The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-08
ROBERTSON MUST
PLAYIN NATIONAL
Trade With American League
Club Impossible Now, Says
John A. Heydler.
nv FREDERICK G. LIEB.

DESPITE the ambitions of Virginia
rayey Robertson, smuggling Giant out
,.Ider. 70 cavort In the American League
18th his fellow outfeld stars from Dixie.
Nv cobb OF Georgia. iris Speaker OF
Texas and Clyde Milan of Tennessee.
Robertson again will play ball in the
Na,lona, League this season.
Robertson will play with the Giants
or another National League club. What
aver chance there was to transfer
Robertson into the American League Is
zone. This is on the authority OF no
less a person than John Heydler, presi-
asn, Of the National League.
"sIce the rule by which waivers can
mot be recalled went into effect It would
\. impossible for Robertson to get out
a, the National League" said Heydler
xs.terday "As soon as the New York
cIub should ask for waivers on Robert
am he Immediately would be claimed by
other clubs. 1t then would be UP to the
league head to decide by lot who should
receive the player. New York automati-
cslly would lose title to the player.
II now will admit that ut one time I
ala try TO aid in the formation of q deal
BY which Robertson would have gone
into the American League. Such deal
would have sent Johnny Lavan to the
Cardinals. The st. Louis club would
hsye turned over valuable player to
New York Major Hickey of st. Louis
was greatly interested in the deal. for he
bslieyed that the acquisition of Lavan
would round out his infield.
Acted to Get Robertson Out OF Re-
ffremeut.
II consented to act In this case be-
cause was told that Robertson had said
No would not play ball again in the Ma
tional League, and II he could not play
IN Washington he would remain IN re-
t,rement. As Robertson did not play
isaeue ball in 1913 and seemed we'll SIT
uated, I took him at his word. and be-
Heved that II the National League
would lose his services anyway It
would be better II we got an American
League star in exchange.
an the meantime Lavan broke a leg
IN Cuba and tho original deal which st.
Louis tried to make was off. Then
when Robertson reported to New York
and signed with that club I took my
hands entirely of the matter. He Is
wanted by a number OF our clubs, who
never would consent to his leaving the
league. duu tIidt flh0 L
there was a chance for Robertson re-
would have taken part In these inter-
league negotiations Of last winter"
The Robertson case Is a most COM
picking case to McGraw. He offered tho
outAelder to the Pittsburg club for Will
bur Cooper. the Pirate lefthander. and
more recently to the Boston club for
Artie Nehf. Boston crack lefthander.
While both clubs want Robertson badly
they do not want him badly enough to
sacrifice these fine lefthanded pitchers
Robertson would be a valuable man
FOR the Boston club, which Is badly in
need OF outhelders." said George WASH
ingston Grant. the head Of the Braves.
yesterday. But We also are weak in
our twirling department. Would It aid
Us any to give up our best pitcher to
bolster up the outheld? prefer to hold
II may be necessary for McGraw 10
hold on to Robertson. though with the
twenty-one player limit going into effect
next week, the Giant leader soon must
cut his roster. He now has three extra
Standardization. Thorpe and King
and somebody will have to go.
Rain Prevents Ball Games.
ram again raised havoc with the
major league baseball schedules yester-
day. All contests scheduled in the Ma
tional League were called of and only
two American League games in the
West were played. The games SEIZED
ued on the local parks. the Giants and
Braves on the Polo Grounds and the
Dodgers and Phillies in Ebbets Field
were early flooded out, as was the Ath-
let'c-Yankee tiff in Philadelphia.
The Giants will complete their serie.
With the Braves to-day. when they will
try TO assist the Bostonians in keeping
their losing streak intact. The Braves
by the way, have won only one game
from the Giants since the season OF
1911. They won only one game from
New York last season, the last game
OF the year. played on Labor Day In
Boston. The Stallings tribe has not wor
single game in New York since Sep.
teTher. 1917.
Despite the run OF Boston defeats. the
cub stu keeps its head up and is fight.
ing as hard for games as any team ir
me league. The Braves may find some
consolation In the fact that Brooklyn los,
US FIRST nine games last year and fin.
lshed in fifth place with the fairly re.
spectacle percentage Of .452.
N