New-York tribune., 1920-01-17
Baseball Deals
Promise to Set
A New Record
Moran of Reds and Mitchell
of Cubs Only Leaders to
Stand Pat in the Majors
By w. I. Macbeth

IL IIlC CuIIcHL Ou-SSdSOu runs tIuS
to form the big baseball conference
in Chicago next month should develop
record for activity in the player
market. To date since the close Of
the 1919 campaign only two deals of
consequence have transpired. in both
of which the Boston Red Sox figured.
An off season is usually good for any
where from half dozen to two dozen
purchases or trades, and never before
in the history of the game have so
many managers in both major leagues
desired so much to make changes, il
they are serious in their declarations.
Pat Moran, of the worlds cham
pion Cincinnati Reds, and Fred
Mitchell, of the Chicago Cubs, have
announced that they intend to stand
pat. Every other team leader in the
big show has advertised extensively
purpose to shake up his forces and,
add that spice of new blood necessary
to restore the fans faith in pennant
possibilities.
Gleason Needs Pitchers
Kid Gleason, Of the White Sox. needs
several new pitchers. So does Detroit.
The Cleveland Indians must land a
couple of competent left-handers if
Higgins needs at least one catcher and
an outfelder. Jimmy Burke, of the
Browns, finds several veterans on the
toboggan and must get new blood.
McGraw's veteran infield has split wide
open. George Gibson needs ono or
two old hands to steady his Pirate
kids. The Dodgers, Cards and a host
of others two numerous to mention
need new teams. And SO it goes.
The ANIMAL ynanfirn of 1o pooFop
leagues each December, as rule, un-
cover number of important sales or
trades. None whatever transpired
last month. Perhaps the fight in the
American League was directly re-
sponsible. The magnates had settled
down for a week of gabfest when the
pow-wow of the johnson circuit broke
up in big row.
The National League, which has
counted upon joint conference to
straighten out number of minor mat
ters, was directly affected by this
American League "run-out." The Ma
tional League was forced to adjourn
before it had finished half its con-
templated business and before the
, rivals on trades.
around this winter to keep the Ma
tional League pot boiling. Except for
a few days around the time of the
annual meeting McGraw has been in
Cuba since November. Rival clubs
are i'll the habit of keeping a. weather
eye on the Giants; as a rule Mac has
to set the fashion in trades when
there is National League trading.
Few deals of importance are con-
cluded by long distance negotiations.
Trades or purchases are effected on
! the spur of the moment from personal
contact. Wherefore if half the
changes promised are to be made that
| Chicago conference should prove
busy bargain counter. To begin with.
practically every magnate of conse-
quence will be there. The minor
leagues are anxious to reestablish a
working agreement with the majors.
All the lights of the sticks, therefore,
should be in the windy city on sched-
uled time.
Case of Action
1t is a case of action at the Chicago
meeting or never at all this spring.
This big meeting comes on the eve Of
the departure of the teams for spring
training. The attendance of the
minor luminaries should enable major
league managers to make arrange
ments for the disposition of excess
baggage and clear the decks for per-
scnal contact with rivals in real
business way.
The Babe Ruth purchase to date has
overshadowed everything that has
transpired in baseball for a decade. In
its shadow the swap of Bobby Roth and
SI Shannon for Harry Harper, Eddie
FOSTER and Mike Menoskey is already
lost. Friends of McGraw declare he
will not rest satisfied until he puts
over something calculated to. match as
far as possible the coming of Ruth to
the Yankees. Even Squire Ebbets
threatens something sensational to
keep his borough in the limelight.
Though the Cubs will not start for
Pasadena, Calf, until the end of Feb
ruary, the veteran outfielder Dode
,Paskert is already in training. Pas
kert is playing baseball on the ice with
Toledo team. This winter sport has
been more or less popular in the cities
OF the Great Lakes for the past ten
years.