The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-15
'D0CLAVAN INCLUDED
IN PROPOSED DEAL
Hickey Would Get Shortstop
If Dreyfus Should Waive
on Robertson.

The complete details OF the big three
cornered deal which the Giants and St
Louis Cardinals have been trying to
learned yesterday from a person high
In the codncils Of baseball. The third
party in the deal, II Branch Hickey sue
ceeds in swinging II Is the Washington
American League club. not the Pittsburg
Club. as was supposed. However. Bar
ney Dreyfuss, president of the Pirates,
Is vitality concerned and ne oan hold
UP the entire TRANSACTION.
II the deal reaches completion, Miguel
Gonzales, the st. Louis Cardinal catcher,
will come to the Giants and the Giants
will release Outhelder Davey Robertson
to the Washington Club in exchange for
Shortstop DOC" Lavan, who will be
turned over to the st. Louis Nationals
by McGraw. Where Dreyfuss enters Is
that he is the only National League
club owner who has refused to waive on
Robertson. 1t was for the purpose Of
inducing Dreyfuss to waive on Robert
son that Hickey held his conference with
the Pittsburger here last Thursday
night
Dreyfuss now is holding up tho big
trade. but It Is possible that the three
clubs interested may offer Dreyfuss a
| consideration so that he may waive on
Robertson.
View Feature to Proposed Deal.
The appearance of Doc Lavan's name
in the trade IL OF course the new fea-
| ture Lavans case Is somewhat similar
! TO that OF Robertson. Davey says that
he will play ball only in Washington
and will not return TO the National
League. Lavan. on the other hand. has
informed Clark Grifflth, manager of the
Washington club. that he has retired
and will stick to the navy. However.
Hickey, who is Lavan's most intimate
friend in baseball, seems to have assur-
ance that Lavan would play for him
with the Cardinals.
Hickey when here was very well
posted on Lavan's movements. He said
doc" now is in Cuba with the Atlantic
feet. The young shortstop is head sur
geon on the battleship Mississippi
Before Hickey left here last Thursday
night the writer asked him, Are you
after Doc Lavan?"
Hickey seemed a little nonplused.
I What made you shoot that one at me %
| he replied.
Rtcky Praises Lavan.
Later, when Branch warmed up a III.
tie more, he admitted he Intentionally
had been evasive ON Lavan.
Naturally I should be glad to have
Lavan back" he said. There Is a lot
| of sentiment that attaches me to Lavan
| I practically raised him on my baseball
knee. / brought him out at Michigan
while was coaching there and Their
started him of on his big league career
when was manager OF the Browns He
always was very smart little fellow
with real intuition, and had my re-
ward In seeing him develop into one OF
the games best shortstops."
| 1t was after this conversation that the
writer learned from sources which prac-
tically were official that Lavan is the
player who brought Hickey to New York
waiver Trouble Ahead.
There also is a little trouble as &c
whether Lavan could be waived out OF
the American League. With Pratt and
Baker unsigned the Yankees have In
field troubles of their own and could wei
use a player of Johnny's ability. Frank
Navin. president OF the Tigers. had quite
a strenuous argument with DOME Bush
his shortstop. just before the 1918 sea
son closed and DOME says he will moi
go back to Detroit. Bush has no
signed, hence Nav!n also may hold
waivers on him.
The writer also learned yesterday thai
Hickey absolutely Is sincere when he
says that no offers for Hornsby will b,
considered by the st. Louis club
Hornsby is signed and satisfied, anG
Hickey believes he understands Horneb,
and can manage the player He be
lieves that Hornsby soon will be a,
! OF m -.
was Hans Wagner few years ago.