Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-01-12
HORNSBY'S SWAP
TO BRAVES HAS
NO EXPLANATION

NEW YORK, Jan. IL H9-Instead
of satisfying startled baseball pub
lie with the explanation that Rogers
Hornsby was traded to the Boston
Braves ito avoid any future conflict
in the management Of the club and
for no other reason the New York
Giants today apparently heaped only
fresh Goals on the fires OF debate.
Il The brief statement issued by
Charles A. Stonehann, president OF
the Giants, not only was taken with
several grains of salt by the as
sembled experts, but drew from
Hornsby a sharp reply in which the
famous second baSeman disclaimed
any controversy with Manager John
McGraw and denied any attempt last
season to, undermine the authority
of the. Little Napoleon"
While innocent bystanders still were
trifle groggy from the shock OF
the deal which sends the leagues
highest salaried star to seventh
place club, in exchange for two little
known players Catcher Frank, Hogan
and Outfielder Jimmy Welsh--the ex-
perts probed behind the scenes for
the real reason" prompting what
seemed, on the surface, like the
most one sided transaction in recent
years.
Most OF the observers took one OF
the two views, either that some nlys-
terioIls circumstance caused the sud-
den trade or that it was merely the
! forerunner OF another big switch in
player talent by the Giants. The
latter view is strengthened by the
! existence OF a gaping infield hole
left by Hornsby for which the club
now has only rookie talent to fill.
The suggestion that syndicate
| baseball was involved in other
words, that the Giants had an inter-
est in strengthening the Boston club
was secuted by most observers.
j. j. Tierney. secretary of the Giants,
/ characterized this as ridiculous, Z
pointing to the new major league
rules which prohibit any club owner
from having any interest whatsoever
J in any other team. Nevertheless,
/ newspapers recalled the long success
sion of deals between the Braves
/ and Giants over a. period OF years
as well as the fact that former Judge
Emil E. Fuchs, president of the
Braves, is resident of New York
In the absence of Manager Nc
Graw, however, officials of the Giants
made it clear that the chief reason
for parting with Hornsby was to keep
harmony in the club and prevent
the possibility OF two managers
trying to run the outfit. Stoneham's
statement frankly admitted this, but
( neither he nor Tierney shed any
light on exactly what prompted the
prospect OF such conflict" or on
what ground McGraw and Hornsby
] differed
Statements have been ma d e
throughout the country that Mr..
Hornsby would be the future manager
OF this club,Y Stonehams statement
said. II have never been consulted
regarding this and have had no con-
ference about the selection OF a mani
ager, as Mr.. McGraw still retains
the management OF the New York
Giants
] The Giants, it seems, regarded these
published statements as prompted by
Hornsby'S friends, ii not the second
/ baseman, in spite OF the fact that
McGraw himself pinned the heir
! apparent" label on Rogers late last
season at time when the second
sacker was being given almost a
free rein in the field direction OF the
! club.
Even it Hornsby's supposed 'lese
/ nlajeste" isn't quite clear TO observers
it is manifest at any rate that
McGraw has no intention OF handing
over the managerial reins to anyone
! else for some time to come. So far
as the Giants are concerned, there
| is only one manager, and his name
is John Joseph McGraw.