Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-06

the SGOr1eS ClaC are III ClrCuldIlOI1.
It may as we'll be mentioned at
the outset that players now said
to be on the market are Muddy
Ruel, Sam Rice, Joe Judge, Benny
Tate and Jack Hayes. Some of
these have been on the block in
previous rumorS, but Tate and
Hayes are new ones with the ru-
mor-mongers.
The story still is going the rounds
that Ruel is to succeed Dan Howley as
manager of the Browns. There's no
doubt that Howley is to lose his job as
pilot of the st. Louis club. Owner
Phil Ball has virtually settled that In
public statements. But Ruel has moth
ing to say about his chance of landing
the position as chief of the club in his
home town. However. 1t is known that
some closely aff1liated with the st. Louis
outfit have stated that Muddy would
they have intimated that Ball Is pre-
pared to communicate with Ruel as
soon as Howleys contract expires at
the end of the current season.
Rice's Future Mystery.
What may happen to Rice is some
thing of a mystery. To listen to Sam
he is ready to retire from the game al
together. But this talk of Rice's may
be taken with grain of salt. Sam
likes base ball and is likely to stick in
it while longer, even though he prob
ably is so fixed financially that he does
not have to worry about the annual
pay. These days the veteran of the
Nationals, like many other old timers
in the big show, has quite leaning to-
ward California and it would not pe
surprising to see Sam casting his lot
with some club on the Pacific coast be-
fore long.
It is no secret that two clubs Of the
American League are keen about Judge.
The Indians and the Tigers would like
to have this high-class first-sacker per-
forming for them. Roger Peckinpaugh
thinks Lew Fonseca is a pretty good
man to have around, but he has limited
he would rather have Joe than Lew
covering the initial sack for the Tribe
And Bucky Harris considers Judge the
greatest first baseman in the majors to-
day, notwithstanding Joes age. There's
no doubt that Joe has much on Dale
Alexander, now covering first base for
the Tigers, despite Dales great hitting
ability.
The Tate trade was attempted last
Spring while the Nationals were in the
South. Then the club was willing to
give the chubby little catcher to the
Yankees in exchange for Sam Byrd, a
right-hand hitting outfielder, but for
some reason or other the deal fell
through. Now in addition to the
Yankees, the White Sox, the Browns
and the Indians are looking for another
catcher. And Tate looks good to al
these clubs. Offers have been made re-
Gently, it's said, but none appeals to
the Washington club.
Mack Likes Hayes.
HAYES for some time has been rated
the best defensive inflelder the Wash
1ngton club has in action, other than
Judge. Jack is a good player from
second to third base. He isn't any
powerful hitter. but he fields so well
that with club that has deal Of
hitting strength he would fit in ad-
n1irably. And rumor has it that Connie
Mack would like to have Jack playing
Connie probably could go farther and
fare worse.
While on this trade subject it might
interest Washington fans to know that
Bucky Harris was mighty anxious to get
Goose Goslin this season. It's reported
Bucky was willing to give the Wash
ington club the left-handed pitching
Earl Whitehill, another hurler-said to
be John Prudhomme-and the hard
rigft-hand hitting outfielder. Bob Foth-
ergill. This offer was promptly refused
by the Washington interests. Why not?
Goslin is a good hitter, even though he
is having poor season at bat, and no
SLOUGH Of an outfielder. It would take
much to get him from the Nationals.
When the Nationals take the field to-
morrow for practice before the first
tilt Of the final series with the White
Sox they will have two rookie pitchers
at work. Ieidelback, bought from the
Gadsden club of the Alabama League
on the recommendation Of Stuffy
Stewart, erstwhile Washington infielder,
and Mcclure, a semi-pro from New
York, will show their wares in pitching
to batters in practice. Both are right
handlers. Little is known OF the capa-