Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-12-30

~ ia 1AA44J w
for the Cincinnati club.
Chicago, Dec. 30.-Pitcher "Rube''
Benton recently purchased by the Gin
cinnati Nationals from st. Paul. will
he barred from baseball if investiga-
tlon reveals he was involved in the
crooked world series of 1919. Com
missioner Lands announced last night.
commissioner lands is investigating
reports that Benton won a large sum
OF. money betting on a tip that Gin
clnnati would win.
AS far as l know the deal Of the
Cincinnati club with the St. Paul club
OF tho American association has not
been closed" President Heydler said.
And / feel confident that it will not
club lis advised that the majority Of
the league clubs do not favor Ben
tons return to the National league.
Pres. Heydler added hat the" Ma
tlonal league reserved the right to de-
eide what players WE'RE considered de-
sirable but refused. to reveal details
Of the basis for opposition to Benton's
return.
Broke Training Rules. "
General belief prevailed, however,
that objections were based on the
- oIlS6Nu dIJO VI lTdIIl.
ing rules when in the National league
before connection Of lis name with
the 1919 world series scandal and
charges which he failed to sub
stantiate that while with the Giants
In 1919 he was offered a bride by
Buck Herzog to throw" a game at
the polo grounds.
Benton called or the commissioner
yesterday to inquire into his status
and was t011 thot fhoro 1vyo - ~ r ;- -
in the commissioners records at this
time to prevent him from playing in
organized baseball. +
The commissioner, however, had
started Investigation into reports
that Benton had knowledge of the
fixing Of the 1919 world series and
when informed tonight that President
Heydler Of the National league had
taken steps to bar denton as an unde-
sirable, the commissioner said he
woul1 continue his Inquiry and prob
ably would have u full report ready
before the 1923 season opened.
Ruled Out Of American.
President Johnson Of the American
league previously had declared Ben,
ton would not be pernitte dtto play
in his league when several of TIT
American league club owners had
sought the services of the player from
st. Paul. U.s.. A
President Johnson said two players
had a atfl'laNits that Benton had
told them he had Won a large sum OF
money on the 1919 series, having re-
ceived advance information hat tn.
series had been fixed.
The information. Benton was al
legged to have said, was obtained from
Bill Burns and Jean Dubuc.
: Since then Benton has said tha1
he had bet only $40 on Cincinnati to
win the series. The wager, he said
was made with a Chicago fan, hui
that the bet had not yet been paid
He said after he saw the first game
ne was positive Cincinnati would VIII
and this belief was further strength.
ened when Dubuc, a former pitcher tt
The Detroit Americans, had tipped
him off that Cincinnati would win the
title.
Dropped by Giants.
Benton was dropped by the New
York Nationals In the middle Of the
Geason of 1929. ostensibly for failure
to observe training rules. after he
pitched winning ball the result beine
that his performance attracted q mum.
Der of the major league owners.
H. Benton previously was involved ir
a National league controversy wher
ne accused Buck Herzog then man.
ager of the Cincinnati club Of asking
him (Benton) to thrown ball games
Herzog denied the charge. Afte,
President Heydler conducted an in.
vestigation, the case was dropped
with the result that Herzog was alb
conditional release.