New-York tribune., 1919-12-29
Plans
To Get Raise
From Hickey
Star Shortstop of Cardinals
to Follow Ruth's Exam
pie; Chat With Joe Wood
By W. I. Macbeth

hutn, under contract to the Boston Red
son Tor two years more at $4,000, has
served notice through his Western
business representative, one John Igoe,
that he will not play for less than $40
ooo next season and that he will not
submit to being sold or traded to nnv
other club.
A sporting public has little regard
Tor so-caled sportsman of anv line
who puts light value on his pledged
word. The time for Ruth to have
brought Harry Frazee to the mat was
last spring, before he signed a three
years contractf Under the circum-
stances Ruth's ease is very much pref
9olce, and ne will soon find out the
Iact. But the players are not all to
blame
Certain Of the magnatcs who are nc
customed to SOW to the wind are but
reaping the whirwind. Ruth was a
wonderful asset to the Boston Ameri-
can League club last season. At the
end he was the givatest individual
drawing card of the game. And Harry
ii; Frazee overlooked no opportunity of
advertising the fact on every possible
occasion. Repeatedly he made state
ments (Which perhaps were true) that
ger Tor an entire team. He "shilled"
and "bally-hooed" Babe Ruth from one
end Of the circuit to the other. 1t was
good press work at the time and doubt
less helped swell Boston's gate receipts.
But ls it any wonder that Ruth. AS a
result. mas such exalted ideas as to his
value?
What applies in The case Of Ruth
may apply equally in the case OF Rogers
hornsby 4 few days ago Branch
RlckeV announced that he had refused
-
Hornsby. There was no occasion for
making such statement unless Rickew
des.red bit OF publicity for his star:
that Is. there was no reason if Rickev
was really serious in his statement
that he would not part with Eornsbv
under any consideration. He neglected
even TO mention the club that had made
the spectacular offer.
Two years ago, when Charles Weegh
man was president of the Cubs, Hickey
wished to have the Chicago maenate
drawn and quartered almost for I'll
lng the newspaper boys of the windy
CITY he would give 100000 for the
young CARDINAL shor,stop. Rickey de-
clared Weeghman's TAX was calculated,
re make H0rnsby dissatisfied with his
berth IN st. Louis. He alleged in
short, an attempt at covert tam
pering"
At its meeting here couple of
weeks ago the National League took
steps to prevent "tampering" by pro-
vldlng fine of 81 600 for the first
otfense and expulsion for the second
inns rule, Of course doesn't cover the
case of Hickey. There is nothing to
prevent an owner from tampering with
ms own property. But it would seem
tnere should be some distinction. How
ABOUT that old brown derby?
Smoky Joe" Wood, outfelder Of the
Cleveland Indians. was in town on y
lying visit Yesterday He believes
IRIS Speaker likely to gratify Cleve-
iands pennant hunger in 1920
FOR years with the Red Sox Wood
was one OF the greatest right handed
pl'cners OF the game and real rival
Of Walter Johnson He saw his best
year in 1912, at which time he WAS
largely instrumental in the defeat oe
fhe Giants in the worlds series. Wood
was always great hitter and speedy
payer. When mis- arm went back on
hlm he devoted his attention to picket
duty and soon became finished fielder
smoky Joe' has given up ali notions
Oh pltchlng The old wing simply
VIII not stand the wear and tear Of
q game" he says 81 can whin tho
GOOD
any Of them and never feel a bit of
pain. But the moment | get back in
he box and try to put anything on
the ball -hooey,"
=, Wood declared that in his opinion
Cleveland would have breezed in 10
Tcnnant last year if the club had bnt
Rad one more dependable pitcher or
even southpaw of average worth
speaker has hopes of getting a sea-
sohed ft-hander. But even without
one wood still believes the Indians
Shonld be IN the race all the way.
IN Kay Caldwell Cleveland picked 10
the missing box asset, in Smoky Joe's
opinion
"Caldwell behaved himself for
Speaker" said Joe. 81 think he viii
surely continue to do so. At the end
OF the season he was as good as he
eyer was in his life He had all sorts
OF smoke ard the old jump on his fast
one Certainly there is no header
pltcner IN the league. If Speaker now
can ohiy get good southpaw the next
club" oui
The University of Chicago football
team earned so much monev in tba
season just closed that the Maroons
can indulge their fancies on almost
every form of sport and recreation
1t IS planned to use some of the. money
from football for baseball advertisinr
purposes. The U. of c. nine will tour
the Orient next summer. Twice before
Chicago has sent baseball teams TO
Japan, China, the Philippines and Ha-
wall. The first tour was made in 1910
and the second in 1915
Ernie johnson, manager of the Salt
Lake City team Of the Pacific Coast
League, has acquired title to southpaw
Nick Cullop, former star of the Fed.
eral League and Of the New York
Yankees Cullop figured in the biz
deal between New York and St. Louis
of two years ago that brought Pratt
to New York. Eddie Plank was also
supposed to come to the Polo Grounds.
but Immediately retired Neither OF
the southpaws has played baseball since
that time.
Hans Wagner seems to be prospering
in his sporting goods establishment at
438 Wood Street. Pittsburgh. Papers
of the Smoky City are carrying half
page ads of the business during the
holiday rush. The ads are embellished