Evening star., 1937-11-07
NATIONAL LEAGUE
EAGER TO GET AL
Vet Not Likely to Figure
In Contemplated Shift
of Mats to 'Nooga.
BY FRANCIS A. STAN.

III
load of waived-upon Nation
ais to Chattanooga by way
OF settling up his debt with the erst-
while farm" team of the Southern
Association. And with this action,
which is due inside of week, light
may be thrown on the future of Out
fielder AN Simmons.
When the 1887 baseball season
ended, Simmons, of all the established
members of the Washington ball club,
was least certain of his Job. At
least critics thought SO, and it is be-
lieved that AL suspected as much.
He drew the largest salary of any
Griffman in 1887 and doubt was ex-
pressed that he was worth it. So
Simmons became topic of discussion.
Simmons, once the greatest right
handed hitter in baseball, isn't likely
to be one of those shipped off to Chat
tanooga. In the first place, the other
is major league clubs are not likely to
waive on Al. The American League
may not want him, particularly at the
salary he is used to getting, but the
National League probably would swal-
low pride and grab him. The National
Leaguers are smart enough to realize
that Simmons might be of some help.
AL Curve Ball Hitter.
BASEBALL people insist that SIM
mons no longer can get his bat
around on the fast-ball pitching in
Tho Aronrioop ~,
major league primarily is a curve
ball circuit and Simmons can hit
bender to a fare-the-well. After all,
Heinie Manush, waived out of the
American year ago, came back and
was Brooklyn's most valuable player
last season. And Simmons today is
faster and far better fielder and
thrower than Manush was year ago.
No, the possible significance at
tached Griffith's shipment to Chat
tanooga only indirectly involves SIM
mons. If all other clubs waive on
Fred Sington, for instance, and Chat
tanooga wants the big guy, then Sim
mons chances of sticking with WASH
ington are increased. AIS future here
probably depends on the disposition,
II any, Of Sington and Rookie George
Case, and how Griffith and Manager
Bucky Harris make out on their deals
at the annual winter meeting of the
major leagues in December.
1t was no secret that Griffith last
summer asked waivers on Simmons.
The tip was out that Griff was trying
to sell Al to the Chicago Cubs, who
were short of outfielders and battling
for the National League pennant.
Not Eager to Drop Simmons.
IF THIS is true, the Cubs, apparently,
did not want to pay Griff's price
for Al. Instead, they bought Carl
Reynolds from Minneapolis.
Griffith refuses to admit that he
tried to sell Simmons to the Cubs or
any other National League team.
I'VE asked waivers on a lot of our
fellows" says Griff, but all clubs do
that sort of thing. That's the way we
feel out the other teams on the value
Of our men.
"Offhand," continued Griffith, I'D
say now that Simmons is liable to be
back with Washington next year. Har-
ris and haven't gone into any dis
cussion very deeply as yet. Right now
I'm waiting on paying my debt to
Chattanooga.
Simmons is a valuable man, as a
part-time player if not regular. He
murders left-handed pitching and Al
always has been at his best in money
games I'm not anxious to get rid of
him."
League Liable to Lose Vet.
GRIFFITH recently asked waivers
on 3 flock of his Nationals. A
club is required to wait 10 DAYS in
order to see what claims haye been
hled. The old gentleman, then, must
walt until some time this week before
he will know whether he is free to |
send certain men to Chattanooga.
Griffith refuses to name those play
ers upon whom he asked waivers, but |
That comes as no surprise. 1t is safe |
to surmise, however, that Catcher
Walter Miles, Pitchers Pete Apple
ton. Eddie Linke, Bucky Jacobs and |
Ray Phebus, Infielder Johnny Mihalic |
and Outfielder Sington are among
those who are threatened with a re-
turn to the minors.
AS for Simmons, your guess is as
good as anybody else's. AL hardly
figures to be involved in a trade, al
though stranger things have hap
pened. The chances are that Sim
mons either will play for Washington
at a utility players salary or be
claimed by the National League, in
which he probably will be star for