New-York tribune., 1920-01-04
Perkins Signs
With Athletics
At an Increase
Regarded as Best Catcher u
the American League,
Sought by Rival Clubs
By w. J. Macbeth


Though Connie Mack declares moa
emphatically that he has taken no stspe
"a vet to round up his baseball talenk
for 1920, "The Philadelphia Publk
Ledger" has gone on record to the con.
trary. In yesterdays issue OF thu
paper was displayed the announcement
chat Gather Ralph Perkins, Of the Ath.
letics, a few days ago in conferen.
with Connie at Shibe Park, put bis.
name to a new contract which calls fst
g liberal salary increase.
Mack this winter appears more con.
municative than ever before, and has
stated repeatedly that he hopes to in.
prove the fortunes of his five-time tail.
enders. Perkins is one Of the very.
very few ball players on Comics ros.
ter. At the close of the 1919 season he
was considered one Of the best back.
stops in the American League, which L
particularly strong on receivers. It Is
believed that by the end Of another
campaign Perkins should have no su-
periors in the game.
Practically every rival club in the
American League has been on Connis
Mack's neck for Perkins ever since the
close of last season. 1t is known that
Detroit made a fattering offer-ene Of
the best young outfielders developed IN
MANY years. Ed Barrow, Of the Red
Sox, was sanguine Of landing Perkins
at the time the recent Boston WASH
ington trade was negotiated. lie still
has hopes of success in case Mack for
gets his oath to traffic in no more q
his playing chattels.
Would Fit Well Here
Perkins would fit in we'll with ths
Yankees, who are none too strong. IN
experienced catchers. It is known that
Huggins suggested a trade to Mack at
the time of the annual meeting Of the
American League in this city last
month. Mack, however, disdained to
traffic with the owners Of the Yankees.
who had just put over some hot shot
about Comics cellar champions.
In spite of Mack's optimistic as
surances little remains to enthuse
Quaker City hopes. Mack says he will
take forty players to Lake Charlea
But there are not four really high
class ball players in the lot.
Matters have gone even worse with
the Phillies. Manager Gavvv Cravath
finished the season with q nondescript
crew, but he will start the next with
an even worse if Franklin, Pa, reports
are true. 1t is said that "Mule" Watson,
Infielder Harry Pearse have both signed
to play for the Franklin team in 1920
This is the club to which Scott Perry
Connie Mack's best pitcher, deserted
last year.
The annual meeting Of the Nationa
Commission will be held at Cincinnati
next Thursday. A postponement O
three days was taken at the reques
of President John A. Heydler of tn
National League. The original dat
, set by the peace agreement was to
morrow-the first Monday Of the ney
year.
The commission meeting will preced
: conference between the two majo
league presidents on prospective sohed
ules for 1920. Ban Johnson has alway
had complete charge of arranging th'
dates. Kindred authority has beer
vested with John A. Heydler by til,
National League club owners for tn,
coming season.
Schedule Making Easy
Schedule making is more or less
matter Of routine. Ordinarily thu
schedules rotate. or rather alternate
for four-year periods. Cooperation be-
tween the rival majors had eliminated
Fall conflicting dates before Sunday
baseball came to the State of New
!, York. With three local representatives
In the field on Sundays a new problem
presents itself, which Messrs. HeydIel
and Johnson must adiust
Inere is some hope for baseball IN
BOSTON the coming year, it is said
Such boon would solve the Sunday
problem in the East.
Fred Mitchell, manager Of the Cubs
to-day will leave Boston for Chicago
to busy himself with rounding up hi.
players for the coming season. Mitch
ell winters on his farm near Boston.
Mltcneli forecasts close and excit
ing race among the Reds, Giants. Cub
and Pirates next season. He hsl;eve
Chlcago has an excellent chance to re
peat its pennant triumph of 1918. Thi
hope is based on the assurances ths
george Tyler can contribute his Gus
tomary twenty victories to the Gu
cause. Tyler was of practically no us
last year. He had an arm ailment dag
nosed as neuritis. Mitchell says it wa
discovered that Lefty" had pus sac.
under seYeral-of his molars. The ailin,
teeth have been removed, with the re
suit that Tyler's arm appears as stron,
as ever.
., Word. comes from Indianapolis, wher,
nod Eller is wintering. that Pa
Moran's star right handler has decided
to retire from baseball. 1t is said Ellel
has decided to become a coal generator
1t was reported earlier that Eiler had
demanded liberal increase in salary
Ihls rumor was accepted as part of ths
annual "hoid-out" chatter that develops
every winter.
Columbia Wins From