Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-02
No Bid Received
So Can Talk,
Pilot Says
Offer by Tribe Might
Not Lure Him, Though
Not Signed Here
Bv FRANCIS E. STAN,


CINCINNATI, Ohio, Oct. 1.-The
next lion-hearted citizen to UNDER
take the management of the Cleve-
land Indians may be Stanley
tBucky) Harris of the Washing
ton Senators.
From a source close to the Cleve-
land club, it was reported here
today that directors of the Indians
have been giving Harris 'considera-
ton" as Oscar Wits successor and
favor making flattering overtures to
the onetime second baseman who,
at AZ, is the second Oldest major
league manager in point of con-
tinuous service. Harris says that
no overtures have been made so
far. Reached by long distance tele-
phone at Fairmont, Md. fishing
camp of Paul Townsend. noted
Washington sportsman, Harris said,
This is the first I've heard Of the
report and I'd rather not commit
myself at this time. Nobody con-
nected with the Cleveland club has
mentioned the subject to me and,
as far as I'm concerned, it's just a
rumor You know how those rumors
go around"
Witt Given No Chance.
1t is generally understood that
Witt. against whom the Indians re-
belled in midseason by petitioning
President Alva Bradley for their
managers release, will not be back
at the helm Of the Tribe. When the
season ended last Sunday, with
Cleveland finishing in second place
and one game back of the Detroit
Tigers, Witt returned to his Cali
fornia home.
Witt is believed to have asked
Bradley for Qualification of his
status before the campaign ended
but Bradley refused to air his views.
I'm taking a three-week vacation"
the Indian owner said, land when
! return there will be a meeting
Of the Board of Directors"
Witt is conceded no chance by
Cleveland newspapermen of retain
ing his job. Although the dissension
among the Indians faded late in
the season, it is said that small
group of the players. headed by Bob
Teller and Rollie Hemsley, Is pre-
pared to scream loudly and long If
Witt is signed again.
Griff Gave Harris Chance.
Whether Harris would accept the
Cleveland bid, If any, is debatable.
He has been working for Clark
Grifith at Washington under one
year contracts and Is not yet signed
for 1871. It was in the Capital. 16
years ago, that he got his first
chance to pilot a team Griffith
appointed Harris to succeed DOME
Bush and the infielder. then only
81, won Washington first penuant
and only World Series.
Harris remained to win another
flag in 1925 but in 1928 he was at
Detroit. In 1888 he moved to Boston
but when Tom Yawkey bought Joe
Cronin from Griffith for a price
of exactly S250,000. Harris was out
of job Griffith, his original spcn-
sor, took him back and Bucky has
been plotting the Senators ever
since.
Bucky, who was paid $685. 900 a
year after winning the 1924 pennant,
is not among the highly paid man.
ayers today. His salary has been
reported as $4,000 and it is believed
that Clevelands offer would en-
brace a figure at least twice that
amount. Witt, who came to Cleve-
land from Newark three years ago.
was getting $17,500 in addition to a
percentage on the home attendance.
Expect Pennant in 1941.
Cleveland for years has been
known as the graveyard of base
ball managers. In rapid succession,
Indian pilots have been fired. In
cluded among these were Roger
Peckinpaugh. former Washington
shortstop; Walter johnson. great
est baseball hero in the Capitals
history, and Steve O'Neill, the old
catcher.
Nothing less than pennant in
194l likely would satisfy Cleve-
landers, who still maintain the Tribe
was the best team in the American
League this year. If Harris went to
Cleveland he would find himself in
charge of a club which owns, in
Bob Teller, the best pitcher in base
ball, and, in Rockies Lou Boudreau
and Ray Mack, the best shortstop-
second base combination in the
business.
Harris" said a Cleveland spokes-
man, lis the type of manager which
Mr. Bradley wants. He knows base
ball and he knows how to handle
players. There wouldn't be any
running of the players to Mr.. Brad
ley's Office with Harris in charge"