- MILLER ANGRY AT ‘JUMPING’ REPORT; WILL PLAY TODAY
- Cardinals’ First Sacker Threatens to Sue Scribes Who Misquote Him.
- HIS FUTURE IS DUBIOUS
- ‘Wise Guys” on the Inside Say It’s Just a Matter of Money With “Dots.”
- Doak Gets The Win, Improves To 5-1 with 1.78 ERA. 2 ER, 8 Hits, 2 SO, 2 BB, 7.1 Innings
- Huggins Pulls Off Hidden Ball Trick
May 27, 1914 Age 23
By W. J. O’CONNOR. WRAY’S COLUMN. St Louis Post Dispatch
There were tears in Jack Miller’s voice Wednesday morning when he denied that he had jumped to the Federal League. “The next guy who misquotes me will be brought Into court,” said Jack to the Post-Dispatch when seen at the West End Hotel.
“I’m going to play with the Cardinals this afternoon and I’m going to keep my mouth shut for all time.” Miller added, “because every time I speak I get in wrong. I have said nothing about jumping to the Federals, but I see they have me all signed up. I’ve had enough and want to be left alone.”
Miller reported for morning practice Wednesday and gave every assurance that he would be on the job when the game began this afternoon in spite of the positive statements made Tuesday that he had taken the hurdle.
While Miller emphatically denies that he has signed with the Federals, the wisenheimers who claim to know the “inside” facts say that the clever first-sacker has accepted terms. It is only a question of whether the Pittsburg outlaws can deliver over enough cash to make Miller’s move worth while, it is said. Miller refuses to deny or affirm this statement.
Miller Has Grievance.
It is known, though, that Miller is slightly displeased with the treatment he received at the hands of President Britton. Miller has been and still is the most conscientious workman on the Cardinal club. However, when the rumors of his alleged negotiations with the Federal League got abroad he received no word from Britton. Other players, notably Sallee, were called into the president’s office and given new contracts with substantial increases. Miller feels slighted, his friends say, because he was not treated the same way.
It’s Up to Britton.
Manager Huggins absolutely refuses to have anything to say. “This is a question for President Britton to settle,” declared Huggins after Tuesday’s game. “I’m going to do all I can to win ball games with the players I have on the field and if any of them leave I’ll have to get along without them.”
President Britton has taken a decided stand. He says: “I have gone the limit with the players. Many of them are getting salaries out of all proportion to their worth and I absolutely refuse to remain in the business purely for their benefit. Our profits this season haven’t been big and if we are forced to give all the receipts to the players we might just as well close up. I’ll not change another contract.
Another tip going the rounds is that certain Cardinal players will jump just as soon as they receive their salary envelope June 1. If they were to hurdle now, it’s a question whether they could collect their pay for the past 13 days. So they will play it safe, by waiting until after June 1. This is all speculation, however.
Wray’s Column…
Feds’ Ruining Rival Clubs.
THE Federal League has caused a condition of unrest in baseball and the worst accompanying feature of it is not the probable financial loss of one or the other militants, but the disrupting of baseball clubs and the diminishing of popular interest in them. Stories of the breaking up of the Cardinals by the Feds have put the local team completely in the air, just as it appeared about to spurt to the front. Men, owners and manager are alike discouraged and an “I don’t care spirit is taking the place of the battling sentiment that had the club climbing.
St. Louis Bars Compromise.
AS long as the outlaw league Bogey man is still at large, baseball everywhere may be expected to suffer in every way; and this fact is patent to both sides of the controversy. Yet no way out of the tangle has yet been suggested.
It Is conceded that the present condition cannot last, and yet the way out can’t be found. St. Louis stands in the way of any compromise you can figure.
In event of any mediation coming up, the St. Louis problem confronts the parties to the treaty: Which local club shall be eliminated? For it is a certainty three teams cannot earn board bills In this burg. Any answer to the St. Louis question is the merest speculation; but it is worrying the heads of three leagues.
Hidden Ball Rises From the Grave to Help Cardinals Defeat Boston
THE sepulcher opened Tuesday and out came our old friend, the “Hidden Ball Trick,” which has been missing, lo, these many moons. Indeed It has been upward of two years since the hidden ball was used on the enemy and the 1200 bugs who viewed Tuesday’s game got up and yelped when Huggins and Miller worked it on Martin, nipping a Brave rally in its incipiency in the seventh. The Cards won, 4-2.
Three double plays helped immensely in giving the game to the proteges of Miller Huggins. At that, Willie Doak seemed to be in trouble in the late rounds and he was derricked in favor of Harry Sallee, the Old Master, who smothered the enemy in the eighth and ninth.
Johnny Evers. alias “Brains,” Keystone King and “Crab,” called Umpire Rigler a fathead in the third inning and was sentenced to a cool shower. The day was hot, but Evers didn’t so much as thank Rigler for his kindness.
Evers said a lot of things to Rigler that he didn’t learn in the Bible. Johnny suggested that Rigler put on a Cardinal suit so that he wouldn’t be confused with the other umpires. Rigler tried hard to avoid a physical clash with the Boston second-sacker, but was just on the verge of bouncing a right swing off Evers’ protruding chin-chopper when Manager Stallings sent emissaries from the bench to lead Evers away. Dugey went to second,
Recently Manager Stallings issued a statement giving in detail his alibi for being last. This statement had it that Umpire Rigler was prejudiced against Boston because Stallings refused to declare him in on the sale of a player, or something to that effect. It is important that all losing clubs present such alibis to the public.
Magee put the quietus on a Brave rally in the fourth. After the enemy had scored one run on a double and two singles, Lee caught Whaling’s drive in deep center and made a sparkling throw to Beck, doubling Gilbert going to third. It was fortunate that Beck took the throw and Dolan backed up. Yes, it was fortunate, but never mind why.
The game was uninteresting most of the time, although three double plays by the Cardinals and one by the Braves enlivened the proceedings in spots. Doak seemed to tire late in the game and Manager Huggins played it safe by calling in Sallee, who was at his best.
Having lost Monday’s game, it was Cozy Dolan’s turn to win one. He did. One gone in the fourth, he singled, stole second and scored ahead of Wilson when the Chief’s line drive to left got past Connolly for a home run. Cozy made two plays on the defense that would put Mike Mowrey to shame.
The Cards made more hits off Hess Tuesday than they did in many a day. Ten safe slams is above the average. Hug combed three singles and scored two runs, having the biggest stick average of the afternoon.