1916 – The New York Yankees buy pitcher Nick Cullop from the Kansas City Packers (Federal League), infielder Joe Gedeon from the Salt Lake Bees (Pacific Coast League), and infielder Germany Schaefer from the Newark Peppers (FL). Schaefer will announce that he is changing his nickname to “Liberty” because of the war. He noticed that “sauerkraut” had been renamed “liberty cabbage”.
On January 17, 1916, the New York Giants purchase three stars from the Federal League: pitcher Fred Anderson, outfielder Benny Kauff, and catcher Bill Rariden, from the Brooklyn Tip Tops for $35,000. Kauff, the 26-year-old center fielder was the Federal League’s best player. His first three seasons with New York are solid, but the trash-talking…
1916 – Lee Magee, formerly the player-manager of the Brooklyn Tip-Tops of the Federal League, is sold to the Yankees for about $25,000.
Chicago White Sox acquire outfielder Joe Jackson from the Cleveland Indian
1915 – The New York Yankees purchase Wally Pipp and Hugh High from the Detroit Tigers for a reported $5,000 each. Baseball historian Lyle Spatz (Yankees Coming, Yankees Going) writes that this was the first of some promised funneling of ball players to the recently-sold Yankees franchise.
On January 5, 1915, the Philadelphia Athletics purchase future Hall of Famer Nap Lajoie from the Cleveland Indians. Lajoie slumped to a .258 average in 1914. Thirteen years after a U.S. District Court decision for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia effectively banned him from playing for the Philadelphia Athletics, Nap Lajoie rejoins the team. With Lajoie leaving the Cleveland Naps….
1915 – Infielder Hans Lobert, well known as the “fastest man” in the National League, is traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the New York Giants for pitcher Al Demaree, infielder Milt Stock, and catcher Bert Adams. The speedster will injure his knee in a preseason game at West Point.
On January 2, 1915, the St. Louis Cardinals file suit against star outfielder Lee Magee in an effort to prevent him from signing with the Brooklyn Tip-Tops of the Federal League. The suit will fail, clearing the way for Magee to play and manage in the rival league. [jetpack_subscription_form title=”Join the Community” subscribe_text=”We bring you…
1914 – The Philadelphia Phillies trade star outfielder and team captain Sherry Magee to the Boston Braves for cash and two players to be named later. The two turn out to be Possum Whitted and Oscar Dugey. Magee led the National League in hits (171), doubles (39), RBI (103), and slugging average (.509), while hitting .314 with 15 home runs and 92 runs. On the first day of 1915 spring training at Macon, Georgia, Magee will step in a hole while shagging fly balls and break his collar bone. He will hit just .280 with two home runs and 87 RBI in 156 games.
Afraid of losing his unsigned second baseman to the upstart Federal League, Connie Mack sells Eddie Collins to the White Sox for the hefty sum of $50,000. The A’s have already lost Eddie Plank and Chief Bender to the new league.
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