New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-05
Ruppert Happy
Over Prospects
OF the Yankees
President of New York
Club Counts Heavily on
the Deal With Red Sox
BY JACOB RUPERT
President of New York Yankees


1t is my opinion that the new year
opens with a bright outlook for base
ball, al outlook more promising IN
every respect than any previous year
since | have been identified with the
game as 8 club owner. II is fresh in
the minds of US all that the sport was
just emerging from the adverse condi-
tons created by the Federal League
episode, and was regaining its hold on
public favor with every indication OF
entering upon an era OF unprecedented
popularity and prosperity at the time
when our country entered the world
war.
Baseball along with many other lines
of our accustomed activities then had
TO shoulder its share OF sponSibiAties
and make its sacrifices; which il did,
cheerfully. Up to the time Of the sign
ing of the armistice terms, only few
weeks ago, It would have been difficult
to make g prediction as to the future
OF the game. Almost overnight the SIT
ustioa changed. To-day public inter
est in the great game is keenly awake
1t ls evident on all hands that the
fans are eagerly following the news
Of the reconstruction of the several
clubs and are enthusiastically WELDON
ing the advent OF another season und,r
peace conditions 1t is 10 meet the
expectations of this reawakened inter
est that have been more than anxious
TO present to the New York public =
club that Will need no apologies from
loyal Yankee supporters.
feel that ! am warranted in taking
an optimistic view of the clubs pros
poets for the approaching season.
has been my wish and purpose 70 give
the American League q winning club
in New York; one commensurate witn
our city's Importance in the cireU'.
With this end in view we secured,
manager, the services of Mr.. Huggius.
in whose baseball knowledge. Sound
judgment and managerial ability
have the utmost confidence.
Free Hand for Higgins
In facing the problems of rounding
out and Strengthening the club it $
Manager Huggins's intention to obtain
these essential results by building OF
the foundation of made players; and
am giving him a free hand to proceed
along these lines.
1t was apparent at the close OF last
season that if the Yankees were TO
figure at all IN the next championship
race the clubs pitching staff and out
field would have to be radically &c
constructed. The purchase of Pitcher
Pete Schneider from Cincinnati, early
in December, was the first move
Manager Higgins made toward the az
compishment of this objective. and thu
was soon followed by the deal with
the Boston American League club,
whereby for Caldwell, Love, Walter
and Gilhooley New York secured
Leonard, Shore and Lewis.
BY these two moves three veteran
r. uara .dEa1 n Tho Xacirsor7
stsff-Schneider, Leonard and Shore.
who with Shawkey, Mogridge anc
Thormahlen, will give the club for
midable array of pitching talent and
insure a degree of dependability in
the clubs pitching department which
it has glaringly lacked in the past.
BY the acquisition of Lewis the club
secures the services of one of the mos
brilliant outfielders in the game, who
therefore prove valuable asset 10
tcJh the defensive and offensive
strength of the club
The players who were released II
order to consummate the recent desl
could well be spared without weaken
ing any one position. In Hannah.
Ruel and Baldwin we are well fortified
as to catehers: our infeld We believe
to be as strong as any in the league;
our pitching staff has now been
rounded out; our outfield has beer
reasurably improved already through
the Boston deal. and il Is Manage
Huggins's expectation that by the close
of the training season he will Aave
further strengthened it by the add
Ion Of at least one more seasoned
player Of established reputation. SO
that in It's final lineup for the cham
pionship season ne hopes 70 have a.
ideally balanced club that should
place New York in the front rank O.
the contenders for the Americsu
League 1919 pennsnt