Evening star., 1933-12-10
GR|FF ANTICIPATES
NO CHICAGO DEALS
Club Prexy and Cronin Set to
Listen to 0ffers-More
Exhibition Dates.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

NV but a Willingness to
Y listen to any proposition
that might make the
Nationals better than they were
in their pennant-winning dash
this year, Clark Griffith, big boss
of the Washington ball club, and
Joe Cronin, the young field gen.
eral, along with Secretary Ed
Eynon, start today for the annual
poWwow of the major leagues at
Chicago.
If any worth while talent is
corraled for the American League
champions in the Windy City this
week, none will be more surprised
that Griffith and Cronin.
Mulling over plans for the Nationals
1884 campaign, the clubs president and
manager during the last three days
considered every trading and buying
possibility that came to mind, only to
decide there wasn't any likelihood of
getting anywhere in Chicago.
so far as we are concerned at this
Chicago session, therell be no Santa
Claus" sighed the Nationals big boss
at the end of yesterdays session with
Cronin. Joe came here from San
Francisco with some ideas of improv-
ing the club in spots. But after talk
ing things over We don't see where We
can do anything.
"Whaf q fo Lot 90
ably wouldn't prove attractive to a club
that might have something we'd like to
get. What's more, we're champions
and If We planned any deals, we'd very
likely be asked to give more than we'd
get in return.
Like Joe, believe the club could
stand some improvement. If it gets
1t through any business done at Chi
cago, though, we'll be lucky, mighty
lucky. Anyway, we're champions and
ought to be good enough to repeat in
next years race" Grifith wound UP
optinistically.
Finding Help Nothing Easy.
"THERE'S no doubt that Griffith
and Cronin have only faint hope
Of bettering their club during
the flve-day stay in Chicago and for
that reason have assumed an attitude
OF watchful waiting. But there is rea-
son to believe they'll move determinedly
to drive a bargain if given an oppor-
tunity.
If there is a chance to land for the
American League champions a pitcher
OF class and right-hand swinging
outf1elder the Old Fox might be in
duced to drag lot of sheckels out of
the Washington club treasury in ex-
chage for such talent, even though the
past campaign was no shining success
financially for his organization.
And any offer that might mean a
hard-hitting third baseman for the
Nationals also would be given respect
ful consideration by Griffith and Cronin.
Relief for group of hurlers that was
overworked in the drive to the cham
pionshlp, power on the right side of the
plate for club overbalanced by left
hand batters and a third-sacker that
might bolster the Nationals Extensively
without detracting from the defense are
what Is needed to make 1884 safe for
the washington band, both Griffith and
Cronin have intimated.
But, asks Cronin-and with a CAP
ital B, too-"who's gonna give up any
thing like that to us?" And Griffith
adds, "Yes, who?"
Griffith in Political Fur0re.
EVEN though Griffith does nothing
II in a trading or buying way, he'll
be a busy man at the meetings
starting Tuesday and concluding Thurs
day. The Washington president prob
ably will see service with several COM
mittees during the American League
sessions to be held the first two days
and be his circuits spokesman on sew
eral subjects about which the two major
leagues are at odds in the joint gather
ing with Judge Lands, base balls high
commissioner, the final day.
A proposal to limit player salaries, til,
question of standard ball for the ma
jors and the disturbing matter of syn
thetic doubleheaders will pop up and
Griffith has decided ideas on all. When
the political pot begins to boil the big
hoss of the Washington organization
viii be right there getting vapor bath.
Griffith is dead against salary limit
for big leaguers, proposition he says
only the National League would con-
slider advancing. He insists, too, that
the senior major circuit be whipped
into an agreement that would bring
about the use of the same type of base
ball by both big leagues. And he never
has fallen Tor the SyntneClc SUNDAY par
gain bills, the invention of which he at
tributes to the National League and a
plan he says is threatening the extirc-
tion Of minor leagues.
He'll be in mood to say plenty in
the Chicago meetings.
Big-Time Exhibition Foes.
CAPITAL fandom will have nearly a
week of big league base ball next
Spring before the. curtain Is
raised on the American League season
here ADril IT Sly exhibition games