Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-17

Red Sox Put Vet 0utfieIder
on Market-0ther Deals
.,
Unsuccessful.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

Wv WITH the important string OF
"a battles against the Athletics
wv and the Yankees at hand,
the washington ball club Is
more busy than ever in cast
ing about for a right-hand swinging
outfielder. Although nothing definite
has come, from President Clark Griffith
or any other officer of the Nationals, 1t
is no secret that the club hopes to pro-
cure within a day or two gardener
who bats in the orthodox manner.
This was divulged in the West by
club officials, who discuss waiver re-
quests with more freedom than those
connected with the Washington club do
According to them, the Nationals are In
the field for Ira Flagstead. veteran now
with the Boston Red SoX. The Hub
club recently asked for valves on Flag
stead, and it is said the Washington
club claimed him, although no one con-
nected with the Nationals will admit
this. After the claim was made, the
Boston club, according to information
from Western sources, withdrew its
waiver request and began dickering with
the Washington club for a deal that
would transfer the services of the vet
eran to the Nationals.
These Western sources stated that the
Red SoX, after withdrawing their waiver
request. asked more for Flagstead's con-
tract than the $500 waiver price, and
that the Washington club was more
than willing to complete a deal. II is
likely that the Nationals will know
within day or two whether this right
hand swinging veteran is to become one
of them.
Sought Deal With Yankees.
While the Nationals were in training
In Florida, President Griffith made
many bids for a right-hand batting
outfielder Although at that time he
had confidence in the ability of his
young recruits, Sam West and Red
Barnes, to produce in biting way, he
was more than eager to break up the
left-handed hitting alignment he had
in the field.
He had some of his players take a
look at Sam Byrd, a hard-Socking right
handler held in reserve by the Yankees,
and according to information coming
from some connected with the New
York club, actually sounded Manager
Miller Higgins as to trade that would
make Byrd the Washington clubs prop
erty. The Yankees, however. wanted
more than the Washington club was
willing to give, it seems, so the deal
failed to matsrialize.
After the championship campaign
started an effort was made to get Ben
PaSchal from the Yankees. Paschal is
right-hand hitting outflelder with
pretty fair record as batter and field
er and might have been of much use
to the Nationals. But Paschal is well up
in his thirtieS and at the time OF the
negotiating, it was said by those in close
touch with the New York club, that
Al III, nltYtN ar n
a deal that would procure Pascl1al as
a loan rather than an outright holding.
Then Washington was not keen about
getting such an elderly player~outright,
The PaschaI deal did not go over,
though, because the Yankees we're not
willing to make temporary barter. 50
the Nationals were forced TO struggle
along with West nj centerfield, . play
er fine as a hyhawk, but left-hand
batter notoriously weak against LETT
hand pitchers. And with the Nationals
rivals sending one left-hand hurler
after another Into action Vests batting
weakness handicapped the club conslo-
erably.
FIagstead Handy Man.
so when Flagstead was put on the
waiver list the Washington club did not
hesitate about claiming him. 1t realzeo
the urgent need of a batter OF the
orthodox type, and Flagstead, despite
his years, is a right good batter as wen
as a fiy chaser of note. Flaggy, 700, Is
an earnest player, a great hustler ana
one who knows how to place himself Ia
the field to care for most OF the pat1efs
Fiagstead will be SO years old next
Seutember, but he still has zeal OF
base bali in him. He is not slow by any
means and swings strong bat. He mas
averaged close to 800 for his dozen
wears as a major Lacquer. Flaggy broke
in with the Tigers in 1917, and with the
exception of 1918. when he played part
IF the season with Chattanooga OF tne
Southern Association, served with tne
Tirers until 1928, when he was sold 70
the Red Sox. He was used In center
field until this season, when Manager
Bill Carrigan shifted him 10 the 1elt
AS base ball goes Flagstead Is an old
timer. but oldtimer or not, the Nationals
need a good right-hand swinger in tnelr
lineup and Flaggy may be just the
man to fill the bill.