New-York tribune., 1919-02-05
Yanks Insist
Pitcher Quinn
Belongs Here
Reports That White Sox
Plan TO Reopen Case
Make Sparrow Laugh
By w. 7. Macbeth

Business Manager Harry Sparrow of
the New York Americans is having a
good laugh over the reports that have
been sent from Chicago recently to the
effect that Charles A. Comiskey, presi-
dent of the White Sox, has called in
his attorneys with view to carrying
into the civil courts his alleged claims
to the services of Pitcher Jack Quinn.
Nor does he take any more seriously
the allegation that Ban Johnson has
given the Old Roman assurances that
the case will be reopened because of
some new evidence Commy is supposed
to have dug up relative to the closed in.
cident.
And closed the incident is, as Mr..
! Sparrow most emphatically points out.
Quinn last year was a member of the
Vernon club of the Pacific Coast
League. Long before the end of the
curtailed season of that circuit the
management of the Yankees began
negotiations for the services of the
pitcher who broke in with the locals
some ten years ago, under George Stall
ings. The Vernon owners accepted &
price for friend Jack, which was to have
been paid Immediately upon his report
ing to Higgins in New York.
Comiskey Approaches Hermann
Meanwhile Comiskey, who had beer
in touch with August Hermann, chair
man of the National Commission, on the
subject, was assured that he might do
business with the pitcher without con
sulting the Vernon club after the close
of the Pacific Coast League season.
Hermann, of course, was ignorant o.
the fact that New York had negotiated
for the players services with the Vernon
people. He assumed, of course, that
Quinn would be turned loose like other
minor and major league players
through his club exercising the ten
days notice of release privilege.
Quinn, in the meantime, had actually
accepted the terms offered him by New
York, when the Vernon club gave the
Yankees its consent for them to treat
with the pitcher. On the way east to
his home town. While there he was
prevailed upon to sign with the White
Sox and he remained with that club
till the close of the season.
The Yankees, so soon as they heard
that Quinn had signed with the White
SoX, put in claim for his services.
The case was reviewed by the National
Commission, which unanimously award
ed the player to New York. Comiskey
was chagrned, of course. But if he
had any Intention of appealing he
should have done so at the time.
An appeal from a decision of the
National Commission must be submit
ted in writing, with necessary new
evidence, within ten days of finding.
The Quinn case was settled last August
26. 1t is ridiculous to think that either
Comiskey or Johnson, after four long
months, would have the effrontery TO
fiout baseball law.
Scott Perry Case
Mr.. Johnson, of course, flouted base
ball, and especially the jurisdiction of
the National Commission. when he car
rled or countenanced the carrying Of
the Scott Perry case to the civil courts
his haste he has repented in leisure
full many a time since, for Ban has
had many stiff hiding on the matter.
Charles A. Comiskey has usually
stood for law and order 1t was be
: cause of his prejudiced and i'll advised
stand on the Scott Perry case that Ban
johnson alienated the Old Romans
support. Comiskey attacked Johnson
bitterly on the point at the celebrated
Cleveland meeting last summer.
If Comiskey is really serious in at
tempting to have the Quinn case re
opened, you may be sure he has some
ulteror object in view. That he would
tNcl tiiibh oi BOiIB 10 Il civil court %
law seems preposterous. Perhaps he
wishes to force Johnson's hand on an
other matter. You know. so far Ban
has been able to sdestep or whltewash
his Cleveland club for its failure to
keep sacred schedule duties in ST. Louis
last Labor Day. And the case in poins
is a stencil in the nostrils Of organ
| lied baseball.
Yet sometimes it is well tn let sleep
ing dogs lie.
Manager Ed Barrow of the Boston
Red Sox announced yesterday that the
worlds champions had released Catch
er Walter Mayer to the St Louis
Browns. The deal involves a ST. Louis
player as yet unnamed, but supposedly
: a pitcher who promised great things
before he was accidentally injured some
eighteen months ago. If ST. Louis Is
unable to sign and transfer the player
in question, it will give certain
sum in cash for Mayer
: Vice-President and Manager John j.
, McGraw of the Giants expects to set
out fer the middle West today on
an ivory hunt. Mac will visit all his
! players of worth VINO might be ex
pected to balk at salary terms, with
the view of bringing their signed
. contracts back to New York with him.
He expects to be gone no longer than
q week. Among others he will visit
big Fred Toney, whose calling list
, at present does not include all of his
admirers.
u~x DoIs