New-York tribune., 1922-02-04
Clubs Accused
OF Approaching g
Rival Players
Case To Be Brought Up at
National League Sched-
ule Meeting February IL
By w. ]. Macbeth

That calm and serenity which. out
wardly at least. has prevailed in Ma
t;onal League councils ever since the
declared its pet war on r. B. Johnson,
is going 10 be seriously disturbed dur
ing the annual scheduled meeting in
this city on February IA. if William F.
Baker, president Of the tailend Phil
lies, has his wav.
Mr.. Baker. VINO called on Presde
John 4. Heydler Yesterday has pre-
his players against two rival club Off
Gals. TIE penalty for this ofcnse, as
incorporated in the new malor-mlnor
Leagues agreement IS a $1,000 fine
Raker declared he intended to press
his charges to the fullest extent Of
baseball law. He claims to have 'r-
refutable evidence which he Will pre-
sent to the National League at It's
scheduled meeting. Then, after the
older circuit has had An opportunity
to act on that which concerns itself
solely. Mr. Baker intends TO proceed
before Commiss ipncr Lands, whose
dutv It is to trv such eases.
The president OF the Phils would not
divulge publicly the names of the al
legged offenders further than to name
the St Louis and Brooklyn clubs. At
first he intended to bring triple
charges, involving also the Boston
an Investigation Of the charges against
Mr.. Grant and found them ut
terly unfounded. Mr.. Grant had been
quoted as saying that he was will
ing TO pay $4,000 for the right sort of
pitcher. and certain scribes took it for
granted that he had in mind none
other than the bespectacled Lee Mead
ows Mr.. Heydler found that Grant
mentioned no names whatever. Con
seouently this particular charge was
withdrawn.
Cardinals Official Accused
1t is believed %he St Louis oAicial
who has drawn Mr. Bakers fire is none
other than Branch Hickey, manager of
more or less violent against the worlds
champions ever since the Giants Sc
cured Heinc Groh, OConnell and Shin
crs, through the outlay of vast cash
sums. Branch has been intimating That
certain clubs favored the Giants over
all others; that the transfer of "lrish'
Mcusel late last season handed a PEN
uant to New York at the expense of
Pittsburgh. and that Lee Meadows as
SuredIE would DC New DIX asset
before the champions left San Antonio.
Baker eXonerates McGraw and hi. as
sociates of all blame. But in the case
Of Hickey he does not mention Branch
directly he will show that his utter
ances and statements have had a de-
moralizing effect both on the pitcher
and on many other of the Quakers.
President Charles II. E5bets is given
q clean bill of health by Mr. Baker.
From hints that were dropped to the
Philadelphia scribes. our old friend
Wilbert Robinson is the suspect in this
quarter 1t is alleged Uncle Robbie
epproached an intielder, supposed to be
Arthur Fletcher, in an effort to try to
influence him to have himself trans
ferred to Brooklyn.
"I Will spare no palms. says Mr..
Baker. "to see that the law is lived up
to. Tampering with players is the
worst menace the game faces to-day
now that gambling has been laid to
rest | think the action taken at the
coming meeting will produce an effect
that will stop this nefarious practice
FOR all time