The Washington herald., 1919-04-04
OLD FOX WILL
ASK FOR HELP
Manager Griffith Appeals
To President Heydler
In Robertson Case.
by JOHN A. DU GAN.

North Augusta, S. c, April g.
Johnny Heydler. president of the
National League and formerly
resident of Washington, will be
judge advocate in swinging the
three-corncred deal which will make
Davey Robertson, the New York
Giant holdout slugger, a member of
the Nationals. This three -cOrnered
deal calls for Lieut.. Johnny Davan,
the former shortffelder of the Griff-
men. to cast his lot With Branch
Rickey's Cardinals, while Hickey is
to give the Giants a pick of his
overflow of outfielders. while the
Foxy Pilot is to obtain the heavy
hitting Virginian.
Everything is set as far the Amer
lean League is concerned, as Phil
Ball and Hughie Jennings, of the st.
Louis and Detroit clubs. respective
ly. have lifted all waivers on the
services of Lavan. while Hickey has
withdrawn claim to Robertson's
services. Barney Dreyfuss Is still
standing in the way of completing
the deal, but the opinion here is
that Barney Is only looking for a
little of the "yid percentage" and
that President Heydler will find no
difficulty in having Barney forget
about the dollars that Davey may
be worth.
At least this is where the deal
stands now, as the Old Fox has asked
HeydIer for assistance and as the
National League magnate and the sill
yer-haired pilot have always been on
the best If terms, prospects are
brighter now than ever of the Ma
tionals obtaining this 800 swatter.
Lavan's injury, which was received a
few days ago while pastiming in the
National game in Cuba, is not believed
TO he critical and Hickey is willing to
gamble on the chances of having
Johnv return to the game.
lust how Heydler will swing this
Zeal with Dreyfuss is not known, but
when these major league mOguls get
together to put one over it generally
matcrializes Just the way the big boys
desire il. With Robertson in the Ma
tionals' lineup they would not only
be a dangerous club but would be one
that would be in the race for the flag
from the start to the finish. Much de-
Dends on the develoment OF GOD
Davis under the fire of the big guns
when the race gets under way.
Although the Pacific coast phenom
has shown a great deal of speed Tor
a youngster, it remains to be seen
whether he will weaken when put 10
the real test. Griff has every conn
dence in the world in Ike's ability
and at each of the practices is coach
ing the little fellow in the finer points
Of the defensive end of the game.
Should the Nationals obtain the SER
vices of Robertson by the first of May
and Davis comes up to expectations,
then every club in Ban Johnson's cir
cult must keep their eyes on the Cap
ital City clan.
The Nationals will leave here
next Thursday afternoon for Char-
.iotte. N. c., where the Phillies will
he played on the 11th and 18th. On
Sunday the squad will jump to Nor
folk. Va, for the series with the
New York Giants. The Monticello
Hotel will be made the headquar-
ters of both teams while in the
old Dominion State. Monday, the
14th, will find the clubs in Newport
News. Va. while the 18th the team
will jump seventy-three miles TO
Petersburg. The 18th and lth
will see two games in Norfolk,
while on the 18TH Rlchmona Is
booked for this exhibition. On Sat
urday. the 18th, and Sunday, the
goth. the Giants will be played at
the Florida avenue stadium. While
the Old Fox is now attempting to
arrange a game with some of the
other major league clubs for Mon
day, as the season will not open up
until Wednesday. and Griff wants to
put his tribe through one more bat
tie before the gong sounds.