The Washington times., 1920-01-25

liant as ever; but MS decision 10 II
4 with a shock to most fans around
would not quit until his batting eye
Gandil went TO California immedi-
ately after the defeat OF the White
Sox by the Cincinnati Reds last fall.
Ugly stories that mentioned liked
games" were heard and Gandifs name
was mentioned in some of them. He
streuuously denied these stories,
threatening to beat up anybody VINO
spread them. However, no founda-
tions were ever found for the stories,
80 Chick won't have to come East and
deliver any beatings.
While on the coast Gandil was ap-
preached regarding his becoming
manager of the Seattle club of the
Pacific Coast League. He looked
over the the situation and, deciding TO
tal-| crack at it, wrote to Charlie
G akey, asking for his release in
order to take the berth. This permits
sion was refused by the Old Roman.
Sorry To Lose Chance.
81 am very sorry that Mr.. Comiskey
would not let me go to the Seattle
club" Candil wrote to friends in Chi
cago. II believe ] was due a little
better consideration. as 1 have been
after him for the last two years to
let me go to some club out here"
Gandil is not holding out for higher
salary. He does not wish to be placed
among those threatening retirement
in order to get more money. Here's
a part of his letter to Chicago friends:
Ever since the day / broke into
baseball my folks have been after me
TO stay out here near them. OF course
they didn't know the rules of ba seball
and for that reason / had hard time
explaining. But now, as they are
getting old, I think ii Is my duty to
grant them their wish and ! am most
sincere when I say that my baseball
days in the East are over.
II would just as soon play for Com
iskey as any one. and, in fact, would
rather play for him than any one else.
But ] am through and / will play in
the Coast League IL he will let me.
but the whole thing rests with
Comiskey and IL il with him IL /
play in Nthe Coast League or in the
wlds of Idaho"
viii Weaken Champions.
The retirement of Gandil will
weaken the champions for the com
ing campaign, for the veteran was
steady as a rock in the field, leading
tial sack. He Is a good team player
and what is known as a money
player" that is, one who fights for
everything all the time, and little
more so when the going is rough.
without Gandil that smooth work
ing White Sox infield is likely to look
a bit lumpy, for Jourdan does not be-
gin to compare with Chick. However,
Jourdan is not a weakling. Last sea-
A. ~ I.,lH @
but began killing the ball, and closed
the campaign with a mark Of 1902.
He crashed out 15S hits for total Of
221 bases, sacrificed 13 times, stole II
bases, drew 45 free tickets and famed
IS times.
IF Jourdan succeeds Gandil with
the White Sox the champions will
surely miss the veterans fielding.
Gandl made but three errors last
year in 115 games. Jourdan, in Min
neapolis, made thirty-two miscues in
1tS contests, which shows him no.
where near Gandil as a fielder.
May Tighten Big Race.
The American League race may be
frightened. though, to have the cham
pions lose their star first baseman.
Despite the good playing in streaks
by the Tigers and Indians. the stead
mess OF the White Sox all down the
line from the beginning to end land
cd the pennant in Chicago. With the
1919 lineup intact, the white Sox
would be of necessity be favorites
10 repeat Even the Braves of 1914.
after being tslenders in July and
worlds champions in October, were
they entered the race with the
money on their backs.
If the white Sox are weakened to
the extent OF losing Gandil, at least
three clubs will be punched for the
fans money before the flag goes up
chicago, Cleveland and Detroit. These
are the only clubs with hackers in
other cities but their own
Now York writers, cheercd by the
acquisition of Babe Ruth, are fgur-
ing on the Yankees as possible win
ners, but nowhere else do the scribes
Of the game pick the Ysnks. Atleast
one St Louis writer picks the Brown
les to make night for the flag. but
he, too, stands alone on the windy
peak of prominence.
Grins Not Mentioned
among the clubs without hackers
FOR the 1920 pennsnt are the Wash.
ington Griffmen. Not even a Wash
iugton writer dares to name them as
prospective champions, probably re-
calling the bitter, bitter past In.
deed, most Washington fans will be
satisfied TO have the team play good
hail and battle for first division
berth.
Bostonians are giving Hsrry
Frazco the razz for selling Babe Ruth
and not trading him, IL Ruth had TO
20. Baseball fans everywhere know
tho wcIlnigh impossibility OF buying
good players, therefore there is small
hope in thr Hub that the Red Sox,