- St. Louis Has Made the Least Progress of All Clubs
- New Federal League Considering Buffalo, Kansas City, Baltimore, Toronto, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh
January 13, 1914 Age 22
By W. J. O’Connor, St Louis Post Dispatch
Manager Miller Huggins of the Cardinals is busier than a bird dog these days, trying, by desperate means, to sign his players before they all hop-scotch to the Federal preserve. Inasmuch as Hug has not yet acquired a single signed document, he holds a rather unique position in baseball.
Just now Huggins has gone into seclusion at Robison Field. He has wired for some of his men to rush hither at his expense. Those who live in the jungles have been sent special delivery letters, while some of the balky folks in the immediate vicinity he will visit in person.
Until there are some returns on the contracts just sent out, Huggins and his helper, Schuyler Pearson Britton, will not know whether or not they have a ball club. They may be aroused most any day to the sickening realization that their reserve list has been raided. It’s barely possible that they may experience the same fate as the proprietors of the Phillies, who also are new to the intricate game of baseball politics.
Sure of Slim Sallee.
However, Huggins says he has absolute assurance that Harry Sallee and Tack Miller will swing in line soon, while he has asked Willie Doak to come to St. Louis this week. Oakes, Perritt and many of the recruits live so far away that Huggins will be forced to wait several days before he can get any news as to their plans for the coming season, while he will be unable to get in touch with Lee Magee, Ivey Wingo and Steve Evans until March 1, when the Sox-Giants tour terminates at Battery Park.
Dooin’s Philadelphia Club Wrecked.
The Federal League has virtually wrecked the Philadelphia Phillies club. The loss of three stars like Killefer, Knabe and Brennan is a staggering blow, while there still is a chance that Sherwood Magee and Hans Lobert may jump their reservation. So far, though, It has been definitely established that only Killefer. Knabe and Brennan have aliened with the Feds. Other names have not been made public, and there’s no way of telling who the “Jumpers” are.
The local National League officials have been criticized for their delay in getting in touch with their players. Messrs. Britton and Huggins have been comparatively idle, while other magnates have been dishing out three-year contracts containing liberal salary Increases which are calculated to attract the stars. However, it’s nobody’s funeral but Britton’s.