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Show What Coasters Are Gossiping About in Off-Season Coast league baseball in general, and local lo-cal baseball in particular, has been enriched en-riched by the enlistment of Arthur G. Fisk of Orange Grove avenue, Pasadena, as a magnate. Fisk Is now a part and considerable owner of the Vernon club. Folluwing a conference which lasted well into the evening, even-ing, Dannody announced that an agreement agree-ment had been reached by which Fisk was to become a part owner, and the statement state-ment was confirmed by Fisk, although no confirmation was necessary. This deal will be followed by a reorganization reorgani-zation of the board of directors on January Janu-ary l, and in all probability by a change of management Patterson, it is understood, under-stood, jwill be able to count his days as manager -of the Tigr-rs on the fingers of two hands. It is the present plan to land him another position. As stated more than a month ago, George Stovail is being be-ing seriously considered for the position. Of course, there may be a hitch in these arrangements, but that is believed to be the present plan, with Cravath as second choice. That the choice lies between these two there is hardly a doubt in the minds of baseball men who have been studying the various angles of the situation. situa-tion. The one thing that militates against Stovail is that Darmody is believed to favor fa-vor a playing manager. Stovail Is a first baseman, and the club is strongly fortified in that position with Gus Gleiehmann. Cravalh could manage the club and play the outfield, where Darmody is particularly particular-ly easer to Increase the hitting, and Gav-vy Gav-vy certainly can macerate the pill. In case Stovail takes the job. and decides to play first, a deal could be made for Gleiehmann which might prove adva ntngeous to the : cluli. That Darmody and Fisk will aim high in the matter of a new manager, and 'land a man who lias traveled on big time is certain. Los Angeles Times. "Relief of the draft rule" was the topic at baseball headquarters yesterday. Walter Wal-ter Henry McCredie, manager of the Beavers, had the floor. "If the club owners of class AA of the minor leagues of baseball think they will better themselves by having the draft abolished, they are mistaken," said the Herculean leader of the Portland club yesterday. yes-terday. "Very seldom does a real star get drafted. v "It is very rare, at least. Most every player who shows extraordinary ability is sold long before the drafting season opens. Such were the cases of Louis Guisto, El wood Martin, Harry Wolter, Oscar Horstman, Swede Risberg, Hay Bates ar.d others too numerous to mention, men-tion, during the 1916 season. A good-sized good-sized chunk of coin is usually secured for them, too. "These sales do not have to be made. A club owner can refuse offers If he does not care to disrupt his team. Only one man can be drafted each year, and $2500 Is paid for him. If the draft was removed re-moved it would cause no end of trouble. Ball players in this league would get it into their heads that they were major leaguers, would want fat salaries in a league where it is impossible to pay 'big time" wages, and there would be no way for a player to advance In his profession. If a club owner did not care to sell him. he could be held, and this would cause dissatisfaction galore." Portland Ore-Ionian. Ore-Ionian. PORTLAND, Dec. 24. Portland ball fans will not see the Chicago Cubs in action ac-tion In the spring. Judge William Wallace Wal-lace McCredie received word yesterday that the Chicago Nationals, who will train at Pasadena, will return home by the Western pacific and consequently will not touch Portland. Charley Weeghman asked for a game with the Beavers in California Califor-nia on March 21, but as itjis the Portland magnate's Intention to have the Beavers play here against some Inter-City league team or among themselves on March j and i!5. about ten days prior to the open- i ing in Salt Lake, April 3, this game could not possibly take place. The word received yesterday knocks in the head the proposed Port land -Chicago "barnstorm Ing" trip from California, through Oregon to Portland and on to Osden. It is the present intention of the McCredles to make the trip, but, of course, without the Windy city brigade- Who do you suppose is the latest to join the ranks of the "comebacks?" No less a personage than Harvey Harkncss. more commonly known as "Speck," once an umpire um-pire in the I'n ion association, who believes be-lieves that he is not through as a baseball pitcher, and has persuaded Manager McCredie Mc-Credie of the Ben vers that he is In as good shape as he ever was in his life. No contract has ben signed by which Harkness will bp a member of the in 1 7 team. Neither Harkness imr McCredie were willing to go that far until they both saw what the former Portland pitcher was capable of doing, hut the Portland manager man-ager has already given his consent to Harkness reporting with the team for spring training. In othM- words. Harkness will be taken along on the training trip, and if he shows the return to form he is confident he can. Speck will be added to the pitching force as a regular member. Speck rcatlv started his professional career ca-reer with Portland, going there from Butte, and went to Cleveland as a result of his' good work with the Ben vers. lie was later returned to Port hind by the Naps, as they were called then, and was later sold to Vernon. After his arm went back on him. Speck nit'-hed in Northwestern league circles until un-til the early part of last season, when he retired from baseball as a player. I LOS ANGULK-S. !. L' 4. Work will! start riqht away on the rebuilding of the! wrecked Vernon ball club. So says Tims, j J. Darmody, t ho new owner of the Ben-1 SnK in hi first statement aficr the pur- chnse of the club. j Flight now the Timers are in the poor- : pst shape of any club In jho circuit, as j far as bull players arc concerned. Prac- tii-nllv nothing in way of securing men for next saMin has been done since the Hose nf Inst year, except Yr the sicning of a husher here and there. When it cullies to yelling real ball plavers. not a single mnve h.-is been I mail'-; Put . thai does not sk-iiiiy that limihirig will be. done. Tho Wrnun ball; club's 1 fl 7 owner was In doubt until last night, tfs'o one knew whether Darmody or Maier would own the club when the lfUT season opened, and for that reason the club was allowed to stand Idle while all the other magnates In the league were securing men to strengthen their 1917 lineups. But now Darmody will start and he will finish. He says so himself, and that's the best proof that the Vernon camp will be a busy one from now on. Of course, there is liable to be a little delay In the managerial end of the team, as Darmody has not decided whether or not he will retain Ham Patterson for the coming season, and it is always best to get your manager before starting to work I building a club. Darmody and Patterson will get together togeth-er right after the start of the new year. At this meeting. Patterson's case will be decided, and then in less than a month the 1017 Vernon Tigers will be assembled, i "I realize," said Darmody, "that we'll ! have to work hard to get a ball club to- j gether for the coming season. We need a i lot of players, but I don't see why we won't be able to get them when we start. As soon as the new manager is named or I decide to keep Patterson. I'll start rebuilding re-building the club. We'll have plenty of time to get a, good club in the field if we work hard, and that's what we're going to do." Darmody intimated that he was goins: after men who could pound the pill; that he didn't care so much for a classy fielding field-ing club if he could secure a bunch of fence busters. This practically, means the passing- of a couple of the members of the Tiger outfield. |