New-York tribune., 1920-01-23

dtIltuOe OH tne contemplated pure
Colonels Ripper. and Huston at tn
Ruth told me to assure the owners
of the Yankees and the New York pub
lie that he was delighted with the pros
pect Of playing regularly in New York,
which he considers the best and fairest
city Of the big leagues. He seems con-
ident that, with the short right field
fence Of the Polo Grounds as a target,
he can establish a new home run record
in 1920 never before dreamed Of since
organized baseball reached the stage
of steel and concrete edifces," said
Huggins.
ing to terms with Ruth" the wee
manager Of the Yankees continued.
"Reports from the Coast which l have
seen were only partially correct. In
The first place it was unnecessary for
me to sign Babe. When New York pur-
chased him it assumed a term contract
negotiated by the Boston club. This
contract has still two years of life.
AS to Bonuses
II was authorized to assure Ruth
that with New York, provided he con-
'tinued the great drawing card he was
in 1919, he could add greatly to the
emoluments specified in the contract.
He was in no wise unreasonable as to
the bonuses he expects to command by
faithful service. l experienced no
trouble whatever, for found Ruth one
of the most fair-minded players l had
ever encountered"
Higgins declared that it was his in
tention to play Ruth in the outfeld,
either in left or right field. The Babe
may be assigned the left or "sun"
field, where he would have more sea
room, should Duffy Lewis make good
an earlier threat to retire. Huggins
does not appear to think such small
luminary as the sun could in any way
affect the eagle orbs of the greatest
clouter of them all. =
The Miller, by the way, seems about
as vague-or at least reticent-in his
plans for the 1920 campaign as he was
before he set out West to put the fin
ishing touches on the Ruth purchase.
While in California he busted himself
only with Ruth. He did not see Duffy
Lewis, nor Bob Meusel, Coast League
prospect upon whom he is banking
heavily.
Everybody on the Coast says Meusel
will make good sure" said Higgins.
They had stopped playing ball before
I got there, so | did not see him in
action. He is right-handed hitter.
In post series game at Los Angeles
Meusel hit ball into the right center
field bleachers nearly to the same spot
where Babe Ruth earlier planted one
OF his famous homers.
- "Meusel is a tremendous big fellow"
declared Huggins, "a long striding ath-
. iete who is much speedier than he
seems. They tell me he covers a world
of ground. He is no wonder on the
base lines, but it is his speed in the
field over which I am concerned
am figuring him as an outfield posi-
biity, of course"
Counts on Baker
From his conversation it is reason
able to believe that Higgins expects
both Duffy Lewis and j. Franklin Baker
et the Jacksonville, Fla, training camp
Until it is definitely established that
either or both have passed out of the
review the prospective lineup of 1920
must continue to be clouded more or
less in doubt. Right now Ruth is the
only one sure of a definite position.
He will hit fourth in the order.
trades in contemplation He hopes
to come away from the meeting in Chi
cago next month with at least one more
experienced outfelder and veteran
catcher. He admitted that either Roth.
OF the Senators, or Tobin, of the
Browns, would suit him if the terms
were right: He declared emphatically.
however, that he never had considered
catcher Wally Schang, of the Red Sox.
land new outfelder of class, Manager
Hugg1ns Is banking heavily on the nat
Gral talent Of Bill Fewster for picket
: duty.
"Fewster," he admitted, will soon
develop into one of the very greatest
center Aeldera of all time. When |
say this l am not forgetting Iris
speaker, Hap Felsh, Dode Paskert and
1ommy Leach. They were the four
oest ever saw. But Bill Fewster is
quite as remarkable an infelder, and
II Is impossible to tell just now where
he can best be fitted in
IT'S mighty tough sledding,"' Hug
gina concluded, ''to interest rival clubs
In any sort Of proposition. Money
can tempt no one. Each owner is try
ing to corner the market rather than
take chances on selling or trading
any one Of worth. The great success Of
1919 from a financial standpoint has
every club owner simply crazy for q
pannant contender. The player market
tightens every day"
HuggMs Is not averse to showing
Babe" Ruth through the sticks Of the
south. and will advise Business Manager
Sparrow to stretch out the Joint tou,
OF the Yankees and Dodgers, If possible
Before he got Ruth, Higgins had re
quested Sparrow to move the team,
back from Jacksonville, with only fiv,
stops between that city and BROOKLYN
Huggins now would not object to ter
or dozen games on the way, and i,
is not likely Brooklyn would object, az
II would mean double the money fo,
Squire Ebbets.
Whether such a change would b,
possible at this late date Higgins i,
not In a position to know. He is un
familiar with the assurances of Spar
row as TO the length Of his clubs sta,
in jacksonville. The extra games will
be added, no doubt, if it Is possible
for the Yankees and Dodgers to qui
their spring camp early enough.