Evening star., 1938-12-11
Nat Boss Eyes
York, Auker
Of Tigers
Husky Catcher Mainly
Wanted; SoIters Of
Tribe Is Sought
BY FRANCIS E. STAN,
Star Stan Writer

ueAt week, put clark Griffith, owner
of the Washington ball club and
foremost David Harum in the busi-
ness, already was open for business
tonight.
Griffith arrived on the scene some
60 hours ahead of time and declared
for himself policy Of trading which,
If true, makes none of his Nationals
sure of their jobs with Washington
next year. Sorting out most of the
IFS, and's and butts which decorated
his remarks, his policy is as follows:
I. He is anxious to get rid of Out
fielder AL Simmons, but doesn't want
to give him away, meaning that he
will not tender his peeved veteran
an unconditional release. Simmons
is the only ball player I will sell for
cash." says Griffith.
2. He seems almost as anxious to
announce a deal involving First
Baseman Zeke Bonura, on whom
every club in the American League
has waived. II want to trade Bo-
nura. not sell him." says Griffith. Il
won't consider a cash settlement
unless have found a promising
player I can buy with this money.
consider such a transaction the
same as trade"
Willing to Trade Travis.
3. He is willing to trade Shortstop
Cecil Travis If he can get what he
considers a fair deal. Griffith admits
the Detroit Tigers are interested in
Cecil
4. He will be painfully willing to
trade Catcher Rick Ferrell to De-
troit for Rudy York, but don't think
the Tigers will go for this deal. He
regards his chances of getting
Catcher Birdie Tebbetts, also of
Detroit, even simmer. Talks a
good deal about Frankie Pytlak of
Cleveland.
S. He is not prepared to talk
trade for such as Jimmy De Shong
and Monte Weaver because they
have practically no trade value and
by sticking with those fellows we
might gain. They might come back
and have good years.
6. He likewise is not prepared to
talk trade for Buddy Lewis, Joe
Krakauskas, Ken Chase. Taft
Wright and George Case because
don't think anybody will offer me
what they are worth
7. He wouldn't mind having York,
but confesses that he don't hold.
Rudy in any high regard except
as a hitter. Those big fellows"
he explains. aren't good catchers.
ever. They can't move. I haven't
seen great catcher who was a
: physically large man in SIS years
Of baseball" (Note-Neither Bill
Dickey nor Gabby Hartnett are
what Griff calls "big.)
Favors Packers Today.
Griffith, at the head of WASH
ington delegation which embraced
Manager Bucky Harris, Secretary
Eddie Eynon and Demon Scout Joe
Cambria, pulled into New York
we'll ahead of time and gave the
impression that he was intent on
making the first player deal of the
meeting.
There is well-founded suspic-
ion that he already has completed
details of Bonura's shift, probably
to National League club, but Is
withholding details until after the
New York Giant-Green Bay Packer
game. Immediately upon arrival
tonight he contacted Horace Stone
ham, owner of the Giants, who
are interested in the hefty first
baseman
The player that Grifiith is most
anxious to unload is Simmons. His
verbal battles with the big outfielder
have not been forgotten and Grit
fifth is as bitter as ever. He has
asked waivers on AL and is await
ing the time limit to expire.
I'll get EN-" he predicts. IT
asked for waivers twice during the
summer and got 'em both times.
Detroit is supposed to have claimed
him, according to Simmons, but it
wasn't no such thing. Nobody
claimed him."
you will get waivers the third
time, too supplied Harris.
Solters Deal up to Bucky.
Griffith says that he didn't look
for much dealing in the American
League. II won't have much time
to dicker," he added. I'm on a lot
of committees and will be tied up
In meetings. It'll be up to Bucky
to stir up something. If possible"
Harris thinks that Cleveland and
Detroit are the clubs most likely
to become involved in q trade. Asked
whether he would consider trading
Simmons to Cleveland for Outfielder
julius Solters, Griflth shrugged his
shoulders. II don't think much Of
Solters," he added. Anyway, I
don't think Cleveland wants to
make that deal. I'll leave 1t up to
Bucky. If he wants Solters he can
get him."
Harris said he wouldn't mind hav-
ing Julius, but that he wouldn't
give much for him"
AS Is his custom, Grifiith refuses
to mention names Of his players in
connection with deals. He will talk
OF Simmons and Bonura, but about
few q the rest. The impression is
left, however, that If a trade is made
Rick Ferrell will go. The old gent
would rather have a more rugged
type Of player In his place.
It would not be too surprising II
Ferrell and Travis wound up in De-
troit In exchange for York and
Pitcher Eden Auker, II not . lesser
player as well.