The Washington times., 1923-10-13

hickey is not accusing any par
rlcular club, but he is going to de-
mand that President Heydler of the
National League carry on a sweep
Ing investigation.
The suspension and fine for
Hornsby was brought about by the
player" said Hickey. 1.-THE charges
OF INSTRUMENTATION were so clear that
1t was a question of resigning as
manager, appointing Hornsby to the
place or suspending him.
The fist fight had with
Hornsby in New York on August
70 aid not cause the suspension.
The facts might prove sensational,
but am not responsible for thero'
aornsby came to me and asked
me to trade or sell him. was
startled. I could not believe the
words. I had Rog repeat them.
Naturally my eyes opened. I did
some secret work myself to get to
the bottom of it all. but I could
not get the information I desired.
But let me say this-after Horns
Dy asked to be traded he was not
the same winning ball player h.. had
Deen during my service with the
club. He became dissatisfied. He
changed from an aggressive. win
ming player to a mere mechanical
part Of a machine.
Day by day I noted his change.
IN one game he hit a home RIM
and instead of returning to o,,r
bench he went over to the visi-
tors, laughed and cIlatted with
them. Is that good baseball?
s
II couldn't discipline him. Rather
I didn't want to. For weeks I won.
dered why Hornsby wanted to be
sold or traded.
I'm 1921, when the Giants were
in a close pennant race. I was of.
fered $250,000 in cash by McGraw
for Hornsby. I refused that offer,
the highest ever made for a player.
But Hornsby simply refused TO
change. He refused to take the
throw at second base on runners
stealing, he criticised the signals
used, and he did so much talking
that in New York on August %
we entered into an argument that
finished in a fist fight.
I'm not denying that. ANY man,
any manager would have resented
the language Hornsby used at me.
But I was willing to forget that
incident to bring Rog back TO the
boy he was a year ago. But some
thing happened and that's what I'd
like to know, what caused this
change to him.
HE complained that he had a
the September game against the
Cubs. 1 turned him over to two
doctors. They treated him and
advised that he keep out of uni
form for several days. When we
lost two double-headers in success
sion to the Braves and Superhas
] wanted to try to get fourth
place.
81 consulted with the two doc.
tors and they told me HOrnsby
was IN condition to play. In the
clubhouse. on September 26 1
told him the report / received.
He said he didn't feel like play
he owed it to the public to pre-.
sent the best we, had and / want
ed him in the lineup.
He told me that he would not
play in another scheduled game,
that he would play the exhibitions
we had arranged and that we could
deduct his salary for the six games
81 informed him that l didn't
want his salary, the club didn't, but
that I wanted him in the ball game.
He left the clubhouse in a huff
For that reason / instructed Presi.
dent Breadon to fine and suspend
him.
Until the change came in Horns
by this season have never met a
more congenial workman in the
game. / always considered him On
ideal player for a ball club. Never
complaint of any sort by lila.
Hotel accommodations, good or bad,
did not bother him. When other