Evening star., 1938-12-13
Rivals Struggle
To Blunt Edge
Of Yankees
Tiger Deal for Star
HurIer Is Biggest
Move in Fight
BY GAYLE TALBOT,
Associated Press Sports Writer

HsooeAdtco COO opoI 70 WIlltI.
NEW YORK, Dec. 13.-One thing
can be said for sure as the straps
of baseball get down to business
here today in the annual big league
convention-the New York Yankees
are not going to break up their
three-time world champions "for
the good of the game"
Therefore, almost anything that
happens in the way of player deals
in either league is not going to be
Of paramount Importance. The fact
will remain that the Yankees over
shadow the game. and are In posi-
ton to watch with honest amuse-
ment the efforts of IS other clubs
to put together winner.
The Detroit Tigers took lengthy
leap in that direction yesterday
when they bought Freddie Hutchin-
son, the years likeliest minor league
pitching prospect. from Seattle of
the Pacific Coast League. Just to
show how highly Hutchinson is rated
the Tigers gave up veteran out
fielder, Joyner White: Tony Piet, an
infielder who has played in each
major league: two minor league
prospects and an unannounced sum
of cash.
Bolstered for Yank Battle.
They beat the Yankees and the
Pittsburgh Pirates to the youth. A
while back Seattle was asking about
$50,000 in cash. but wishing for
players. The Tigers had the players
and got. the boy. With a right
handed pitcher who won Is and lost
7 on the Coast last season they now
are in much better shape for the
annual pursuit of the New Workers.
There is a good chance that be-
fore nightfall the Cleveland In
dians will have shipped Pitcher
Denny Galehouse and Outfielder
Earl Averill to Detroit in exchange
for Pitcher Eden. Auker and Out
fielder Pete Fox, with the Boston
Red Sox possibly cutting themselves
in on the deal.
There is much other trade talk.
Every American League manager
knows that his present lineup isn't
good enough to head off the Yanks.
Similarly, the Nationals still are
smarting from the four straight
beating their Chicago Cubs took in
the world series. and they all want
to strengthen. They all talk trade,
yet with an air of futility.
All Fighting Champs.
When Manager Joe Mccarthy of
the Yanks walks through the lobby,
complacently putting his cigar and
harborlng no worries. the others
give him cordial Hello. joe" and
then say to themselves, "the lucky
stiff"
The American League, holding its
meeting separately from the Na-
tlonal today, in all proba bilitv will
adopt the so-called dead ball in
troduced by the rival circuit last
season. Seven owners hope it will
do something to c,,rtail the Yankees
terrific power. They are making
the change despite the abundant
proof that the customers like
bushels of base hits. And it probably
Will do no good, for when Di Mag
glo. Dickey, Gehrig and Gordon hit
ball it is likely to disappear, no
matter what has been done to its
innards.
New Player Limit Likely.
The American Leaguers have sew
eral matters to thresh out. Thev
have before them the suggestion of
owner Jacob Rupert of the Yanks
that salaries be paid from the open-
Ing OF spring training. in order to
discourage holdouts. This is due
Tor defeat. as is also a proposal that
the season be closed a fortnight
earlier than at present in order to
avoid the annual conflict with foot
ball.
Both circuits are expected to ex-
tend the present player limit of %
to Is men. thus giving employment
to 50 more athletes. There will be
some hot argument on a proposal
to make waivers non-recallable, and
to boost the waiver price from $500
to $4,000. A majority of National
League teams are said to favor this.
The Cleveland Indians again are
applying for permission to play
night games, and are being fought
tooth and nail by the Yankees and
others. Big plans will be made for
the celebration next season of base
balls Tooth anniversary.