Evening star., 1929-12-21
GETS SECOND TEST
AS VETERAN FADES
Johnny Fails After Year With
Tigers-George at Peak
in 1922.
BY JOHN b. FOSTER.


- FORGE SISLER is not to be an
active member of the Boston
T Nationals next season. The
~ first baSeman to start for Bos-
ton is Johnny Neun who was
with Baltimore in 1929. About both of
these players there is base ball history
of a nature much out of the ordinary.
George Sisler was always good ball
player. Base ball men began to hear
of him when ne played with Akron,
Ohio, High School. He was born near
Cincinnati, far down in the southwest
ern corner of Ohio. He subsequently
moved to Barberton, Ohio, which Is
near Akron.
The University of Michigan heard OF
Sisler. They thought he would make
splendid addition to their base ball nine
and he did. In 1911 he was assigned to
the Akron, Ohio-Pelnsylvania League
Club, but never reported to it. In 1912
title to Sisler was transferred to Co.
lumbus, but he again refused to report.
Columbus turned title to him over to
Pitts 5urgh that year and again he re-
fused to report Pittsburgh held title
to him in 1918 and 1914, but Sisler still
refused to report. AS he had not
played professional base ball, although
claimed by professional club, Michi-
gan used him on the team. All this
title to him through a deal antedating
all others.
The next thing heard of him was that
Eisler was with the ST. Louis American
League Club. How he came to go there
is neither here nor there but an alum
nus of Michigan might have had some
influence in the matter. The Pitts
burgh club started on the warpath.
Made Dreyfuss Bitter.
The national commission decided
against Dreyfuss, the deciding vote be-
ing cast by Garry Hermann. There
began the downfall of the national
commission. Dreyfuss was bitter against
Hermann. He insisted that the deci-
sion was contrary to the evidence and
that he had protected his rights to
Sisler in every way that the national
commission deemed necessary but this
didn't change Herrmann'S mind.
Dreyfuss declared war on Hermann.
He told friends he would never rest un-
til he saw Hermann removed as chair
man Of the national commission.
It was a square fight since Dreyfuss
told Hermann to his face what he
meant to do The national commission
could not get a vote of confidence from
Dreyfuss after he lost Sisler.
SiSler improved and as he improved
creased. In 1922 Sisler was the best
ball player in the United States and
one Of the best in base ball history.
In 1923 he could not see well enough
TO find a thrown ball as it was coming
to him and did not play game. That
was the greatest contrast in a players
condition in base ball history. One year
leader Of the United States and the
next not able to see the ball so that he
could bat it.
Never the Same Again.
In 1924 he played again, but he never
was the Sisler who played in 1922, and
trying to manage a ball team did not
help him any. st. Louis sold him to
Washington in 1927. Washington was
said to have paid $25 900 to get him. 1t
was a bad buy. Sisler was one more
first baseman than Washington needed.
The Boston Nationals got him next
for the waiver price. He has been with
Boston since then, but never quite over
came the trouble he had with his eyes
Johnny Neun played first base for
Detroit when Moriarty was manager
and he sstonished the American League
by his skill He Is the coming. first
baseman OF the American League,"
Moriartv said then. But he never ar
rived. He seemed to have exhausted his
base ball skill in one brief period.
(CopvriEht, 1920