The Washington times., 1935-12-21
Hnks Get
Higgins
-RumOr
By DAVIS ]. WALSH

International News Service Sports Editor
NEW YORK, Dec. 21.-Every-
body concerned has been playing
dumb in the matter, the strain
not being especially great, but at
least 1 have been able to find
out today why Connie Mack, who
wished to sell. and Joe Mccarthy,
who almost of necessity had to
buy, didn't get together at the
annual major league baseball meet
ings in Chicago.
They had already gotten to-
gether in Philadelphia, and the
tip is that Frank Higgins, Ath-
letics' third baseman, figured very
conspicuously in the prevailing
blather.
In fact, from sources utterly
reliable, I'm assured that Higgins
is practically in New York uni
form right now, and the sum of
$4,000 either is already in the
keeping of Mr.. Mack or soon will
be. 1 don't exactly know why 1
find the term, keeping, so appro-
pirate in this particular connec-
ton. Perhaps it's because I have
no feeling for the finer traditions.
ROlfe to Second Base
Anyhow, if Mccarthy gets Hig-
gins, I understand it is his plan
to move Red Rolfe to second base
and proceed, as is, from that point
by way of a counter-bid against
Mr.. Thomas Yawkey'S attempt to
buy out the American L que pen
nant race before it is held in order
to relieve the suspense. Higgins,
of course, was talked about in con-
nection with Detroit, but I'm told
that the Tigers are not especially
interested at the price and, besides,
they feel they've done themselves
pretty we'll with the purchase OF
Outfieider Al Simmons from the
White FOX.
1t might interest Detroit fans,
however, to know that before they
got Simmons. their club was much
interested in Outfielder Roger
Cramer. of Philadelphia. and prob
ably would have made the buy.
The Red Sox now are supposed to
take delivery on Cramer and In
fielder Eric McNair shortly after
the first Of the year, the same
authority having assured me that
this one really is in.
Parenthetically, Jimmy Foxx'S
pop off to the effect that he
wanted an adjustment of his two
year contract. now that he is en-
ployed by plutocrat Yawkey, is
only partly correct. FoXx is cur
rently operating on a document
calling for $4,000 year and the
adjustment he's prattling about
has to do with outside interests" :"
These include S200-a-week radio
contract in Philadelphia. which
he will now forfeit with great
alacrity. However, one would sus-
pect that something can be done
about this in Boston.
Higgins will Ask for Raise
AS for Higgins, lot of commits
seration has been wasted upon
that lad. He once got $4,0G0-a-
year for hitting $50, and Col. Will
yam Terry's "$35 a week baseball
writer's" were pretty diSheartened
about it. But that was at least
two years ago and Higgins, they
tell me, is managing to bear up
pretty bravely now on $4,000 a
year. If and when he begins to
do business with Rupert, he'll
probably begin talking like a Nor
gan partner, the young man being
a pal of Mr.. James FoX1, 10 whom
he seems to have sub-let a lot OF
his thinking.
The trouble with that is that
the only thing tougher than
Rupert is a night in The Tombs.
Cramer's expected arrival in
Boston. of course, will only leave
the Red Sox with nine outfielders,
which is being Shorthanded to a
man who figures the way Yawkey
does. However, it's believed that
Outfielder Heine ManuSh was OBJ
tanned from Washington in order
to be turned over to Philadelphia
for window display and I SuS-
pect that Tony Lazzeri and a
couple of guys named Adolph will
be taken on from New York for
much the same purpose.
Meantime, no announcement
has been made as to what ball
team is going to lease Shibe Park
next season. Personally, I Sus-
pect it'll be the Point Breeze
Tigers.