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Show IRIS CHENf Assures New First-sacker, Burns of Athletics, Tiiat Melon Will Be Cut That Tris Speaker, manager of the ! Cleveland ball club, confidently expects ex-pects to cop t h bunting iu the Johnson John-son circuit this year. Is best attested I by his action in acquiring First Rase man Burns, from the Philadelphia Alh letici recently, details ol thai deal having hav-ing juft become available. Since 1 he American league season opened. Doc Johnston, of Cleveland, has been hitting the ball al .1 terrific rate, but his legs were giving him considerable trouble Speaker wants 10 keep Johnston, but he was afraid Doc's pegs would play out Quietly Speaker looked around for a first Backer. Finally he decided Burns of the Athletics Ath-letics would fill the bill. Burns is Just as fast a fielder as Johnston, and he is a fair sticker, but hp cannot quite measure up to Johnston as a pinch hitter Going to Connie Mack Speaker Speak-er arranged for the deal Mack demanded de-manded $10,000 for Burns. Speaker was satisfied with the price, but held Mack off until after he had a chance to discuss the matter with Burns Speaker had a star chamber session with Burns and informed the latter Just why he was being purchased by the Indians Speaker wanted Burns to know that there was a chance he would hav ,f warm the bench much of the time, and in doing this ho did not want Burns to become bout on t ho Job. Sneaker 1 . Burns that he would have better ;han a fighting chance to cut into a world's series melon. He e. plained that Johnston would at all times be given preference at the first basing job, then tossed in some extra conversation about the benefits of being be-ing with a winner and with a team that was roing along like a big happy lnmily Burns accepted the assign-j ment on Speaker's recommendation and the deal whs closed when Cleveland's Cleve-land's check for $10,000 went to Con nlo Mack Speaker says Burn was the best bet available, because If he had not landed 'he Athletic first sack er hp would have been obliged to go Into ihe hushrr. for a man, and then had to take one who Knew nothing; about American league pitching, and probably knew nothing about major leapue baseball "Burns is worth all we paid for bun because he Is a good bitter and a smart ball player, and added to thle is the fact that he Is always al-ways trying and Is an eaav man to manage," said the Indian pilot. Burns Is a Cleveland fixture now. |