Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-24
TRADE
DENIED BY BAKER
Shortstop Must First Apply to
PhiIs for Reinstatement,
Says President
NO WORD FROM ARTHUR

William +. Baker, president OF our
Phils. is very much indignant at the
report that Arthur Fletcher. ex-cap-
tain would be traded to the Brooklyn
Dodgers. Baker fatty denied that
Fletcher would be sent to Wilbert Rob
inson's club and stated that he had not
even heard from his shortstop.
| Fletcher reported at the training
camp in Gainesville last season. but
was called home by the death Of his
father. He did not report again dur
ing the season. although as late as
June, Baker wired him to come at his
own figure and he would be paid from
the beginning of the campaign. No
word Of reply came from the former
Giant
/ Fletcher and Johnny Rawlings came
here in the trade which sent Davy
, Bancroft to the Giants in the middle of
the 1920 season.
No Brooklyn Parleys
Baker even denied that he had had
parleys with the Brooklyn officials con-
! cerning Fletcher. In n statement is-
sued this morning the Phils' boss
! pointed out that Fletcher first must
seek reinstatement from him. If his
! approval Is given. recommendation for
reinstatement will be forwarded to
President Heydler, who in turn will
send the plea to Judge Lands for final
decision.
Bakers statement follows:
That Brooklyn is angling for
| Fletcher, and that the Brooklyn OIL :
cials are holding parleys with me Is
all news to me. Fletcher's retire.
! ment from baseball last year at the
! beginning of the season was hard
! blow TO the Philadelphia club. and
/ for period of several months, /
never gave up hope that Fletcher
would return and did everything to
: get him to do so. Under the new
rule adopted at the recent meeting,
Fletcher will have to apply to me
for reinstatement if he desires to re-
turn TO baseball. 7 will then refer
! his application to President Heydler.
who will either approve or diSapprovc
! and forward It to Judge Landis for
/ final decision. ! have no idea what
Fletcher thinks about coming back,
| and no club in the National League is
/ authorized by me to approach him on
! the subject.
! DIgan for Yankees:
! Reports from Yankee headquarters
! in New York say that Joe Dugan. third
baseman Of the Athletics. and Bobby
Veach. slugging outfelder of the
Tigers, may como there in deals that
might be consumlnated within matter
of days.
, Miller Higgins is now in the West
spending the Yuletide at his Cincinnati
home, and. according to reports. will
confer with Ty Cobb, manager Of the
! Tigers. in :egard to Teopening nngo-
tiationS for Veach before the Nank
pilot returns TO the East.
! The Rupert Huston forces are still
in possession Of Johnny Mitchell, star
shortstUp of the Coast League year
ago. and since Johnny was one Of the
players Detroit was known to have
wanted Mt the time the NPach trans
action wns first broachcd nothing has
occurred in the meantime TO interfere
with the deal.
! In fact, the recent acquisition Of
Everett Scott in the big trade with the
Red Sox has placed the YankS in
position where they could part with
Mitchell without fear Of seriously
weakening the championship machine
Scott. an iron mar. should stand the
wear and tear of big league bnscball
! for fve years at least. while With Will
son FcwstCr. another young player.
| available, the secondary dcfcuse would
De wcll cared for.
Just what players would figure n
deal for Dugan is difficult TO imagine
at this time, for Connie Mack is known
to be in need of shortstop. and If
the Yanks sent Mitchell TO Detroit they
couldn't be expected to send another
/ inficlder to Philadelphia. IT would
therefore sccm that both Cobb and
Mack are after Mitchell and since both
cannot have him. either one deal or
the other is likely to meet IN impasse
over the much sought player.