NEW YORK. August 12.-Jim Gill
more and his colleagues. who brought
the Federal League to life and prcci-
wars got into the game because they
thought there was big money in it, and
because they believed ii was easy to
get.
1t is unnecessary to mention here
that Gilmore and his masnnates were
more than willing to admit it after
some two years of spending. two years
that cost the Federal League and
o ooe. baseball more than $1,000
The thing that encouraged Gilmore
and his henchmen more than anything
else was the constant talk 'of biz
money, the making of big deals and
The he fact ,n that major isague clubs We're
STAR piay s4 Thsy ddnt 'ea supo mat that
It took long, long time to build up
the baseball business. or that hundreds
Of thousands OF dollars had been sunk
Inc Federal League is thing OF the
past. except for the fact that the major
eral OF It's biggest hackers. the Ward
estate and Harry Sinclair. Yet the
talk OF big money is SIN rampant TO-
on. This is possible despite losses oc-
casioned by the droppns. off Of pat
ronaee TO certain extent during the
war with Germany.
Big Money for Art Nchf.
Several deals made this year have
approached the high mark in actual
cash paid for players. one deal alone
IS said 70 have set a new high mark
in the National League 70. an outlay
OF perfectly good American dollars for
a single PLAYER. The deal in question
was that between the Giants and the
Boston Braves by which Pitcher Art
Nsht the clever. souihpaw, became a
member Of the New, York club
The nasnates. who have learned
lesson from the Federal League war.
are not as careless with their talk
OF big money as they used TO be. But
the rumor mongers keep It up. and
according TO Dame Rumor the Boston
club received in the neighborhood of
$4,000 for Nehf, besides four play
ers, Pitchers Causey. Oeschgcr and
Jones. and Catcher O'Ne;N.
Forty thousand dollars and four
players for one pitcher seems like an
unreasonable sum. and OF course. VIC
must rem-nlbe: that the only author
isy we hey> Cor the story that tho
Giants pail out that much mon.y IS
Dame kaTor. But that Marage: Me-
Graw hung a tempting financial bait
Eefor" the eyes of President Grant. Of
the Braves, is certainty, and if Nehi
proves as good a pitcher for New
York AS McCiraw believes re will lie.
the New York club will consider that
II made a good Investment, even if
the outlay Was between $4,000 and
Perhaps McGraw figured that he
could afford to bid high for Nchf be-
cause OF the fact that the deal in
which Benton came 10 New York from
the Cubs did not involve cash out
lay. the Cubs getting Davey Robert
son in On even trade for the pitcher.
Robertson it Will he remembered.
cost the Giants but few hundred
dollars al the most, and as a holdout
he was dead timber as far as McGraw
was concerned.
In the Giants two deals with ST.
Louis. whereby Catchers snyder and
Gonzales came 10 New York. McGra~
is said 10 have spent some $4,000.
and Il that is all he parted with he
.ot away easy But The St Louis club
needed the money, and there YOU are.
If the truth were known II is prob
able shat the outlay in cold cash made
by the Giants does not represent more
than $50 600 for all of the new talent
added TO the club-added when il was
most needed. Such AN outlay comes
hack to the Giants in one series al
the Polo Grounds when the VISITING
weather is good. Bir tmoney? Yes
but the Giants-- c;sh afford it, where
the nl-advised Federais could not.
Another recent deal. that IN which
Carl Mays came TO the Yankee. rep.
resented an outlay Of probably *25Doo
on the part OF ColouclS RUPERT and
Huston. In addition they gave Boston
pitchers Mcciraw and Russell worth
perhaps Si,5Ou between them. IniS eN-
penditure. coupled with perhaps a like
sum that was involved i'll the big
Yankee Red Sox trade last winter
cannot be figured 10 work an extreme
hardship on the Yankee owners. for
like the Giants. they have the crowds
TO get il al! back.
Many Money Cannot buy.
There are number Of players IN
the big show that money could not buy
Al least. the highest amount any riva'
club owner would consider Offering
would not tempt The clubs holding
title TO them 10 part with these stars
STANDING head and shoulders above
al! or them is Tyrus Cobb owner
Frank Navin, OF the Tigers is said to
have remarked recently that lie would
not sell Cobb for 500. 900 in hard cash
and ! believe II. Cobb makes the De
troit club popular everywhere He l.
me one big magnet that draws the
iahS 70 ihe gaic. particularly when
DetToit Is on the road. SO 100000 for
COMP would he ii futile offer for any
rival club owner 10 make and where
can you lind baseball magna,e who
would 60 higher than that for a single
player? ''' . IL
Walter Johnson is another plaver ..
this type, though 100000 might rci
MN away from Washington However,
Johnson is getting along as a pitcher
In9ush ne Is sun a brilliant pitcher
SS ie KUN, OF the Red Sox George
sister, OF the Browns: Iris Sneak %
Of Cleveland FOR whom the i n%;s -,
PAM boston $4,000. and Eddie I.oiiirs
% me mite SuN, who stood Comisk a,
soo.ope. are players OF the type wht
eot'a mpt be taken from their pres.
~ ,b, NJ o"heTS Tor anything shor,
" iapt!ouS sums, ana fabulous gum
: 1919. ohyFish'