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amead17 · 03-03-2026, 01:36 PM

SIX TRADES MARK LIVELY WINTER MARKET AHEAD OF DRAFT
Clubs Weigh Veteran Experience Against Youth in Series of December Deals

By Arthur H. Leland, Sporting Times
December 12th 1918

With the offseason now in full motion and the draft but days away, major league clubs have set briskly about the business of reshaping their rosters. In all, six trades have been concluded since late October, as teams deliberate whether immediate veteran assistance is required or whether patience may yield reward in the forthcoming draft.

The first movement came on October 28th, when the New York Giants dispatched 24-year-old right-hander Tom Sheehan to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for 30-year-old right-hander Frank Wickware. Wickware, who labored in three starts and 23 relief appearances last season, compiled a 1–5 record with a 3.31 earned run average.

The following day saw the Pittsburgh Pirates part with 21-year-old right fielder Chick Fewster, likewise bound for Boston. In return, the Pirates secured 30-year-old left-hander Frank Allen and 24-year-old right fielder Fred Nicholson. Allen bore a heavy burden last year, making 39 starts and posting a 12–17 record with a 3.07 ERA.

On November 2nd, the Detroit Tigers transferred 25-year-old right-hander Burleigh Grimes to the Giants. Detroit received in return 23-year-old left fielder Jelly Gardner, 24-year-old first baseman Fred Lear and 23-year-old right-hander Johnny Miljus. Grimes, hampered for much of the year by acute elbow soreness, managed only three starts, finishing 0–3 with a 4.08 ERA.

A week later, on November 10th, the Cleveland Indians completed a transaction with the Chicago White Sox. Cleveland sent 22-year-old first baseman Aaron Ward and 22-year-old right-hander Jack Enright to Chicago, receiving 30-year-old right-hander Reggie Richter in return. Richter appeared 70 times in relief last season, posting a 3–10 record with 16 saves and a 3.42 ERA. Ward, in limited opportunity, struck at a .225 clip across 27 starts.

The White Sox were again engaged on November 18th, acquiring 27-year-old first baseman Edgar Wesley and 22-year-old right-hander Bill Piercy from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for 26-year-old left-hander Dutch Leonard. Leonard made 31 starts last season, going 10–18 with a 4.04 ERA. Wesley impressed in sparse duty, batting .318 across two starts and 93 appearances from the bench.

Most recently, on December 8th, Chicago sent 28-year-old left fielder Max Flack to the New York Yankees, receiving in return 24-year-old first baseman George Carr and 24-year-old second baseman Bill Wambsganss. Flack appeared in 153 contests last year, batting .233. Carr struck .217 in two starts and 80 bench appearances, while Wambsganss hit .222 over three starts and 41 appearances.

Thus concludes a flurry of transactions that may well reshape the coming campaign. Whether these exchanges of youth for experience and relief for promise shall bear fruit will not be known until the new season dawns, but the industry shown in this winter market leaves little doubt that clubs are intent upon improvement.

03-03-2026, 01:36 PM	#830
amead17 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 9,288	SIX TRADES MARK LIVELY WINTER MARKET AHEAD OF DRAFT Clubs Weigh Veteran Experience Against Youth in Series of December Deals By Arthur H. Leland, Sporting Times December 12th 1918 With the offseason now in full motion and the draft but days away, major league clubs have set briskly about the business of reshaping their rosters. In all, six trades have been concluded since late October, as teams deliberate whether immediate veteran assistance is required or whether patience may yield reward in the forthcoming draft. The first movement came on October 28th, when the New York Giants dispatched 24-year-old right-hander Tom Sheehan to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for 30-year-old right-hander Frank Wickware. Wickware, who labored in three starts and 23 relief appearances last season, compiled a 1–5 record with a 3.31 earned run average. The following day saw the Pittsburgh Pirates part with 21-year-old right fielder Chick Fewster, likewise bound for Boston. In return, the Pirates secured 30-year-old left-hander Frank Allen and 24-year-old right fielder Fred Nicholson. Allen bore a heavy burden last year, making 39 starts and posting a 12–17 record with a 3.07 ERA. On November 2nd, the Detroit Tigers transferred 25-year-old right-hander Burleigh Grimes to the Giants. Detroit received in return 23-year-old left fielder Jelly Gardner, 24-year-old first baseman Fred Lear and 23-year-old right-hander Johnny Miljus. Grimes, hampered for much of the year by acute elbow soreness, managed only three starts, finishing 0–3 with a 4.08 ERA. A week later, on November 10th, the Cleveland Indians completed a transaction with the Chicago White Sox. Cleveland sent 22-year-old first baseman Aaron Ward and 22-year-old right-hander Jack Enright to Chicago, receiving 30-year-old right-hander Reggie Richter in return. Richter appeared 70 times in relief last season, posting a 3–10 record with 16 saves and a 3.42 ERA. Ward, in limited opportunity, struck at a .225 clip across 27 starts. The White Sox were again engaged on November 18th, acquiring 27-year-old first baseman Edgar Wesley and 22-year-old right-hander Bill Piercy from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for 26-year-old left-hander Dutch Leonard. Leonard made 31 starts last season, going 10–18 with a 4.04 ERA. Wesley impressed in sparse duty, batting .318 across two starts and 93 appearances from the bench. Most recently, on December 8th, Chicago sent 28-year-old left fielder Max Flack to the New York Yankees, receiving in return 24-year-old first baseman George Carr and 24-year-old second baseman Bill Wambsganss. Flack appeared in 153 contests last year, batting .233. Carr struck .217 in two starts and 80 bench appearances, while Wambsganss hit .222 over three starts and 41 appearances. Thus concludes a flurry of transactions that may well reshape the coming campaign. Whether these exchanges of youth for experience and relief for promise shall bear fruit will not be known until the new season dawns, but the industry shown in this winter market leaves little doubt that clubs are intent upon improvement.