Evening star., 1939-12-09
Hopes Lowered
As Benga|s Get
Wa||y Moses
Walker Boeged, Mats
Leaders Feel Trip
Was Worthwhile
By Stan Correspondent Of The star.

EN- HOU1E FHOM ClNClNNA11.
Dec. 9-Clark Griffith, and Bucky
Harris neared home today from the
annual mid-winter trading mart
with title to Outfielder Gerald
Walker and little more than a hope
that sooner or later they will land
Rudy York to play first base for the
Nationals.
For a few fleeting hours before
they boarded their train last night,
Griffith and Harris entertained the
hope Of completing a Cecil Travis
for York deal with the Detroit Tig-
ers. Harris went into conference
with Jack Zeller, general manager
of the Tigers, and Del Baker, the
pilot. Later Griffith conferred with
Walter o. Briggs, owner Of the De.
troit club.
Today Griffith indicated that he
still thought there was a chance Of
the trade being completed. The
Mats left the Tiger bosses with q
proposition and if the Detroiters are
unable to find room for York in their
regular lineup, it is likely that ne.
gotiations will be reopened.
Tigers Acquired Another Lefty.
A few minutes after Grifith left
Briggs, the Tigers announced an
other deal which, if allowed by Com
missioner Kenesaw M. Lands, may
spoil Washington's chances of get
ting York for Travis. The Detroit
club sent Inf1elder Benny Mccoy and
Pitcher Slicker Coffman to Phila-
delphia in exchange for Outfielder
Wally Moses.
Harris, who had been optimistic
regarding the Mats prospects of
landing the big Indian slugger, was
inclined to think the Philadelphia
trade might hurt.
1T gives Detroit plenty of left
handed hitters," he said Moses,
Charley Gehringer, Barney McCosky
and Earl Averill all are left-handers.
If the Tigers had Travis, they'd
have another fellow batting from
the same side of the plate"
From source close to the Detroit
club it definitely was learned that
Travis was offered for York, even-
up. Briggs remarked half jokingly
that he would okay the deal If
Grifhth would include Dutch Leon
ard. The Old Fox laughed and left
1t that way-York for Travis.
Won't Trade Travis Elsewhere.
As he left Briggs, the old gentle
man promised the Tiger owner:
If you don't take Travis for York,
we'll keep our shortstop. promise
that much. We're not so anxious
to trade him. I promise we won't
trade him to any other club"
Harris, who previously had de-
clared that he was willing to take
back First Baseman Zeke Bonura
If he could obtain the big fellow
from the Giants for the $500
waiver price, admitted today that
little chance remains for getting
Bonura.
Baseball men were treading softly
as the meeting came to close. When
Detroit traded Mccoy and Coffman
for Moses there was some lifting Of
eyebrows, inasmuch as Mccoy was
suspected of being one of the play
ers whom Lands regarded as being
mishandled by the Detroit organiza.
ton. Last summer the Tigers re.
portedly attempted to include Out
fielder Roy Cullenbine in their big
trade with st. Louis but Lands pre-
vented 1t, presumably because he
was investigating further.
Walker Acquisition Unexpected.
Late negotiations with the Browns
fell through but these also may be
reopened later in the winter. The
Browns were occupied during the
final day of the meeting with the
White Sox, to whom they finally sent
Outflelder Julius Solters for Rip
Radcliff, also an outfielder. The out
right sale by Chicago of Third Base
man Marvin Owen to the Boston Red
Sox completed the American League
dealing for the day.
The Nat bosses, who went to the
meeting for the purpose of acquiring
either Hank Greenberg or York from
the Tigers, were happy to return
with Walker. This was a deal they
did not expect to make. From now
on, Griffith and Harris indicate, they
will sit tight and wait for the Tigers
to make up their minds about York.
There Is something like an even
chance, In this observers book, that
Washington-Detroit trade talk will
start again, although probably not
this year. But before or during train
ing season, the Mats may wind up
with York on first base and the
Tigers may have Travis to play short.
Busy Meeting for Mats.
It may even develop that st. Louis
and Washington will renew confer
ences via long distance. The Mats
still would like to have Centerflelder
Chet Laabs and Pitcher Vernon
Kennedy and If the Browns want
Travis and Pitcher Joe Krakauskas
In exchange, some business may be
completed.
But, even If nothing more is
done, Grimth and Harris feel their
expedition to Cincinnati was some-
thing more than . mild success. At
long last they have q hard-hitting
right-hand outfielder In Walker and
they feel they gave up nothing more
than o worn-out pitcher in Pete
Appleton and q good hitter but poor
fielder and base-runner in Taft
Wright.
It was, in short, a pretty big meet
ing for the Washington contingent.
The Mats made the first American
League curbing of the Yankees, and
even Scout Joe Cambria made news
when he drew the heaviest fine,
81 900, for passing out a fictitiously
dated and blank contract.
.l(l. (w