New-York tribune., 1920-01-18
g Positions
May Be Played
By Babe Rutl,
Slusger Is Likely to Pitch
and Play at First Base and
in the Outfield
By w. J. Macbeth

Miller uuESStuS, NuaIdSeF OIL lne
Yankees. who went to the Coast a
couple of weeks ago to line up "Babe"
Ruth for 1920, is expected back on the
;ob tomorrow. The wee one intends
70 take charge of the local office, until
after the big Chicago meetings st
least. Business Manager Harry Spar
rows health was somewhat impaired
under the strain of the 1919 campaign,
and he is recuperating at the Dover
Hall Club, after having arranged for
the spring training of the team and the
Journey northward in company of the
Brooklyn Dodgers.
Huggins's arrival is eagerly awaited,
as there are good many discrepancies
relative to the Ruth status still COM
inc out of the war West. Others are
being circulated in Boston by John
Iroe, self advertised business manager
Of the Home Run King Igoe. by the
way, is said to have been an attendant
at Fenway Park, Boston. until he bios
somed out as manager a couple of
wears ago. He was travelling repre-,
sentative for the wife of Dutch" Leon
ard. a we'll known dancer.
When last in town Miller Huggins
announced he had several gigantic
deals in prospect. The biggest Of these,
of course, was the one that brought
Babe Ruth to the Polo Grounds. But
it is known that Higgins is bent upon
getting one more seasoned catcher to
work with Muddy" Ruel and TRUCK"
Hannah. and that he is also desirous
of snaring an outfielder. He realizes
that Ne has to add speed to his aggrc-
CATION.
His visit to the Coast should have
given Higgins an opportunity to Sc.
cure fair line on the abilities of
Meusel, who is headed the way of the
Yankees very highly indorsed by Cal
ifornia fans.
Expect Trouble With Babe
Until Higgins returns it will not be
known whether Babe Ruth may be
amenable to the scheme Of doubling"
as pitcher aud outfielder. IL Ruth can
be prevailed upon to take his regular
turn III the box The Yankees will pos
sess three of the most capable south
paws IN the big show.
I'D Harrow admits that Ruth last
year pitched only under protest, and
that he did not put his heart in his
box work. When affable to the duty
Ruth is perhaps the greatest living
southpaw- He is still only kid, at
the very height of his athletic career,
and should be able as a southpaw to
account for thirty games at least with
team possessed of such a punch as
will now be packed by the Yankees.
The possibilities OF Ruths career in
New York are unlimited. He might
very easily be made even greater
drawing card than he is. Even George
sisler is not more versatile. Ruth is
a wonderful first baseman He hits
southpaw pitching quite IS readily as
the right handed brand. Wallv Pipp.
or The other hand. is usually hand
cuffed by gocd portsiders. If Huggins
happens - have few spare outfeld-
ers, or even a fair one, who bats
rignthanded. he could easily employ
Ruth at first against south pow talent
That would further display the versa
,ility Of Ruth.
Notoriety is the breath of Ruth's
noStrils. Il Higgins can only manipu-
late the strings properly Babe Ruth
VIII attract crowd of holiday proper
lions every day.
Writers Are Stirred Up
Writers in the cities of the middle
Vest are devoting columns and col
umns of precious space pooh pooling
the Ruth deal. Incidentally our two
oaltllng colonels and Fra7 a are put
on the pan. They are aousc. ne and
all lor toieratlng an attempted hold-up
on the part Of Ruth CT the Boston
Red Sox
Memories, after ali, are shortlived
things when it is policy to forget. Last
week Connie Mack announced that he
had signed Pitcher Scott Perry for
1920 1t was an innocent enough an
nouncement on its face, but refresh
ing memory bit, it puts Mr.. Mack
Ioionels Rupert and Huston when
they purchased Carl Mays from Harry
Frazee.
Ihe great objection raised by Connie
Mack against New York's legal action
nat annulled Mays's suspension by
ban Johnson was that because of his
oesertion Of the Boston Red Sox Mays
was guilty of breach of discipline
that called for drastic punishment.
Inc ofTense of Carl Mays consisted only
~ leaving his club without permission,
because, as it transpired later, he had
oeen seriously injured by a thrown
esii- Nays explanation to his en-
pioyers were so satisfactory that he
aever was suspended. His character
sard was as clean as whistle when
Frazer sold him to the Yankees. 1t
vas three days after said sale that Ban
sonnson announced he had suspended
Nays Indefinitely.
Now as TO Scott Perry. He not only
ae:srsed the Athletics in mid season of
isls' but went to Franklin, Pa, where
Nc played semi professional baseball.
resry was suspended by Connie Mack,
sho at the time and since threatened
aie punishment. But so far as has
eyer been made public Mr.. Mack did
ae' 70 through the formaiity Of having
rsrry whitewashcd by the National
commission before he signed him to a
contract for the coming season. Then
my make fan OF Carl Mays and fowl
Scott Perry?
mack very blandly announces that
a 81 Plans to use Joe Dugan at second
Dase the coming season. Dugan, like
srry, jumped the Athletics during the
Ssonfsc OF their trials and tribulat:ons
:aaI summer. Dugan not only jumped
a'e contract, but served an ultimatum
"a Aack last December that he would
49,. sss 70 pe sold or traded to some other
,ao. II 10 not known whether Du9an
~ -. ~ yet signed with Connie for 1920.
"at asck himself makes the announce
ash, mat he ig surc Of reelaiming the
'esaleitrant player.
<o.t Perry and Joe Uugan both
s1sc more csievonsiy against the
rasss Of organized baseball than did
safi Mays. Perry, like the prodigal
SSst mas boon reeusv.d with rrnr -. q