The New York herald., 1922-10-31
MANY CLUBS SOUGHT
Minor LEAGUE star
Made Great Record as Pitcher
First Baseman-Slugger at
s Baltimore.
DEAL LONG HUNG FIRE
Believed Through After War
Service, Was Turned Back
by Washington.

-Four years ago Jack Bentley, a
comparatively unknown left handed
pitcher just out of the army, was
traded by Washington back TO Balti-
= more for Sam Crane, the shortstop.
) THE Red Sox had drafted Bentley
from the Orioles, but had Cancelled
their selection out of superior con-
sideration for something like $4,000
and had permitted the Senators to
pick up the pitcher. But Clark Griffith
Boston had wanted him. Shoulder
ing a rifle has killed him as a pitcher"
was the word which went out about
ythe southpaw.
Yesterday that left handler. John N.
Bentley. was bought by the Clients from
the Baltimore club for $4,000 in cash
and four players to be selected by Jack
Dunn at the spring training camp OF
the New Yorks. In announcing the
acquisition of the pitcher-first basema1 4
islugger Jim Tierney declined to say
just how much cash entered into the
deal but Y was learned from unofficial
sources that the long drawn out dicker
had been completed on the terms named
above.
Bentley. who is twenty-eight years
old; perhaps was the most sought after
minor league star In the country. In
addition to winning thirteen games and
losing only one as a pitcher last season
he batted for .349 and was third behind
Fothergill and Gilhooley. When Jack
was not hurting he covered first base
and sometimes he even went out into
the more distant precincts to shag fly
balls.
A Reversion to Old Type.
He was, and still Is, one OK the most
versatile players In the history of the
game, pitcher of the old stamp. His
type goes back to the era of "Hoss"
Radbourne, who. like most of the
singers Of that pioneer age. made him
self useful In the outfield when he was
not called on for duty in the box.
Bentley plays ball because he likes TO
play 1t.
The deal for Bentley's conversion into
a Giant has been hanging fire for
long time. His sale to the Giants first
was reported in 1921. when it was stated
that the price was 100000. When askel
about the rumor John McGraw said,
II would not pay 100000 to Jack Dunn
for his entire ball club" There was
lot of I'll feeling then between McGra|
and Dunn. who had worked for Mac
when he first came here to manage
the Giants.
McGraw wanted Bentley last year.
but he did not want to give Dunn the
satisfaction of doing business with him
and the money, too, for that matter
McGraw always has been sore" at
Dunn for selling Babe Ruth to the Red
Sox. He has been particularly sore
at Dunn on that score since Ruth came
to the Yankees to set new major
league record for home run hitting
McGraw has told his friends frequently
that Dunn double crossed him after
promising to sell Ruth to the Giants.
But that III feeling between McGraw
and Dunn has disappeared. Dunn made
rev overtures to the leader of the
Giants last summer when the Interna-
tional League voted that in order to
make a real race next season the Bal
timore club would be forced to sell
Bentley Boley and some of the Other
stars who have made joke Of the PEN
nani competition for several years. This
time McGraw told Dunn he was willing
TO listen to reason.
How much for BentleyT' Mac asked.
'Still 500. 0O0" came Dunn's reply.
But McGraw declined to discuss the
proposition on those terms Last month
Dunn came to the Polo Grounds one
Afternoon and again asked McGraw to
talk business on Bentley. Dunn prac-
tically had completed deal with Gin
c'ruati for the pitcher, but that had
fallen through and he decided to give
ney call on the player TO the Giants.
Definite negotiations were started
then. and the deal was nearly completed
when the Giants played In Baltimore
,nea- the close Of the league race. Bur
Dunn's price still was too high, and the
diclyer hung fire until McGraw went 20
this Monument City last week to attend
the Old Timers celebration. Yesterdr
the officials Of the club sent their last
word on the Bentley deal TO Dunn-and
Jack Immediately telegraphed his ec-
reptance.
A Companion of vehf.
There Is no question that Bentley IL
I.,& ID l..