New-York tribune., 1919-03-20

1t would seem Scout Kelley. did not
order to point out to hlm the error
efforts of Colonels Rupert and Hu
the National League had some inf1u
OF course the signing of Pratt does
not necessarily mean that he will be
seen guarding the keystone sack at
the Polo Grounds, for he will have to
show Miller Higgins that he is bet
ter man than Wilson Fcwstcr before
he can be assured of his old post.
There, are now only two hangers
back rs far as the Yanks are con-
ccrned, George Shore and Dutch
Leonard, the two pitchers who were
secured in trade from the Red Sox.
Gigantic Trade Brewing
gigantic trade is brewing in the
American League, one which at last is
likely to give the rcdoubtable Walter
johnson an opportunity to display his
prowess in baseball's greatest classic y
the worlds championship series. With
In another ortyeight hours the Idaho
cannon ball is likely to be member
OF the worlds champion Boston Red
SoX. He is to move north in trade
tor that superman of the profession,
Babe Ruth-that is, if he moves at all
according to source of information
winch appears unusually close to both
the. Boston and Washington clubs.
Harry II. Frazee, president of the
Boston American League club, was
asked point blank yesterday afternoon
II he were considering a trade involv-
ing Ruth.
"Yes, he is on the market" Frazee
that | would not sell or trade PRO
vided, of course, the proposition pre-
sented appealed to me as holding out
personal advantage. | do not mean
by this that | would sell Ruth. Nobody
could afford to offer me his value as
an asset in cash. But to trade him ?
Yes, I'll trade Ruth if | can get what
want.
81 certainly would not be foolish
enough to trade him to any club that
would have a chance to turn around
with him and beat us out of the cham
pionship, however," Frazee concluded.
Are you in negotiation with Clark
Griffith in reference to any possible
disposition of Babe Ruth ?" Frazee was
asked.
Frazee Not Talkative
cuss the subject" the Battler corrected
himself. Nothing definite has devel-
oped yet | assure you. Something may
drop, | admit, inside the next couple
OF days. am not worrying over Ruth,
| can tell you. If any worrying is to
be done, let him do it,
1t developed that Ruth called at the
headquarters of the Red Sox in Boston
on Tuesday to inquire if Frazee was
to accompany the team to Tampa.
Frazee is not SO optimistic as to inter
pret this is sign of Babes weakening.
But he would not be at all surprised to
learn any. day that the pitcher, out
helder and slugger had lit out to the
land of sunshine to present his. griev-
ances to Ed Barrow. Ruth would be
welcomed, t.razee maintains, only in
the event that he presented himself
willing to accept the last offer of the
club. Under. no circumstances would
there be a compromise
Frazee absolutely. refused to discuss
further the alleged prospective swap
of Ruth for Johnson. 1t is not be-
lieved, however, that the Boston mag
nate would be ready to trade even up
Great as he is, johnson is no greater
gate attraction than the disgruntled
Ruth. And Babe. who can play the out
field and slug a la Cobb, is Just hitting
the high speed, while the mighty Wal
ter is getting along in years. Ruth
has the best of his career before him;
Johnson undoubtedly has passed the
crest.
A few years ago the mere mention
of letting johnson go would have
pulled the Capitol down about the ears
Of the Washington owners. Johnson is
still popular-pretty much the whole
Washington team, as a matter of fact.
But fandom is tickle, and there is no
vryhv ehn l. Il
to switch it's hero worship to the
younger man, who divided the lime
light with Ty Cobb last season Ruth.
moreover, is a Baltimore product, and
therefore exceptionally close to the
heart of that particular district
1t must not be forgotten, too, that
the trade talk in question may pos
sibly have been distilled adroitly as
propaganda to make the illustrious
parties reflect 1t requires no stretch
Of the imagination to picture the
tumble involved for Babe in case he
should be passed along to the Senator'S.
Little to Choose
Between the two illustrious pitchers
there would be little to choose in
salary. Walter Johnson cultivated ex-
the American League coaxed him back
after he had hoped to the Federa1s
a few years ago. Walter returned to
Washington at salary reported to
be $4,000 year. but which was in
reality sl6,5oo, under long term,
ironclad contract. Wonderful as he
was as a pitcher, to a city the size
of Washington he proved luxury at
the price. The best of pitchers can
take part in only some quarter of the
games played; the Cobbs and the
Ruths are out there drawing the
shekels every afternoon.
At $3.50 o'clock tonight at the Penn
sylvania Station some dozen baseball
players and near Giants-will
make the big getaway for the spring
training camp of the New York Ma
tionals at Gainesville, Fla. These noble
athletes, mothered by Traffic Manager
John B. Foster and supported by
retinue Of newspapermen and Giant
admirers, hope to join Manager Nc
Graw and his advance guard at the
Central Florida base some time late
Sunday afternoon.
The pilgrims will not have the pleas
ure Of McGraw's company The Little
Napoleon and Matty lit out more than
a day in advance to put the Gaines
vile reception committee through its
ri