New-York tribune., 1920-01-08
|Huggiins Faces
An Easier Task
Than Last Year
Acquisition of Ruth Will
Doubtless Make Other
Yankees Rush Into Fold
By w. ]. Macbeth

The acquisition Of "Babe' Ruth by
Colonels Kuppert and Huston should
greatly simplify the manage gerial cares
! Of Midget Manager Miller Higgins,
who is hurrying back from the Pacific
Coast to take charge Of the Yankee
Offices.
When the season of 1919 closed
Higgins was confronted with a real
dilemma. ]. Franklin Baker and Duffy
Lewis, two of the most reliable slug
gers Of the local American Leaguers,
bulwarks respectively Of the infield
and outfie1d, had both served notice
that they would return to the pastime
no more.
"Home Run" Baker is one Of those
perennial hold-outs, of course, but even
his closest friends believed he finally
was serious in his desire to retire to
tho Maryland farm. Duffy Lewis had
intended to go into the automobile
accessories business in California.
During his recent trip to the Coast
Huggins got in touch both with Lewis
and Meusel, star recruit from Yer
non, and it is understood received the
assurance Of both that they would be
Florida. 1t is likely that Higgins will
visit Trappe, Md, shortly after his re-
turn in order to discover Bakers senti-
ments, now that the big bludgeon of
Ruth has been added to the Yankee
attack.
Some sentiment in baseball may re-
main both to players and magnates,
but on both sides the commercial ap-
peal has been highly developed 1t
doesn't take ball player long to figure
out just what significance the addition
4 nf a n1ouor Of p,,%h
even to mediocre outfit. And the
Yankees we're far from mediocre even
at their very worst last year. 1t is
likely, therefore, that all of the Yam
A KEGS will appreciate the pennant posi-
bilities for 1920 and act accordingly.
The winners share of a worlds series
OF the nine game length runs far more
than an average seasons salary for a
pretty good player. Few athletes
would likely object to playing in the
most popular city of the big leagues
if reasonably sure of the fame and
fortune awaiting in the big champion
ship.
The profession of baseball. as all
other professions, has it's professional
Jealousies. But, strangely enough, the
rule does not seem to apply to Ruth
The professional ballplayers look upon
the Babe as great master of his art.
They do not envy him big salary.
They admit he deserves the bigges st
salary in baseball. Ruth's unprece-
dented purchase price, therefore, is not
likely to prompt a general desire to
hold out in the ranks of the Yankees.
but rather to arouse even greater ap-
probation of the generosity of the
owners in trying to give the city an
American League champion.
Since the Ruth deal was announced
there have been many rumors of other
sensational purchases by the Yankee
owners. Intimations have been made
that Walter johnson may be seen at
the Polo Grounds in 1920. Scotty
Perry, the disgruntled pitcher of Con-
ME Mack, is another speculation.
1t Miller Huggins is not satisfied
with his present pitching staff he must
oe hard to satisfy. He has the best
pitching staff in the major leagues
1t is up to him to get the proper re-
suits with what he has at hand The
i team is weak - or at least none too
strong-behind the bat and in one out
field position. And it could stand a
whole lot more speed generally. Play
ers suggested as possible material of
barter happen to be the only young
sters possessed of a turn of speed
fellows like Fewster and Wick. 1t would
be sad, indeed, if Higgins further
slowed UP his aggregation to bolster
q department that already is so strong
Hugglns does not appear able to work
half of his pitching candidates half
often enough,