Evening star., 1947-02-23
Lewis Refuses
iff's0ffers,
Stays Home
Auto Business Booms
He Wants Big Raise
Over $4,000 SoIoy
By Burton Hawkins
Stor Stoff Correspondent

ORLANDO, Fla, Feb. 22.-Buddy
Lewis, now thriving automobile
dealer and also an unsigned Wash
ington outfielder, said today that he
intends to remain at his home in
Gastonia, N. c., until he signs Nat
contract. This holding out is new
to me-" said Lewis when reached by
phone, But I know enough about
business to let the other fellow do
the talking. Well, I've done all the
talking and letter writing I'm going
to do. They can come to me"
Lewis, who declares his automo-
bile business is booming, says he has
no intention of quitting baseball
II had a letter from a Washington
fan today" said Buddy, land he
said he was glad I was holding out
and he hoped I'd quit. He said the
ball club would be better off without
me, but won't quit"
Both Are Being Stubborn.
President Clark Griffith of the
Mats hasn't heard from Lewis in
two weeks and doesn't plan to con-
tact him. Lewis, by the same token,
doesn't anticipate getting in touch
with Griffith. Both are being stub
born, but both agree they aren't too
far apart on terms and both feel
they'll have no trouble reaching a
salary agreement. It's case of
neither willing to bulge bit.
II really don't know anything fur
ther to say to Mr.. Griffith" said
Lewis. "I've said all I have to say
to him and he apparently doesn't
have anything further to discuss
with me. He had a good year last
season, though, and I think I'm
entitled to more money than he has
offered. I'll sit tight until I get it"
Asked how far apart he and Lewis
were in contract negotiations, Grif-
fifth snorted "far enough" then tenn
pered that with, "but I don't expect
any trouble from Buddy"
Lewis, due to report here on Fri
day with the Mats second squad, is
threatening to become more stub
born than either Outfelder Gil Coan
or Infielder Jerry Priddy, both of
whom are unsigned. Coan and
Priddy are expected to report on
time.
Made S14,O80 In 1916.
A 1872 hitter with the Mats last
season, Lewis is believed to be re-
questing sizeable boost over his
$4,000 salary in 1946. Manager
Ossie Bluege is relying on Buddy as
his right fielder, with Stan Spence
in center and Coan and Joe Grace
slated to scrap for the left field job.
If Griffith is in mood to weaken
and telephone Lewis, he may find
his efforts fruitless. I'm gonna bor-
row friends plane and fly down
to Atlanta on business trip next
week. says Buddy, who displayed
vast unconcern over contract nego-
tiations. A former Army pilot,
Lewis still flies occasionally and in
dicates he wants his salary to soar
more before he'd join the Mats.
With Lewis as his only seriously
reluctant player, Griffith probably
will boost the ante and get him IN
line. Priddy wants more money in
asmuch as he may be requested to
shift from second base to shortstop
or third base, but he has informed
Griffith he is heading for Orlando
from his Inglewood (Calif) resi-
dence. .
StaIemate Is Novel Affair.
The Griffith-Lewis stalemate is
novel affair. Never before has Buddy
hesitated about signing since he be-
came Nat regular in 1886. He
usually has been one of the first to
sign, and his new role as trouble
maker is battling even to Buddy.
I'm no expert on holding out" says
Buddy. "but I know what I want