Evening Star Newspaper, February 1, 1927, Page 38

SPORTS. THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. 0O, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 19217. SPORTS. “Acquisition of Speaker Gives Washington Finest Outfield in League ”---Griffith - - LOCALS OUTBID SEVERAL . CLUBS TO LAND VETERAN Extent of “Fancy” Salary for Former Cleveland Pilot Agreed Upon in Long Distance Phone Nego- tiations for Star Not Divulged. By the Associated Prese RIS SPEAKER veteran of 20 m base ball campaig packs a powerful ¥ as turned in lian unif S ray-haired 11-ye: orm for the togs of a Wask Word that the stocky agreed to play centerfield Griffith this comin season was ceived here last night by long tance telephone from Tampa, FI where the Washington club president is taking a brief rest. Griffith later | amplified his at 1 while Speaker New York nounced he would report to the Wash- ington training camp March 1 | While neither Griffith nor Speaker, who reached the agreement in a tele- phone conversation between mpa and New York, would divulge the sal ary to be stipulated in the contract, it as understood to be a fancy one, Griff Had to Bid High. “T w determined to get Tris,” | Griffith said, “and it would have taken a neat pile to get him from me.” An indication that there was more | truth than poetry in this remark w: ziven by Miller Huggins, manager of the New York Yankees, who, in mak- ing a bid for Speaker’s services, ad- mitted he had “very strong opposition from two other clubs which had gone sky high in their offers.” Speaker, recently exonerated by Bas Ball Commissioner Landis along with Ty Cobb of charges of “fixin, game played several years ago, said he bagd talked with Huggins and Con- nie Mack, ganager of the Philadel- phia Athletics, but “not with an idea of creating any bidding.” Parley Opened Week Ago. He said negotiations leading up to his acceptance of the Washington of- fer began in Chicago a week ago, when Griffith came up to him before Landis announced his decision and said “Tris, when Landis clears you, I would like to be the first to do busi- ness with you.” “That suits me,” Tris replied. He added that Griffith called him on the telephone last night and said he had decided to “accept my proposition, and I closed with him at once.” | “I'm mighty glad to get the business | off my mind and be with Griffith,” he said. for C Griff Envisions Pennant, As for Griffith, he already has visions of another American League pennant for the club piloted by the youthful Bucky Harris. He said he did not want to see Speaker go to the Yankees because he had “a real de- #ire to beat them this year and thought that acquisition of Speaker was a chance to do it.” Speaker, he added, “will add just the strength we needed to give the Wash- ington Club the finest outfield in the e this season.” The former Cleveland and Roston player will be used in his favorite sition of centerfield, with Goslin in | left and Rice in right. “No club in the ‘country,” Griffith says, “will have an outfleld equal to it in the combination of hitting, fielding. running and throwing.” How They Batted Last Year. Goslin_hit for .354 last year; Rice, -337, and Speaker, .304. McNeely, who played center for Washington last season has signed a 1927 contract |in Hubbard, T T and probably will be used roles. Speaker, in utility who will visit his mother before reporting at npa for Spring training, has a lik- ¢ for the local ball orchard. He bat- here, in 1926, getting 14 hits imes at bat and scoring 11 aborating on his 1927 predictions, flith said his team would “be in there all 'the way and it is my firm conviction that the flag will fly again ver the home grounds of the Wash- ington Senatol TWO SANDLOT NINES PLANNING CAMPAIGNS A couple of Washington clubs an nounced today the start of prepara- tions for the base ball season. Addison _tosses to gather to- night at 8 o'clock at the home of Manager Roy Ingram in the Plymouth Apartments. The nine, it is an- nounced, will represent the Mayflower Publishing Co. in the Commercial ague this season. get base ballers, who ear will perform in junior ranks, naged by Ed Hart: Members of the team are to communicate with Bennie Katzman at 403 venth street southwest. SUZANNE MAY RIVAL WIMBLEDON TOURNEY By the Associated Press LONDON, February 1.—Suzanne Lenglen is said by the Sketch to be preparing a surprise for the English lawn tennis world. The paper hints that she proposes to organize a series of professional matches next Summer during the Wimbledon meet, with a view to drawing crowds away from the fa- mous tennis series. “‘Suzanne,” the Sketch .comments, ‘would certainly regard this as sweet revenge for the insults, fancied or otherwise, she suffered from the Wim- bledon officials.” At the Wimbledon golden jubilee tennis tournament last June, Suzanne was censured for failure to appear on the courts when Queen Mary of Eng- land waited in the stands to see her play. Later she said that at first she was willing to play in her doubles match on that day, but after being scolded for not appearing for a singles match, of which she knew nothing, she was too upset to play at all. Then she withdrew from the singles com- petition on the plea of iliness. She had held the champlonship six times. BAGENBAGGAGE TOPS LIST. BALTIMORE, February 1 (&).— Bagenbaggage, Col. E. R. Bradley's famous four-year-old, will carry top- weight of 128 pounds in the $25,000 Dixie Handicap, to be run at Pimlico, May 2. The race Is at a mile and three-sixteenths. Mrs. W. K. Vander- bilt's Sarazen, and Espino, owned by Willlam Zeigler, jr., are rated next, with 127 pounds. McINNIS HOPE S TO BOOST PHILLIES OUT OF CELLAR Stuffy Has Bartered and Bought New Strength for Almost Every Department and Now Needs Only a Capable Third Baseman. (Nete: This is the fourteenth of Llertea of stories of 1927 major gue clud prospects.) By the Assoclated Press. PHILADELPHIA, February 1.— John (Stuffy) McInnis, newly appoint- ed manager of the Philadelphia Na- tionals, says he needs only a smart and active third baseman to lift the chronic second-division Phillies out of the National League mire in 1927 3ive me a good man and watch our smoke,"” is his prediction. Returning to the scene of his former triumphs as a member of the cham- plonship Philadelphia Athletics of more than a decade ago, McInnis al- ready has bartered and bought new strength for almost every department. Thompson Notable Addition. The most notable acquisition is George Thompson, leading second baseman of the Infernational League last geason, who came to the Phils from Buffalo by way of the Giants in the trade that sent Catcher Butch Henline and Outfielder George Harper to New York. Thompson, a .300 hitter with 26 home runs to his credit last season, is down for regular guard duty at the middle statior MeInnis will pla portside flingers are in the box for the opposition, he says. At other times Attreau, from Norfolk, in the first base when Virginia League, will get the call. Heinie Sand will be back at shortstop with Friberg, or the much-sought newcomer, on third. General utility work will fall to Russ Wrightstone, a holdover, and possibly Joe Buskey, a recruit from Cumberland. Melnnis has a quartet of slugging veterans in the outfield with Cy Wil liams in right, Fred Leach in center and Johnny Mokan and Al Nixon. al- ternating in left. Denny Sothern, who jolned the club late last season, dis- played enough prowess with his war club to warrant retention this year. Three Catchers on List. The Phils have three backstops, The veteran Jimmy Wilson will bear the brunt of the catching burden, with the aid of Clarence Jonnard, a hold- over, and Harry O'Donnell, up from | the international League. The pitching staff has been strength- ened by the addition of Alex Ferguson, one-time hurler for the Boston Red Sox and Washington Senators in the American League, and Jack Scott, ob- tained from the Giants. Hal Carlson, right-hand ace, again leads the staff, which includes Ulrich, Willoughby, Decatur, Dean and Baecht, all right handers. Two southpaws, Mitchell, a veteran, and Herb Pruett, brought back to the majors from the Pacific Coast League, will be among the pitch- ers who leave February 27 for the :‘\:;lbrlng training camp at Bradenton, Fla. Disappointed in Losing Speaker, Mack Still Hopes to Get Cobb By tho Associated Press PHILADELPHIA, February 1. Disappointed at not having obtained Tris Spe for the iladelphia Athletic ' today t he would contin 3 forts to get Ty Cobb. who, with Speaker, was recently exonerated of | base ball scandul charges. “I admire Speaker today more than I ever did,” said Mack. *“I have found him a square shootcr. Some weeks ago he told me he would not sign any contract without first seeing me. He was true to his word. He gave me the tmpression that he would like to play here, and I thought we had an even chance of obtaining him.” Mack said reports that he had of: fered_Spegker $25.000 to sign a 1927 TROUSERS contract with the Athletics were with- out foundatien. He declined, how- ever, to state the amount he had of- fered. He said he had not yet made Cobb an offer, but that he would like very much to have him. “Maybe I'll have better luck with Ty,” he added. HAWKINS 0 [NASH To Match Your Odd Coats EISEMAN'S, 7th & F T T B TR ST v i MOTOR CO. on Fourteenth Street 1333-37 14th S¢. Main 5780 | IF ights Last Night By the Associated Press. BUFFALO, N. Y.—Art Weigand, Buffalo, knocked out Mike Wallace, Cleveland (2). Fred Muller, Buffalo, beat Pete Petrolle, Ndrth' Dakota (10). Frank Garcia, Utica, defeated Frankie Van, Cleveland (6). CLEVELAND, Ohio.—Chuck Wig- gins, Indianapolis, and Johnny Risko, Cleveland, drew (12). _Pal Reed, Cleveland, defeated Joe Lohman, To- ledo (8). Wilson Yareo, Cleveland, knocked out Jack Pry, Buffalo (1). MOBILE, Ala.—Tom Winn, New Or- leans, knocked out ‘“Midget” Mike Arnold, Denver (1). MILWAUKEE, Wis.—Howard Bentz, Milwaukee, knocked out Buzz Grifith, Sioux City, Towa (2). Harry Kahn, Milwaukee, outpointed Johnny Rinni, Cleveland (8). TAMPA, Fla—Sammy Mandell, lightweight champion, outpointed Am- mando Shekels, Belgium (10). PHILADELPHIA.—K. O. Phil Kap- lan, New York, defeated Joe Simonich, Bufte, Mont. (10). Eddle Dempsey. Philadelphia, beat Al Webster, Biil- ing, Mont, (10. ~ Sailor on, Moline, IIl., knocked out Freddy Tino- co, New York (2). WINNIPEG, Manitoba—Jackle Conway, Minneapolis, scored a_techni- cal knockout over Ernie Headley, Ottawa (5). Pat Swenney, Minneap- olis, knocked out Pergy Buzzer, ‘Winnipeg (3). CANTON, Ohio.—Al Corbett, Cleve- land, defeated Tommy Crowley, Pitts- burgh (10). Carl Cavelli, Canton, knocked out Mike Goldman, Acron (6). LOUISVILLE.—Chuck Burns, San Antonio, knocked out Soldier Buck, Louisville (5). NEWARK, N. J—Carl Tremain, Cleveland, defeated “Spark Plug” Russell, Newark (10). MEMPHIS, Tenn.—Johnny Franks, Marked Tree, Ark., and Pal Moore, Memphis, drew (8). AR ARGENTINE FIGHTER MAY RETURN TO U. S. By the Associated Press. BUENOS AIRES, February 1 Miguel Ferrara, Argentine heavy weight, who made a good impression when he fought on several occasions in New York in 1924, is planning to re- turn to the United States, where he hopes to fight his way into the ranks of contenders for Gene Tunney's crown. Ferrara at one time was the sparring partner of Luis Firpo. Argentine fight fans are looking for- ward eagerly to Ferrara's fight with Victor Campolo, former amateur South American heavyweight champion, Sat- urday night. Although Campolo has the advantage in weight, height and reach, ring followers believe that Fer- rara’s experience will offset this. LA BARBA IS PLANNING FIGHT TRIP TO BRITAIN NEW YORK, February 1 (#).—Fidel La Barba, world flyweight champion from Los Angeles, is planning a trip abroad to show Great Britain how he conquered Elky Clark of Scotland. A meeting has been arranged be- tween the champion and Teddy Bal- dock, British bantam, for 15 rounds in London in May. La Barba's title will not be at stake. Men’s Special Footer Cleaning This Week Only | Business Suit, $1.20 i Regularly $1.50 Ties, 15¢ Regular Price FOOTER’S CLEANERS and DYERS 1332 G St. N.W. Main 2343 THE “GRAY EAGLE” NOW IS A GRIFFMAN I TRIS SPEAKER. Fights Tonight INDIANAPOLIS.—Bud Taylor Terre Haute, vs. Howard Mayberry, Duluth 10). DES MOINES, Iowa.—Lou Rollinger, ‘Waterloo, Iowa, vs. Carl Augustine, St. Paul (10). TOLEDO, Ohio.—Jimmy Mendo, To- ledo, vs. Chick Suggs, Bedford, Mass. €10} sl”’ I.J< Reynolds T.z:-fle When Base Ball Was Young BY JOHN B. FOSTER The First “$10,000 Beauty” When the Boston National League Club bought the right from the Chi- cago National League Club to the serv- ices of Mike Kelly, paying for that privilege the sum of $10,000, the fans in Boston buzzed as nolsily about the transaction as other fans had buzzed about a certain tea party of prior date In Boston the base ball enthusiasts were startled. There were two rea- sons for that. One of them was be- cause of the magnitude of the sum in- volved, which was something all out of the ordinary {n base ball, and the other was because the Boston owners had risked any amount at all. There\had been an impression in Boston from the time that the “trium- virate” acquired possesion of almost all of the stock of. the club that the three gentlemen were so thrifty they never would be induced to speculate in base ball. They took care of their routine business, even to the matter of selling their own tickets at the gate. They did that not only when they first began, but after the club had become well established. They were very well to do, all three of them, and only re- cently the last of them has pa: away. But being New Englanders, they were not afrald to work. Base Ball Their Hobby. Base ball was thefr hobby, even if they did play it very closely to their “wes cuts,” but they were not of thg type who thought because they owned a base ball club it was incumbent upon them to purchase soda water for the proletariat and the Dorchester bugs. Their policy in time came to be re- spected and when they had finished with the game they had left behind them a reputation for solid business integrity not surpassed by any men who ever have had to do with base ball. More than that, they proved to be very good sportsmen. In fact, they were much better sportsmen than most of their critics. After the sum of $10,000 had been invested in Kelly the three owners de- cided to purchase Clarkson, the fa- mous pitcher, from the Chicago club for the same amount. Then wonder did flutter around. The Boston fans said the three owners had gone mad. If they had it was the finest and best- paying exhibition of lunacy in years, because they got back their money 80 many times over and won cham- plonships in such an accomplished fashion that they were the envy of all base ball. Out in Chicago the fans blew the Chicago business management sky high, and editorials were printed in the newspapers criticizing the owners for letting Kelly and Clarkson go to Boston. But the Chicago management had been running wild with pennants for a long term of years, and the mat- ter of winning had become such a set- tled fact that it had little effect on Chicago. Kelly became known as the “$10,000 beauty,” and had a folowing in New York that was as great as that in Boston, because New York liked his $10,000 decoration. Anything with a ways does. Rival League Decries Deal. A rival major league was in exist ence then, and it voiced an opinion of the sale of Kelly as follows: “The latest sensation in the circles of pro- fessional base ball was the transfer to Boston from the Chicago club of that bright, particular star of the diamond fleld, M. J. Kelly. The large sum of money which was named as the price of the transfer and the salary which he Is to get caused a nine-day wonder and a great deal of comment. The event has no doubt undone a great deal of the good that has grown out of the reserve rule and the limit rule. A few more ‘Kelly deals' and the pros- perity of professional base ball will be jeopardized.” ‘Wonder what that chap would think, if alive, about the sale of Babe Ruth for something like $150,000, or what- ever it may have been—and by Bos- ton, too. Next—“The First Base Ball Uni- form. (Copyright. 1027.) e > \GIANTS ARE CERTAIN OF KEEPING HORNSBY By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, February 1.—The statement of President Sam Breadon in St. Louis that the deal which brought Rogers Hornsby, former Car- dinal manager, to the New York Gilants in trade for Frankle Frisch and Jimmy Ring, might be called off, was scoffed at today by Secretary Jim Tierney of the Giants. Breadon said yesterday that his refusal to buy 1,167 shares of stock in the Cardinals at the price Hornsby had set might force cancellation of the deal. “The stock matter does not change Hornsby’s status as a ball player,” Tierney said. ‘“He is still the prop- erty of the Giants. If he should be unable to sell his St. Louis stock that would be our problem. We would have to find ways and means to sell the stock for him. “The worst that could happen would be that Hornsby would be un- able to play with the Giants. The deal never could be called off. All the de- tails of his transfer have been carried out in a legal manner.” Secretary Tierney said he had re- cefved a letter from the former Car- dinal second baseman stating that the stock matter would be adjusted. money value hitched to it appealed to | the metropolls in those days, as it al- | TRIS ASSURED OF BERTH . AS A REGULAR IN CENTER Flanked by Goose Goslin and Sam Rice, Veteran Texan Rounds Qut as Formidable a Trio of Flychasers as Any Team Boasts. BY JOHN B. FOSTER. EW YORK, February 1.—As sured of a position as a regu- lar in the Senators’ outfield, | Tris Speaker has made terms | with Clark Griffith and will go to the Washington club, as most ob- servers expected him to do. While the former Cleveland man- ager, recen! 2 erated with Ty | Cobb in the “Dutch” Leonard scandal affair, was virtually a free agent and could deal with any club in the Ameri can League, it was the general opinion that he would go to Washington, in spite of flattering offers from New York and Philadelphia. Griffith got the first chance at Speaker at the Chicago meeting of American League owners, and he made it clear to the former Cleveland star that he would be a regular and not sit on the bench as an ornament. There was a better place for Speaker on the Washington team than with either the 'Yankees or the Athletics. If he turns up at Spring training with a good pair of knees, Washington will have a formidable batting trio in Gos- lin, Rice and Speaker—an outfield combination which Griffith believes will beat anything in base ball next season. Hornsby Is in Again. Rogers Hornsby is back in the lime- light again, too. The Rajah now is involved in difficulties arising over his possession of stock in the St. Louls Cardinals, while being a signed mem- ber of the New York Giants. On the best of authority, it can be stated that so far as Hornsby is concerned, there is absolutely no chance that he ever will play base ball with the New York Giants until he sells his stock in the St. Louis club to the satisfaction of the Natlonal League. That is final. So long as Ban Johnson remains in office as president of the American League, even while inactive, no one else will be elected to succeed him as the league's leader. There will be no effort to remove Johnson from office until such time as it appears that a change is positively necessary. There never has been any intention to approach Senator Pepper of Penn- sylvania with a proposition to make him president of the American League. The intimation that he might be requested to take the office came from Chicago, but not from the office of the American League or from the Chicago American Club. Huge Salary Not Contemplated. The league {s not inclined to run wild paying salary to an executive for _THIS age tried Camels and placed them first. And it was no half-way verdict. Never in the history of smok- ing was a cigarette given a leadership like Camel has today. To find why Camels are the favor- just try them. You will find the perfect fragrance and taste of choice tobaccos, rarely blended. You will experience a mellow mildness that gives endless cigarette enjoyment! For the choice of the modern age— *Have a Camel!™ the future. Johnson is 1 | were in active control of the league's affairs, The league v Johnson state future than to other manner. There s as much sen timent for him in the uit now as ever, perhaps more in some ways. A leave of was him to see be a pos health Johnson ill, and very il make a succes of_his health. In some League is a the National, T its organization has had its bosses, almost, fans. Profitir the National 1 senfor outfit perity and bac once more to pro times and after that to fat times, the American League has been accus- tomed to do its business and tell about it afterward. Much done by agreement before me ngs were held. Players Chief C The American League always has ‘pprmltlml Johnson to be its spokes- man. Sometimes the Natlonal League has had spokesmen from one end of the circuit to the other. The American League would like to get a leader, if Johnson must go, of the type who could take place and who would know base ball well enough to formulate laws backward and forward and get players. The league is more interested in players than anything else. (Copyright. 1027.) T to have for the in any his absence whethe there migh his realiz 1 Ague ub owners and as many vicissitudes of . Which took the nothing to pros. n to nothing, and rity, then to lean ideration. his FLOWERS IS MATCHED. ATLANTA, Ga., February 1 (#).— Tiger Flowers, former middleweight champlon, has been matched for a 10- round bout with Lew Bocash, in Bos- ton, February 18, Walk Miller, neg: manager, has an n e " GENERATOR TROUBLE? WE REPAIR ALL MAKES CREEL BROS. 1811-17 14th St. NNW. Potomac 473 Representing 48 Leading Mfrs. of Auto Electrical Equipment and Motor Parts