Indiana Daily Times

SAMMY CRANE GOES TO REDS IN TRIBE DEAL

Flashy Shortstop Transferred to World's Champions in Player Trade.

EXCHANGE AIDS BOTH

Cincinnati Must Send Capable Men Here—More Spring Games Arranged.

Shortstop Sammy Crane today was officially transferred to the Cincinnati Reds, world's champions, in a deal which probably will bring three capable athletes to the Indians. Announcement of the deal was made by General Manager Jack Hendricks over the long distance phone from Cincinnati, where he is mixing with other baseball prominents on the outskirts of the national commission meeting. Outfielders and pitchers are to come here in the deal, it is said, and Cincinnati has agreed to send capable men.

In fact, the deal was made conditional on the ability of the Reds to produce the proper talent in exchange because Hendricks stated before departing for Cincinnati Wednesday that he was after players and would not let the flashy shortstop go for cash only. Hendricks also announced today that he had conferred with Manager Pat Moran of the Reds regarding spring exhibition games in Florida and that it has been tentatively arranged for contests between the Reds and Indians both at Miami and St. Petersburg. He said two games have been planned at each camp, the Reds being scheduled to work out at Miami and the Hoosiers at St. Petersburg.

MORAN TO USE HIM AS UTILITY.

Crane was obtained from the Southern association in 1918, finished the short season here and then played regularly during the whole of the 1919 schedule. He is a wizard at fielding, a better than ordinary base-runner, but light with the bat, though this weakness is not too severe to prevent him making good in the big leagues, it is not thought. He has had two or more major league trials, it is true, but there was a noticeable all-around improvement in his work last season, and for this reason the Reds decided to start a deal for him.

It is understood Pat Moran plans to use Crane as utility infielder, because he can play either short or third base with equal cunning. In place of Crane, if the Reds do not send a shortstop among the players coming here in the trade, Herman Bronkie more than likely will be resigned, which will permit the shifting of Ollie O'Mara to Crane's old position. Two players who have been mentioned as likely to come here in the Crane transfer are Shortstop Smith and Outfielder-Pitcher Bressler.

John McGraw grabbed Smith by the waiver route some time ago, but since then Pat Moran has been endeavoring to get McGraw's consent to permit the infielder to be used in the Indianapolis deal, and he may have succeeded. At any rate, Hendricks believes the Indians will profit by the deal, and the fans will be satisfied if he can increase the hitting and pitching strength of the Indians thereby.