New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-09
Slim Southpaw
|PrefersNicOtine
To the Diamond
sheritf's Farm in Indiana
Proof Against All the
Money Lures of McGraw
By W. ]. Macbeth

by w. j. NldCDeth
Friends of the New York Giants will
be panied to learn that Harry (Sheriff
SLIM Sallee has retired from the game.
This news was conveyed to local head
quarters yesterday afternoon by no less
indisputable authority than John j.
McGraw himself. The vice president
and manager of the New York Nation
ais in vain spent almost an entire day
with the veteran southpaw, but was un-
able to influence the pitcher TO change
his mind about retiring from the pro-
fesslon which earned him independence
Sallee has farm near Higginsport
Ind. McGraw visited him and found
him busy as the proverbial bee pre-
paring for vast agricultural undertake
lngs the coming year. The pitcher in
tends to specialize in tobacco crop.
lie has a farm of 1000 acres and
VIII plant more than half of it in the
nicotine weed
McGraw Argues in Vain
Aailee for some years has specialized
in the theoretical end of the industry
and believes that his personal attention
IS necessary to attain the results con-
templated. In vain McGraw argued
with him to hire the services of an ex-
pert The New York leader was willing
10 pay Sallee top prices as salaries
now go. Slim was obdurate because he
neleves his best business interests en-
brace agricultural pursuits.
Inc lost of Sallee at this time is
real oIow to the pennan't chances of
me d'ants. McGraw can i'll afford to
spare star of Sallee's proved worth.
Outside the pitching department there
Is no National League club with better
pennant prospects than New York.
1t is true that Sallee is a veteran
whose course is almost run, yet he
never appeared to greater ADVANTAGE
than with the Giant champions of 1917,
when he, RUDE Benton and Ferdie
Schupp-the class of National League
portsiders-pit the Polo Grounds
idols to pennant.
:, McGraw was banking on Sallee for
the approaching pennant race. The old
sheriff was particularly deadly against
number of left handed hitting clubs,
such as the Cubs. Braves and Reds. In
Earl Smith, the Rochester phenom, the
Little Napoleon had at last secured a
backstop of real worth, capable of Civ
ing the heady old veteran that support
the lack of which initiated against his
success last season
While Sallee will be lost to the club.
McGraw's case is not ruined as a con-
sequence, however In the West Nc
Graw found that Ferdie Schupp, prac-
tlcally lnvallded all last season, has APP
parently recovered all his oldtime
vigor and strength. A neurotic all
ment which disabled Schupp's pitching
arm has apparently responded fully to
treatment
Schupp Is Confident
Schupp believes he will be as good as
ever he was the coming season Nc
Graw intends to have the young phenom
go slowly in spring training. If Schupp
comes back to his 1917 form Sallee will
not be missed, as would otherwise be
the case.
Even with Sallee missing McGraw
should be much better off than last
year in his one questionable depart
ment-that Of pitchers. Two real crack
Attacks, Southpaw RUDE Benton and
highlander Jess Barnes, will 90 south
with the first fight of Giants Both
season to engage in the pursuits of
war. .Benton's worth is appreciated
locally.
With Boston in 1917 Barnes proved
the "iron man" of the National League
He was one of the most effective right
handlers in his circuit With club of
the driving power of the Giants he
should be next to invincible. McGraw.
however, will need every available iota
of pitching power to Offset the cham
pion Cubs, especially if Grover Cleve~
land Alexander returns to throw in his
weight with jim Vaughn, Shutting Phil
Douglas, Lefty Tyler, Claude Hendrix
and Phil Carter.
The Cincinnati National League
Baseball Club has been reorganized
August Hermann has been retained
in the presidency. Charles J. Chris
tie is vice president, C. J. McDiarmid
secretary and l.. c. Widrig treasurer.
1t appears that the Fleischmann in
terests have been taken over and that
full control has been centralized with
the new officials. This should be a
great Improvement, as one of the
curses of Cincinnati heretofore re-
suited from the office politics of an
unweldy board of directors The re-
tention of Hermann in the presi-
dency of the Reds undoubtedly spells
his ultimate retirement from the
Craftsmanship of the National Com
mission.
Manager John J. McGraw of the
Giants called upon Mr.. Hermann
yesterday. 1t is believed that he ar
ranged for the transfer of First Base
man Hal Chase to New York. though
neither Hermann nor McGraw would
admit the fact. They said they had
discussed both Chase and Daubert,
but that Christy Mathewsons name
had not been mentioned.
Hermann and McGraw both said
they wished to consult their business
partners before making any deal.
Hermann says he will not act with
out the full consent of Pat Moran,
who is to be manager of the Reds in
deed rs well as in name