The New York herald., 1922-02-28
But Declares He Must See
McGraw Before He Signs
Baseball Contract.
T0NEY HAS INFLUENZA
Giants Leave st. Louis and Ex-
pect to Reach San Antonio
by Tonight.
BY DANIEL

Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 81 Con Board the
Giants SpeciaD.-On our arrival in
this city this afternoon, en- route to
San Antonio. we got our first glimpse
of Giant holdout, 1922 model, and
we cannot say that he was in any way
sui generis or anything like that. The
Giant in question was Jess Barnes,
right handed pitcher of world series
renown. who has declined to sign a
contract. When we encountered Jess
In the lobby of TIE Jefferson, the
rendezvous of the New York delega-
ton, he announced he was not hold
out. but that he had not put himself
under contract.
want to say that am not holding
OUT declared the finger. "I Just
wanted to see John McGraw down in
San Antonio before put my signature
to the papers. It Is nothing serious
The club has offered me raise. but I
don't like the wording of the contract"
Thus assured we breathed a lot
easier and went at the task of count
ing noses and fork mitts. Barnes GER
tafnly appeared contrite.
The special from New York got here
with thirteen players and took on eight
more. so that the train which left for
San Antonio tonight over the Sun
shine Route carried twenty-one dis
mond professionals, six of whom were
with the club last seaSon
Nehf Joins the Team.
Those who Joined the delectable lit
tie party In this city, In addition to
Jess Barnes, were Arthur Nehf, Heinie
Groh. Giant once more after q long
wait; Virgil Barnes, Ralph SINNERS
Casey Stengel. L. J. Benton, who is not
to be confused with Rube, and Dick
Proctor. Groh was accompanied by
Mrs. Groh. Sinister Dick Kinsella, the
scout, also clambered on board.
Both Of the Barnes boys. fresh from
an active life down in Circleville, Kan
sas, looked fit and ready. Jess said
he had been hunting in Kansas. Virgil
appeared particularly we'll conditioned
and explained that by the fact that he
had been playing baseball with the
American Legion Post in his town.
Circleville gave them a greater send
off. Luther Barnes. their father,
warned Virgil that he Just had to stick
with the Giants this time. the Ameri-
can Legion boys gave them three
cheers and a tiger and then the engines
whistle blew so long and hard that
even old man Hayes, who has been
deaf for forty years, complained of the
noise. The whole town was out.
Nehf said that he had had a pretty
fn - rsx1AA L. H.
diana. He did not appear to be carry
ing any extra weight and In his usual
way made no promises as to what he
would do this year.
Groh was all smiles going South with
the Giants after a decade. The last time
Heine, fresh from Oshkosh, took the trip
with the New Yorks they did their train
ing in Marlin. Tex. He'll find things
quite different in San Antonio.
When Jess Barnes was asked If he had
read that both he and Phil Douglas had
been placed on the market he looked
sober He declared that he had not
heard from Douglas. who is scheduled to
leave Birmingham to-day. Neither had
any of the other players.
Toney Has the "FIu."
Fred Toney, it developed, has been
down with influenza. and may not be in
San Antonio in time to start with the
early squad. Fred usually reports late
anyway.
The trip from New York to st. Louis
was made with comparatively little sea-
sickness but there was much gratifica-
tion when the Mississippi was sighted
carly this afternoon. Another night on
the rails--and tomorrow night the boys
will be housed In the Menger right next
tn its celebrated dining rooro
Examination of the squad shows that
this year 1t runs stronger than ever to
collegian We learned to-day that
Clancy the pitcher, who Is going down as
the property OF the indianapolis club
with Henline. is from Swarthmore Col
lege. Henline is from St. Bonaventure.
where John McGraw played ball before
he broke into professional ranks with
Olean, N. Y.
Billy Gilbert's "reminiscences of the old
Giants who won the world championship
over the Athletics in 1905. help to re-
lieve the monotony of the trip. Billy is
not one of the stars of other days who
believes that all the stars shone In the
past. But he does bemoan the fall OF
curve ball pitching in recent years. He
surely does like curve ball finger.
There was great interest in McGraw's
statement In San Antonio anent a trade
for Barnes and Douglas. The manager
seems to be particularly serious In SO far
as Douglas Is concerned.