The evening world., 1889-07-13
TO CLASSIFY THE LEAGUES.
AL SPALDlNGS BASEBALL SUGGESTIONS TO
PRESIDENT YOUNG.
The National League and American Assoc
citation TO Furnish thr Governing stan
dnrd Lesser ORGANIZATIONS to Grade
from Thcsc-A Plan to Discourage the
Present sales Systcm.

Present sales System,
Al Spalding has addressed tho following letter
to President Young, of the National League;
NEw IoRE, July o, 1850.
W. = i2y%a, y ~ir'''f'"t NATIONAL League" u bc'
DEAN SIN: During and since my return from
our trip around the world | have given consid-
Grape IhGuGht to TIE bc,t meapS or pefnrI"HwHtE
special reference to the professional side OF II,
and / dcsirc 70 lay before you and the leHgnr
selves to me, with the. hope that hIy agitation
ana int@rchangS Of view. some pia,, ilHy no
TAR and iuSt To- the PLAYERS, apd enable me
minor league clubs to exist on n basis that VIII
not prove SO dise,trouS and costly to the pro-
moters Of baseball in ~ many .miEor league
cities; My general plan would he something
The National League and American Associa
ton to continue ~ they are now, the governing
power In professional baseball. They jointly to
make the playing rules and to furnish the svs-
as provided tor iu II, national agreement and
articlcSo, qualified admissiun. All other pro;
icssiunal leagues aud associations to he divided
A., i, c and -.
tiols as the International League, Western hsfo-
cation, California League and others OF about
the same grade.
Glass Is to include associations whose drawing
power. would be about - per cent. less than
Class & to include associations whose drawing
Glass A.
Class u to be the lowest, including clubs that
cannot afford to pay over $50 OF $50 per month
salaries.
Continue the present plan Of protection to
miuOr leagues with the right to reserve with the
following mod ticHtious:
Glass d clubs to he obligated not TO pay
no imiividSial PLAYER over 500 per month. Ali
players in this class subject to rcauisition from
any club of a higher class on, ray one weeks
notice, upon payment of a fixed bonus OF. SAY
AGO 20 be paid to the club releasing the p aver.
Class to pay salaries aggregating, not over
81, 900 per month, and no individual player to
received over 500 por month. All PLAYERS in
this class subject to rcqulsition from any cub in
a higher class upon payment Of n bonus of $500.
Class Is to pay salaries aggregatlng not over
81, 800 per month, and no individual player to
receive over $40 per month. All PLAYERS n
Glass A and the League and American Arsocia-
ton upon the payment of u bonus Of 81, 900.
81 c 900 a pe sP R%S th," and NO iEnSfvidmSSl player pES SfS to
receive over t20O per month. All players IN
this class subject to roonisition only from League
and American Association clubs upon the pay
ment of a bonus of 81. 500.
The League and American Association TO con-
tinue their present reserve system. Modify this
classification salary limit by making it uon-
operative on players whose habits are exon.
three years ill the League or American Associa-
ton.
To dircourago the present sales system in the
gest that only one-half of the bonus paid for the
release of a player shall go to the club releasing
MN, Ole-lOl1ln 10 lnC payer ana Onc-IOlTlI 10
the league or association of which the releasing
club IL u member
would recommend a Board Of Appeals, sort
of n supreme Court, as II were, To whom could
be referred for adjudication and settlement all
disputes between associations and between clubs
and players, also the Interpretation of the play.
ing rules and the constitution of the two leading
associations. and all points coming up under the
National agreGment, the decision of this court
to be final. This court could consist of the
President Of the League, President of the Amer
lean Association, and one, other gentleman of
r.,.t,N. NNmll tar4aI ia N n 4 N nd t.AN
connected with amy club. 1t il very evident
that the minor leagues require some governing
power 70 force them to live up to a necessary
favor a plan that would make it obligatory on
them TO, release 2 player upon receipt Of a fair
account of adverse criticism. 1t would also be q
substantial encouragement 10 minor league
advanced into a higher class and increased
Imerely offer these ideas as crude suggestions,
out OF which | think can be evolved a more COM
prehensive scheme Ior handling professional
baseball in Ameeica than the plan we are now
working under.
For the purpose of considering this and other
schemes that have been or may be suggested,
and for the purpose Of laying the whole subject
properly before the League and American Asso-
citation at their next annual meetings, l would
recommend that Il new committee be appointed
by the League. or the scope OF the committee re-.
Gently appointed to consider the grievances of
players be enlarged, with instructions to invite
II similar committee OF tho American AsSocia.
ton, and one or more delegates from each of
the professional associations now working
under the National agreement, to confer with
the league II few days previous to the
regular annual meetinRH, and consider the
whole subject. Ont of such a conference l feel
sure some plan will be arranged that will more
| fully meet the requirements OF the game, and
place, professional baseball on a more perma-
nent business basis.
l would suggest that you communicate with
the other league clubs and appoint a committee
A. G. SpALDING.