Evening star., 1933-02-17
HOLD0UT SITUATION
IN MAJORS SERIOUS
Only 5 of 16 Clubs, Among
Them Griffs, Able to Get
Players in Line.
BY HERBERT W. BARKER,
Associated Press Sports Writer.


n YEw YORK, February IT.
M Spring and the training
/ Y camps are Just around the
corner, but for some major
league clubs the hold-out situa-
ton remains a serious problem
yet to be solved.
The magnates, when they
adopted a general policy of re-
trenchment and cut deeply into
salaries, were prepared for a
somewhat larger quota of indig-
nant protests from star perform
ers than customary, but probably
not even they expected SO heavy
a list of dissatisfied players.
Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Bill Dickey
Red Lucas, Ernie lombard Hack
Wilson. Joe Strip, Wes Ferrell, Willie
Kamm, Willis Hudlin, Frank Frisch
and Heinie Manush are just a few of
the headl1ners who have baked at
terms.
There are striking exceptions, of
course. The Pittsburgh Pirates, who
surprised the National League by fin
thing second last season with mex
perienced men at both shortstop and
second base, have signed every player
on the 1888 roster and are busily en-
gagged preparing for the training sea-
son and perhaps a pennant.
The Boston Red Sox likewise have
all their men under contract and the
New York Giants and Chicago Cubs
each have only one player outside the
fold. The Giants have yet to snare
outflelder Len Koenecke and the Cubs
are still awaiting outfielder Vince Bar
tons contract. Barton, however, usually
saves postage and appears at the train
ing ground with his contract signed
and sealed.
The Washington Nationals, hoping
to give the New York Yankees or any
body else a battle for the American
League flag, have only three unsigned
players-Manush, Moe Berg and Bob
Burke.
THE outlook for the Others however
i Is not so rosy Complete informa-
ton Is not available In view Of the
fact that a number Of clubs, the
Phillies, Athletics, Browns, Cardinals
Tigers, Braves and Reds. decline to con-
feSs which players are signed and which
are not.
However there Is enough data on hand
to indicate q serious situation which
probably will clarity itself in time.
The Yankees have II unsigned play
Tony Lazzeri, Earle Combs, Charley
and Frank Crosetti.
The Cleveland Indians still are argu-
ing with Ferrell, Kamm, Hudlin, DicS
Porter, Roy Spencer and three others
Of lesser importance while the Chicago
White Sox, so far as public announce
ment goes, have not yet succeeded In
getting Evar Swanson, Chad Kimsey
Sam Jones, Luke Appling, Billy Sullivan
and a couple Of others to sign.
If the Athletics have any real salary
problems they probably will center about
George Earnshaw, for 1t Is understood
that virtually all the others are under
contract. The st. Louis Brown are
known to have signed only six players
No information at all has come out OF
the Detroit Tigers front office.
OF National League clubs, the Brook
~ lyn Dodgers have by far the
largest holdout list. The ID
players still unsigned include such well
known figures as Hack Wilson, Strip,
Ray Benge, AL Lopez, Johnny Frederick
and Danny Taylor.
Although Frisch is the sole known
holdout, only Rogers Hornsby, George
Watkins, Ernie Orsatti, Pepper Martin
Jess Haines, Jimmy Wilson and Charley
Colbert are known to have signed
Cardinal contracts. The situation is
somewhat similar at Cincinnati where
the Reds are understood to have signed
only four players yet only Lucas and
Lombardi are definitely listed as dis
satisfied. Jim Bottomly was q holdout,
but was understood to have agreed to
q second offer.
Notwithstanding the imposing list of
recalcitrant players, base ball observers
expected history to repeat itself and
find them all safely In the fold before
the 1888 campaign opens. Most Of
them, in fact. probably will come to
terms within the next couple Of weeks.