The Washington times., 1924-12-16
IS.
HOST To
MAJORS
Ban Johnson Has EN- in His
Own Back Yard; So
Has Lands
BY FORD c, FRICK.


NEW YORK, Dec. 16.-With the
scene of action transferred from
New York to Chicago, baseball
club owners will go into the final
session Of their annual meetings
tomorrow. Out Of that meeting
may come series of trades that
will stir up the whole baseball
universe.
And then, again, there may came
nothing but the faint rumble of
star-chamber politics. For that's
the way baseball meetings run.
There's this thing that stands out
about the 1924 meetings, however.
Not in many, many moons has there
been so general willingness on the
part of all owners and managers
to trade; and seldom have there
been fewer trades contaminated.
Proving that it takes more than will
hngness to do business in this mer-
cenary and commercial age.
OF the sixteen clubs making up
the two major leagues. there is
only one which has failed to step
openly into the trade market. That
IS the Giants. McGraw, before the
meetings opened, announced him.
self as willing to stand by what
ne had-though even McGraw was
willing to entertain propositions
from the other fellow.
Yet the meetings have dragged
On to the eve Of q drab finish,
with only two trades announced,
and both Of them minor affairs.
Which leaves much to be accom-.
RIshed in the Chicago affair on
Wednesday if the annual session
Is not to be q total loss.
The Yanks, admittedly, have
three deals pending. One is with
st. Louisa deal which, If con-
summated, will bring Shocker to
the Yanks and send Joe Bush,
Howard Shanks and possibly George
Pipgrass or Harver Hendricks to
st. Louis. That one seems almost
certain of completion. Perhaps It
will be announced even before the
magnates convene in that dear Chi.
cage.
Another Yankee deal is with the
Athletics, but this one is a bit
more doubtful. Higgins wants
Lefty Heimach, the AS giant Off
hand hurler, and he Is casting
sweet glances, too, toward Jimmy
dykes, who would look particularly
good in the Yankee infield. But
Connie Mack is a hard egg to deal
with. Connie, like Sisler, is in.
terested in Joe Bush. He figures
Joe would make a mighty accept
able outfielder, once his pitching
days are over. And the tall Phila-
delphian, likewise is interested in
Lou Gehrig. But Lou isn't for
sale, according to Hug, and Bush
can't go two places at once.
The other Yankee deal, IL is rtI.
mOred, is with the Indians, though
just what Cleveland may have In
the way Of ivory that would In.
terest MIR. Higgins is . bit pug
sling. Joey SeweII, Charley ia.
n1iesOn and Joe Shaute constitute
the best Of the Cleveland stock,
and none of these men Is on the
market. Perhaps Hug has his eye
ON Glenn Wyatt, the big receiver,
who specialiZes In home runs
whenever he comes in contact
with Yankee pitching.
One name frequently mentioned
in connection with possible trade is
Wallie Pipp. That seems to be
mere talk. This writer has 1t on
very good authority that Waffle
has O clause in his contract that
he will not be sold or traded with.
out his consent. And Wallie Ger.
tairly wouldn't consent to go either
to st. Louis or Philadelphia.
Wallie Is one Of the boys who has
put by his pennies for rainy day,
and after long years of good work
he can now afford to be a bit
independent.
The Dolan.oC Cornell affair seems
almost certain of an airing when
the club owners meet. National
League representatives, irked by
Mr.. Johnson's attacks, refuse to
accept the offered peace and are
out to clean house. They will in
sist, they declare, that the whole
matter be thoroughly threshed out.
John McGraw, among others, is
listed with the recalcitrants, and
McGraw is insisting not only that
the matter be taken up, but that
the meeting be open to the scribes.
WV ShSiOOS SuAA SCI LAESl'IldIu IN
formation as to just what trans
pires.
If that plan is carried out, the
Chicago meeting may go down in
history as one Of the sweetest little
knock-down, drag.out affairs in
baseball history. And 1t would go
a long way, too, toward clearing
the atmosphere and putting the
game back on a proper basis.
FRED CLARKE NAV IEAn