Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-13
TO CLASSIFY BALL PLAYERS.
Mr.. Spalding's Letter Disclosing His
Plan to President Young.

NEwjYoRK, July 13.-President A. g. Spald-
ing of the Chicago base ball club has been at
work for some time on q scheme to classify all
the ball players in the country who are not
members Of the two leading leagues. His plan
is embodied in a letter addressed to President
Nick Young of the National league, in which
he says:
"My general plan would be something like
this: The National league and American asso-
citation to continue as they are now, the gov
erning power in professional baseball They
jointly to make the playing rules and to fur
nish the system, means and power for carry
ing out the laws as provided for in a national
agreement and articles Of qualified admission
All other professional leagues and other asso-
Citations to be divided into say four classes, to
be known as class A, b, c and d. Glass A
would probably include such associations as
the International league, Western association,
California league and others Of about the same
grade.
"Class B to include associations whose draw
ing powers would be about rs per cent less than
class A.
''Class G to include associations whose draw
ing powers would be about 50 per cent less than
class A.
Class D to be the lowest, including clubs that
cannot afford to pay over ESQ or eco per month
salaries.
Continue the present plan of protection to
minor leagues, with the right to reserve with
the following notifications:
Class d clubs to be obligated not to pay
salaries aggregating over $500 per month, and
no individual player over $50 per mouth. All
players in this class subject to requisition from
any club of higher class on, say, one weeks
notice upon payment of fixed bonus Of. say
$3.50, to be paid to the club releasing the
player.
Glass @, to pay salaries aggregating not
IL - n
player to receive over 800 per month. All
players in this class subject to requisition from
any club in high class upon payment of a
bonus of $500.
Class B to pay salaries aggregating not over
81 500 per month, and no individual player to
receive over $3.50 per month. All players in
this class subject to requisition from clubs in
class A, and the league and American associa-
ton upon the payment of bonus of 81, ZOO.
Glass A, to pay salaries aggregatine not over
$500 per month and no individual player to
receive over $500 per month. All players in
league and American association clubs upon
the payment of bonus of 81 500.
The league and American association to con-
tlnue their present reserve system. Modify
this classification salary limit by making in nom
operative on players whose habits are exem-
plary and who shall have completed a service
OF three years in the league or American asso-
citation.
To discourage the present sales system in
the league and American association, would
suggest that only one-half Of the bonus paid
for the release Of player shall 60 to the club
releasing him, one-fourth to the player and
one-fourth to the league or association of which
the releasing club is q member.
would recommend q board Of appeals,
sort OF a supreme court, as it were, to whom
could be referred for adjudication and settle
ment all disputes between associations and be-
tween clubs and players also the interpreta-
ton of the playing rules and the constitution
of the two leading associations, and all points
coming up under the national agreement, the
decision of this court to be final
/ merely offer these ideas as crude sugges-
tions, out of which think can be evolved more
comprehensive scheme for handling profess
sional baseball in America than the plan we are
now working under.
1 would suggest that you communicate with
the other League clubs and appoint u commit
tee for this purpose"