New-York tribune., 1919-02-04
Hank Robinson
And Bernhardt
Go to Minors
W. d. Ryan, Big Right
Handler, Sends In Signed
Contract to the Giants
By w. J. Macbeth


Yankees, who has about dozen
! young men in excess of the number
for whom he will have room on the
training field at Jacksonville, Fla,
next month, has decided it is time to
WELD the axe. Yesterday he notified
Business Manager Harry Sparrow to
part company with Il couple of pitch
ers who have been on the reserve of
| the New York Americans for some
months. Hank Robinson was turned
back to Little Rock, while Walter
Bernhardt was sent to Rochester, OF
the international League.
Of the two Robinson is the better
known, of course. He created some
stir with the St. Louis Cardinals for
it was on the strength of this show
ing that Higgins rescued him from
Little Rock last July, about The time
minor leagte baseball in general went
up in a shower OF sparks.
The Yankees were sorely tried for
pitchers at the time, but friend Hank
was unable to stop the maulers of
the opposing teams, though lucky
enough to exc out major league eX-
istence till the end of the season.
Robinson never fully recovered from
|
arm while he was with the Cardinals
and Higgins considered him too old
4 q bird with which to experiment fur
| Their, especially as little Miller's pitch
| ing staff just now is the least of his
worries.
Waiter Bernhardt may or may not
! be fine major league prospect. He
| showed plenty of class as a college
pitcher with the University of Penn
hut
be remembered that the college brand
of baseball in 1918 was away below
| par As vet he is an untried quantity
| in profes sonal baseball. Whatever
| latent ability he may possess should be
developed by Arthur Irwins,N the Roch-
ester manager, whose great speciality
is the development of battery men.
Secretary John B. Foster, Of the
| Giants, yesterday received the signed
contract of pitcher W. d. Ryan, who is
| one of the favored thirty-fvc that John
/ ]. McGraw will try to educate at
Gainesville, Fla, this spring. Ryan is
s big right-hander who reported to
McGraw toward the end Of the past
season. He came highly recommended
by Jesse Brukett. Ryan is product
of the Worchester Mass club. Burkett
! thinks him ready for the big show.
President John A. Heydler, of the
National League, is in receipt of a
letter from Al Orth, former National
League umpire, who is overseas with
the Knights of Columbus. Orth's health
is greatly improved and he is in heavy
training for an important umpiraucal
assignment. He has been named as
one of the officials to handle the base
ball games that will feature the mill
tary Olympic games to be held in
Paris in July.
Orth was fortunate enough to see
his wounded son just before the lad
was sent home. Young Orth, who took
conspicuous part in the warm work
Of the Argonne, was shot through the
leg in machine gun fusilladc. He will
not be permanently crippled.
Decision Soon in Chase Case
Heydler, by the way, expects to hand
down his decision in the Hal Chase case
by Thursday, at the latest. Yesterday he
received the stenographic copy of the
charges and defence in full and is now
poring over them.
Messrs. William F. Baker and George
Washington Grant, presidents Of the
Philies and Braves, respectively, called
on Mr.. Heydler yesterday, but were too
busy to fraternize with the hounds of
tne press.
Walter c. Smallwood, big right
handed PITCHER secured by Bill Dono-
van from Savannah a couple of years
ago and farmed out to Newark by him
in 1917, may be with the Yankees on the
spring training trip. Smallwood re.
ported to Huggins at Macon, Ga, last
spring, but within week or ten days
was notified that his number had been
drawn in the draft and left immedi
ately to don the old olive drab. In
the short time he was with Huggins the
big fellow impressed Miller most
favorably.
Smallwood, who is with an artillery
unit of the army of occupation. has
written the Yankee Office that he is
hopeful of returning to the United
States in time to enjoy at least part
of the spring training trip. He be-
lieves the army life has been most
beneficial, as he has gained in weight
and now tips the scales at 1893 pounds,
in the top form of physical condition.