New Britain herald., 1920-01-08
RUTH DEAL MADE ....
 POSSIBLE BY FEUD
Red SOx Owner Is Now in Position
 to Meet Obligations

New York. Jan. S.-The effect of the l Ruth deal on the American league po- l litical situation is the next interesting phase of his record breaking baseball transaction. There can be little doubt however, that the acquisition of Ruth the games home run king and leading drawing card, strengthens the New York Americans in it's war with Ban Johnson, president of the league. The Tanks will start the 1920 season as one of the leagues leading contenders. with the team that will be the best that means som etF;nss in baseball.
 In fact. it is doubtful if this Ruth deal ever would have been put over were it not for the factional fight now on in the American league. Ruppert and Frazee has said just enough to convince one versed with the facts of the case that outside of other consid- erations tie deal was made to strengthen F'razee's financial position in Boston.
 After announcing the deal last Mon- day. Ruppert said: No, this doesn't mean that Frazee will get out. It means that he will be in the league more than ever before.''
 Euppert would not explain the m eaning of this statenl ent other than
  put Frazee out of the league. but that they will find it exceedingly difficult to do SO now.
 Opposed by Ban Johnson,
 It is, of course, no secret that Ban Johnson has been anxious to get Fra ! zee out of the league. He never liked ] the deal by which the theatrical man got into baseball. in fact he attempted !! to block the transaction before Frazee | could take charge. Joe Lannin sold l the club to Frazee without Johnson's sanction. and the league president was not in the habit of having business done that way.
 Early in the winter there were re- ports that F'razee had lot paid Linnin for some notes which he had given at the time that he purchased the club in 1917 and that Lannin might again take over the Boston franchise. That strong pressure was being brought on Frazee to sell out no one acquainted with the situation could doubt. By dispoSing of Ruth to the Yankees for $125,oOO F'razee was in a position to meet his obligations and to present a front than at any time since he has taken hold of Boston.
 While there may have been no de- sire to strengthen the Yankees so that New York would beat out any special com petitor, still human nature is such that the three club owners 1eagued 1 against Johnson-Ruppert, Comiskey and Huston-Uould rather see any club win the pennant than Cleveland. a club which is alleged to be controlled by Johnson.
 Despite the fact that the White SoX are American league champions. up to the time that the Yankees got Ruth Cleveland was the favorite for the American league hampionship next season. The Indians played the best ball in the league last season, and had the race been one of 154 gam es instead of 140, Cleveland probably would have overta1en Chicago. New York now looms up as Cleveland's most dan- gerous rival.
 Yankees Back in Jacksonville.
 Col. Ruppert had a long distance telephone conversation with Harry Sparrow, business manager of the club, in Jacksonville yesterday in which Sparrow announced that he had signed an agreement with the Jack sonVille Cham Der of Commerce for the Yankees and the Brooklyn Superbas to return to Jacksonville for their train ing next spring. The Chamber of Commerce will arrange a schedule of games between the two teams
 It might be said now that the hitch which a few weeks agO made the Yan- kees and Dodgers contemplate chang : ing their training camp was due to the fact that Jacksonville for time balk- cd at the guarantee that was asked by the Greater New York clubs. But with Ruth a member of the Yankees it was easy for Sparrow to get what he wanted.