New-York tribune., 1919-12-31
Yankees Still
Expect to Get
Roth i'm Trade
Griffith Is Casting Covetous
Eyes on Local Pitchers
and May Consider Barter
BY w. ]. Macbeth

l"ceH tlle DOStOn ttSu COX ana thc
Washington team had local baseball
circles all agog yesterday. None would
!! hazard guess as to which of the two
magnets had proved the David Harum
of the swap. 1t is the general belief
that the trade was about a stand of
as both clubs would probably benefit
A few of the grandstand managers
who are on the calling list of the
| Yankees seemed somewhat disappointed
that the New York Americans did not
gain title 70 Outfelder Bobby Roth.
formerly of the White Sox, Athletics
and Indians. The opinion prevailed that
this sterling gardener would be aligned
with the Huggins brigade before the
team left for the South.
However, his passing to Washington
need not necessarily put Roth beyond
the reach of Huggins. If New York
really desires Roth 1t can obtain the
outtielder by giving up the price at
which Griffith is likely to appraisc
Bobby now. Griffith had long cast a
covetous eye on certain of Huggins's
pitchers even before he sent Southpaw
Harry Harper to the Hub. If Huggins
is prepared to part with certain of his
mound men who figured as excess bag
gage last season there is little doubt
he can corral Roth easily enough.
Roth, by the way, has had q varied
experience since he broke INTO fast
company with the Chicago White Sox.
lie has played successlvely in Clevc-
land. Philadelphia and Boston within
the last three years. and now he goes
to Washington. If he should land in
New York eventually he viii have made
SIX of the eight American League cities
in record time.
Senator'S Stand Doubtful
Certain dyedi the-wool Gotham
1ans see in the Boston Washington
trade nope of definite action toward
the settlement Of the American League
war. They interpret it as evidence
of crumblng of Johnson's supnort in
a city that has been somewhat doubt
ful all along. Heretofore, none of the
loyal five would hold any communion
with the revolutionary faction, what
ever
Manager Ed Barrow of the Boston
ked Sox is delighted with the transfer
OF Roth and Shannon for Harper,
Menosky and Foster. Roth is tenn
peramental player who didn't fit IN well
with a club that boasted such an over
shadowing outfield hero as Babe Rnfb
proved himself to be. Despite all the
interviews credited to Ruth it is q
moral certainty the big Babe will be
IN there regularly next season irving
the outheld BARRIERS
Il know Roth is a great outticlder.' -
sald Barrow yesterday, but so isMeno~
SKY. Mike is youngster who should
dcveiop last. He is good player now:
ne should be star Of the first rank
"'thln couple of years. Eddie Foster
nas oeen IN the big show ten wears.
should he at his best for several ycars,
yet to come. IN Harper | landed the
ss,outhpaw have been after ever since
Babe Ruth forsook the box.
really don't know how good Harper
performed against other American
League clubs last season. Thev tell
me he had an off year. But against ou,.
req Sox ne always looked like million
uoilars NO southpaw gave us more
trouble ! am sure be will win MANY
games for Boston in 1920. Anyhow. we
llave secured from Washington the
pitcher that always gave us most
trouble when opposed to the Senators
not even the great Walter johnson ex,
cep'eo, mat, IN Itself, strikes me as
pretty good stroke"
Seven Yankees in Fold
Business Manager Harry Snaryo,v
VINO still expects to start for TIor;d.
tomorrow, has mailed cut thirty
one o., contracts for the season of 1890
me Yankee roster just now jncludas
tnlfty eight players. but seven of fba
players were already under contract
Inc veterans Of the inield. with Tho
exception of Home Run" Baker are
intact. Plpp, Pratt and Peckinpaugh
Sre stlll serving term contracts that
90 not expire until the end of 1920
Il
pltchers-are also bound by unexpired
term contracts. Muddy" Ruel, the
catcher, signed for 1920 before leavinq
LOT MS home at the close of the 1ast
playing season '''0 i'0 T.
1T will readily be seen from the fore
gong that Manager Miller Huggins Is
III petter position than any other bio
league Cup at this early time in the
matter of 1920 eligibies. He IS aeeurnd ra,J
of an experienced pitch;ne - 80 afsuneo aeo
OF the best catchers of the leag,,a s'lS
an lnfield. With the nucleus Of his
ciup signed, Ruggins should be in .
sood position to "argify" with the Sow
eral annual hold outs" as thew do
velop. ''eS uc-
Inc Yankees. by the way. are likely
20 20 spring battery oil the same name
~ Two ROCKIES hang on long enough
~ ~ sT. III 'he eXhlbltlon games against
the Dodgers. These are the Nurnhv w
Dan, d catcher from Taftsville, Pa
ana Chester, pitcher from the Can,
adan League S"''-
Chester, by the way is pretty good
Ior kld-pretty good with the old
olarney; anyhow. Though he is not
yet under contract he handed Harry
sparrow touch" letter that pried
',f the club loose from $3.50 advance
IKE the rasp of the fable. always has
peer @6een supposed to be TO take" Others.
lhls Chester Murphy, who is wintering
at Portland, Ore, earned cuite repu7
tatlon with the Winn' eg team last
season He is highly recommended by
Bob Connery.